Cocktail audio x45 , Digital AES our to in no response.

The one possibility I can think of, other than a defect in the X45, is that there may be a problem with the AES/EBU cable you are using. Which conceivably could result in a marginal condition (perhaps due to an open connection on one of the two signal pins) that would cause the X45’s AES/EBU output to be recognized by some DACs (i.e., the MBL) but not by others.

If you have another XLR cable, even if it is one that is intended for analog applications, for experimental purposes it may be worth trying it in place of the cable you have been using.

Or if you have a multimeter check for continuity between each of the cable’s three pins at one end and the corresponding pin at the other end. And check that none of the pins are shorted to any of the others.

I see in the manual for the X45, btw, that there is a menu setting which enables or disables the AES/EBU output. But since that output works with your MBL DAC it is presumably set to the enabled position.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

Hi Al, thank you for your advice . I am planning to get another XLR cable just to rule out. What’s puzzling is that it works  if I use my Cary as cd transport connected to the Canary dac using the AES cable . So the cable works , it’s the Cardas Clear .  Something on the X45 not compatible with the Canary and Cary. I will keep on researching. I appreciate your time and advice. I will let you know if I find the problem. Best regards 
Richard

By the way Al, I did check the cable with a volt meter and they check out good.
regards
Richard 

You have probably already tried all this but was wondering have you made sure AES is enabled,  set digital out to fixed volume, set frequencies to passthrough? I guess the pins are all 1 ground,  2 + , 3 - ?