[tfoust]

I have an AVA Omega Star DAC and an AVA Ultra DAC.  The Ultra works with the SPDIF signal from my cable box but the Omega produces no sound from the same source.  I checked the Omega with my DVD player and it does work.  Do you suppose there is a limitation on bit rate transfer causing the Omega to not process the signal from the cable box?  If so, is there an upgrade available for the Omega?

[avahifi]

The OmegaStar DAC uses the older 44/16 Philips chip set.  The Ultra our latest Wolfson high bit rate chip set.

I suspect the SPDIF output from your cable box is simply not compatible with the older DAC.  The only upgrade possible would be to gut it out completely and install the new Vision DAC circuits which also use the Wolfson chip set.  The cost is $849 as the only thing internally that can be salvaged is possibly the power transformer.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[tfoust]

Thanks for your input.  You confirmed my suspicion and saved me a lot of time figuring it out.

[tfoust]

Upon further research I have two Ultra DACs and the OmegaStar.  One of the Ultras works with the cable box and the second one does not.  If I choose to have the Ultra updated is the tube output retained, replaced with another tube output or replaced with SS?  After hearing your description of the upgrade of the OmegaStar it left me wondering just what the DAC upgrade entails.  Are there any options that can be considered in the process?