Behringer DCX2496 Dead - What Now?

cloudbaseracer · « **on:** 23 Jan 2014, 07:24 pm »

I came home from a recent trip out of the country to find my DCX totally dead. There were no issues with anything else in the house. I replaced the fuse but still nothing. I know these units do not get the best reviews due to build quality but I am not sure of exactly what people seem to experience. Is it typical for the power supply to go out? It is around $40 to replace and seems simple enough but how can I know for sure that this is what it needs? What kind of tests can a very low tech guy like myself do?

Cheers,
James

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 09:05 pm »

"Totally" dead, as in no lights, no clicks heard on power-up, no pops in the speakers when it's powered up?

Bob

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 09:07 pm »

Nothing!!

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 09:18 pm »

Hmm....Sounds like you need to pop the hood.
I've got one, but I haven't been inside of it.
Hopefully somebody smarter than me comes along, I'm near the end of my diagnostic abilities on the unit.
Although, it certainly sounds like the P/S, I'd dig in with a voltmeter and see what you get, or at least see if you see anything on the P/S that looks burnt.

Good luck man. I love mine, although it's sitting on a shelf unused at the moment.
Bob

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 09:22 pm »

Do you happen live near STL?

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 09:29 pm »

I am in Chattanooga. I have opened it up and nothing looks burned. The power supply is a simple drop in with a few connectors. I just hate to spend good money on it if there is possibly more wrong.

Cheers,
James

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 10:01 pm »

That's too far away to drop by this evening.

Like I mentioned, I've never seen the inside of one, but did you check for voltage 'in and out"?

Bob

Folsom · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 10:12 pm »

I'd check voltage in different places.

Does it use a relay in the power section? Those go out sometimes on things as such. If it has one I'd be suspect of this in particular.

jtwrace · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 10:18 pm »

Hopefully you have saved your program.

mgalusha · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 11:08 pm »

Is it stock or modified? If modified that opens up an entirely different set of possibilities. Random poking with a voltmeter will not be any help if you don't have the schematics. I can send them if you need them.

Tyson · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 11:50 pm »

Time to buy a miniDSP 2x10 - it's got better software AND better sound than the DCX....

mgalusha · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 11:53 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 23 Jan 2014, 11:50 pm

Time to buy a miniDSP 2x10 - it's got better software AND better sound than the DCX....

I think James's might have 3x S/PDIF outputs but I'm not certain. If not, I agree, there are much better ways to go.

Tyson · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Jan 2014, 11:57 pm »

NanoDigi 2x8 would handle that nicely....

Russtafarian · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Jan 2014, 12:55 am »

I agree. Drop-kick the DCX and go MiniDSP.

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Jan 2014, 03:15 am »

Guys -- I was actually going to ask about the miniDSP but decided to wait and see what kind of responses came in. My Behringer has been modified with the 3x S/PDIF as Mike mentioned although I do not use that section any longer. It was done before when I had some Emerald Physics CS2's along with Pioneer all digital receivers.

I have looked into the 2x4 Balanced miniDSP and would love to have one but I would not be the one to build it. I just don't trust my understanding to get it assembled correctly. Of course, there is the issue of finding an appropriate case as well.

Tyson - have you built one of these yourself?

Mike - is the much better way you are referring to the miniDSP or do you have other suggestions?

One odd thing is that I asked Earl Geddes about these a year or so ago and he said they are harder to use than the Behringer. Is this something that you guys agree with?

Cheers,
James

Russtafarian · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Jan 2014, 04:12 am »

Nothing to build. http://www.minidsp.com/products/minidsp-in-a-box/minidsp-balanced-2x4

Russ

Tyson · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Jan 2014, 04:20 am »

MiniDSP 4x10 comes prebuilt, you can use either RCA or XLR outputs on it, and does up to 24/96, acts as a DAC, preamp, speaker crossover, and room EQ all in one. The miniDSP 2x4 is smaller but only does 24-48. IMO the 4x10 is the way to go.

http://www.minidsp.com/products/minidsp-in-a-box/minidsp-4x10-hd

Tyson · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Jan 2014, 04:22 am »

Oh, one other cool thing about the miniDPS 4x10 is that it has 4 analog outputs per channel - if you are using it for 3 way speakers (like I am), you only need 3 of those channels for your speakers. The 4th channel can run a full range signal to your headphone amp (if you have one) and thus you have a simple way to integrate headphone listening into your system.

mgalusha · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Jan 2014, 02:23 pm »

Quote from: cloudbaseracer on 24 Jan 2014, 03:15 am

Mike - is the much better way you are referring to the miniDSP or do you have other suggestion

The miniDSP was one but there is of course the deqx line, rane, xilica and other high end/pro options. I really don't know how much better or worse they may be than a minidsp but all are more costly, which doesn't always mean much. The new legacy speakers use the xilica processor; a good friend had a very extended demo of the Aeris and was mightily impressed at how easy and well they were able to dial in the crossover.

Davey · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Jan 2014, 04:17 pm »

James,

Some folks have removed the stock power supply of their DCX to replace with a linear supply. Maybe you can query on DIYaudio.com and see if someone has one collecting dust you could grab?

Dave.