DAC not working on Sony CDP-X33ES

[Preamp]

Hi everybody,

I have a strange error on a Sony CDP-X33ES. The optical output is working fine, but the analogue section is completely quiet. Seems like the DAC is not working, since there's nothing coming out of it... The question is, may this be the DAC itself or is it something like the DSP in front of it?

Does anybody know how to locate such a fault? All I've got is the schematic below with some diagrams which I checked. They measure not all like they should, but unfortunately I don't know where to look for the culprit .

The Power supply is working correct, all voltages are clean and have their supposed values. I replaced several electrolytics and cleaned the PCB from the ran out electrolyte. I also checked that there're no interrupted tracks on the PCB.

Please help me out with anything you know about this 'machine' .

Regards,
Lasse




Here are some comments to my measurements:
(I did not check those which I suppose have nothing to do with my problem)

2 - only about 2Vpp, quite some jittering visible
3 - only about 2Vpp
4 - only about 4Vpp
5 - only about 4Vpp
9 - only about 4Vpp
10 - only about 3.5Vpp
11 - only about 0.3Vpp
12 - only about 3.5Vpp, is a sawtooth rather than a square wave
13 - about 3Vpp instead of 1.2Vpp

[coolhead]

If the optic out is working, the DAC should be working. How about coax out? How about the headphone out?
Your circuit diagram is very blur, can't see the words.

[Preamp]

The optical output is supplied directly from the DSP (Pin 60). The DAC is supplied from the DSP too, but using different outputs (Pins 32-35).
There is no coax out.
The headphone output is also not working, since it's supplied by the analogue section, which is totally dead on from the first OP stage.

Hope this time the schematic is readable.

[PlasticIsGood]

Service manual here: SONY CDP-X33ES SM 2 Service Manual free download, schematics, eeprom, repair info for electronics

DAC datasheet here: CXD2552Q datasheet pdf datenblatt - Sony Corporation - 1 BIT D/A CONVERTER ::: ALLDATASHEET :::

What's "PLM" output?

Whatever, from the circuit it looks like voltage output. Is there no signal at any of the 4 (balanced) output pins?

It seems odd that so many of your measured AC voltages are wrong, whereas the DC is correct. Are you sure your probe and scope are of sufficient bandwidth? Does x10 probe setting make any difference?

The manual helpfully marks the signal paths, so you can see where the branch is for the digital output. The signal destined for the DAC passes through several stages and so yes, any of those could be at fault.

The logical thing to do, assuming no output from the DAC, is to check that is is receiving data and, if not, check for data output from pin 34 of the CXD500Q, and follow the path from there. Once you know where the fault occurs, you may be able to relate it to your other measurements.

[Preamp]

Originally Posted by PlasticIsGood

Whatever, from the circuit it looks like voltage output. Is there no signal at any of the 4 (balanced) output pins?

Nope, there's totally nothing. Even at the DAC outputs (Pins 3/34 and 31/35) I measure 0V. I just noticed that they should be at about 2.5V DC level. May this be an indication for a faulty DAC? Or is this normal when it does not get valid digital data, for example?

Originally Posted by PlasticIsGood

It seems odd that so many of your measured AC voltages are wrong, whereas the DC is correct. Are you sure your probe and scope are of sufficient bandwidth? Does x10 probe setting make any difference?

Bandwidth is fairly limited, but still enough to see 45MHz. I actually made all measurements using x10 probe setting, as the service manual recommends.

Originally Posted by PlasticIsGood

The logical thing to do, assuming no output from the DAC, is to check that is is receiving data and, if not, check for data output from pin 34 of the CXD500Q, and follow the path from there. Once you know where the fault occurs, you may be able to relate it to your other measurements.

I measured the input of the DAC (precisely: the output of the buffer, Pin 6 of IC603) and what I see there looks pretty much like valid data to me. I only have a 'scope so that's the best I can tell you. Except making a scope screen shot, that is.
So the data seems to be valid, but the 128FS-Output on Pin 22 is quite strange (waveform plot #12). Any idea what that could mean?

[PlasticIsGood]

Assuming the output pins are not externally shorted to ground, and assuming the DC output level is generated internally, and that the supply voltages are correct, then the DAC is probably at fault. I can't see what erroneous data condition could lead to 0V on both the outputs for one channel, because it would be +FS for one output, and -FS for the other.

The odd waveform could also be a result of an internal power supply issue.


I notice that the DAC goes through a synchronisation routine at switch-on. I wonder if it is completing that, and how to test for it? What's it supposed to do in the meantime? The datasheet's not very illuminating.

The DAC won't be easy to replace, so it may be worth persisting until you're sure it's at fault. For that you'll need someone more knowledgeable than me I'm afraid.

[stephensank]

The X33ES, and X55/77, were built with a DISASTROUS choice of Elna electrolytic caps as the "premium" caps for the dsp, dac & output stages & supply lines. These "Duorex" line Elna caps are now just about 100% guaranteed to be leaking VERY corrosive electrolyte, which creeps around the top AND especially the bottom side of the PCB. Odds are extremely high that you will find blackened foil traces, most likely bottom side of PCB, which you need to scrape away to shiny copper, and will then find one or more traces where the copper has corroded straight through, and wire will need to be used to bridge the gap/gaps.

[Jesus953555]

I have a similar issue but with my Yamaha 02r digital console.. It has 4 of the bb1702 I suspect that one of these went out being that I get sound coming out of all the other outputs!! Can anyone help me please!!

[Jesus953555]

I'm sorry it's the bb pcm1702

[Preamp]

Originally Posted by PlasticIsGood

Assuming the output pins are not externally shorted to ground, and assuming the DC output level is generated internally, and that the supply voltages are correct, then the DAC is probably at fault.

I disconnected the output resistors and measured the Pins alone - no difference.

Originally Posted by PlasticIsGood

The odd waveform could also be a result of an internal power supply issue.

Or maybe it is the bandwidth of the scope, it reads only 20MHz...

Originally Posted by PlasticIsGood

The DAC won't be easy to replace, so it may be worth persisting until you're sure it's at fault. For that you'll need someone more knowledgeable than me I'm afraid.

Well, but thank you so far for helping me out!

Originally Posted by stephensank

The X33ES, and X55/77, were built with a DISASTROUS choice of Elna electrolytic caps as the "premium" caps for the dsp, dac & output stages & supply lines. These "Duorex" line Elna caps are now just about 100% guaranteed to be leaking VERY corrosive electrolyte, which creeps around the top AND especially the bottom side of the PCB. Odds are extremely high that you will find blackened foil traces, most likely bottom side of PCB, which you need to scrape away to shiny copper, and will then find one or more traces where the copper has corroded straight through, and wire will need to be used to bridge the gap/gaps.

This is not the first Duorex-Desaster that I encounter, so replacing that caps and cleaning the PCB thoroughly was the first thing I did. I even checked the traces individually and measured the resistance from end to end, to make sure there're no gaps.