Audio aero capitole mk2 need help repairing

Much Thanks! Peter- pbnaudio

it is good to read that critical parts and service is alive and well for Audio Aero.

Happy Listening!

Did some more measurements and it doesn't look too good. The mute control signals are ok but the DAC (AD1853) doesn't get data. The word clock (192K) and bit clock (12.289M) are present but the SDATA line is low. The next part upstream appears to be the Anagram upsampling module but since it is partially covered under the analog input board it is not easily accessible. If the fault happens to be in the Anagram module, repair may get difficult as this company is out of business too? Anyway, I'll think about it for a while before making my next step. In the meantime, I am using the digital output to drive an external DAC.

Any new info on this issue? I have a Capitole MKII CDP and the symptoms seem to match many of the reports here; the player boots normally after power up, CD transport spins up normally, but no output. The preamp section works as the analog inputs have no problem.

Since (based on all the random audio forum discussions) this seems to be related to AC input or the AC/DC module in the unit, I have tried an AVR (APC Line-R 1200VA), feeding stable 220, 230 or 240V to the Capitole. This didn't help. I also suspected some ground loops so I tried connecting just my amps and the Capitole to a single power socket using one extension cord, and using balanced interconnects. No luck. I also tried a power lead with ferrite beads to reduce some of the high frequency noise on the AC line. No effect at all (as maybe expected).

Now I'm wondering whether this could be a heat issue, as the player often works normally if I leave it disconnected for some days... but never works if I have left it on stand by for even few hours? I also have a feeling that the problem appears more frequently if I shut down the unit from the main power switch, but leave the power lead connected rather than disconnect the whole thing. But this should be impossible as the power switch cuts the power to the unit anyways? Or can there be some noise on the ground line that secretly sneaks up into my Capitole and hides somewhere behind a cap if I don't disconnect the mains lead (okay going out to buy a tin foil hat now...)

I used to have similar problem unit would not unmute from time to time when turning on. I spent literally years going from one workshow to another. Finally I have found skillful electronic who spent days measuring it and has found about seven cold solder joints. No more issues since then. I would never guess that cold joint could cause such undeterministic behavior.