I am attempting to connect an Onix Zenith XST20 transport to the StellarGold DAC via an I2S connector. The XST20 has an FPGA that allows the I2S pinouts to be configured in ten different ways. I have noticed is that appears the PS Audio pinouts have evolved or changed somewhat as new models are introduced. The pins after 12 are especially hard to define - are they actually connected to anything in the StellarGold DAC? Is there a diagram that shows specifically what the StellarGold DAC configuration is on all 19 pins? The problems I am encountering include the red/green dot not showing green when connected, and the sampling rate not displaying. If anyone has successfully interfaced the XST20 to the StellarGold DAC, would you please provide your settings? Right now Mode 1 seems to be the best choice to me. Thanks.
I use pin option 1. Works perfectly with the PMG Dac.
Thank you for your response! I have the StellarGold DAC, of course, so perhaps my Onix Zenith pinout needs to be different, but after hours of working on this, I came to the conclusion that only pin option 9 works correctly. It is all based on left channel / right channel orientation being correct (ie not reversed). Here is my procedure: Use a hybrid SACD that has a distinctly audible difference between left and right channel content. I used a MFSL of Santana’s Abraxas because there is electric guitar that comes in on the right channel at about 10 seconds into the first track on the disc. For each pinout configuation, note whether the L - R channels are correct with the SACD layer, then switch to the redbook CD layer and confirm that layer plays the L-R information the same way. They could have the L-R orientation opposite ways so one is right and one is wrong, both be the same way but have the L & R swapped so both are wrong, or they could be the same and with correct L - R orientation. The results will be different with every pinout configuration tried. On my transport and DAC only Pinout mode 9 does that correctly. (I also put the hybrid SACD in a separate redbook CD playback system to confirm I had correctly identified which is left and which is right.) It’s rather confusing because the pin definitions on the diagram furnished by Onix does not seem to quite correspond to what appears to be the PS Audio configuration is (but then the PS Audio definition isn’t consistent everywhere when I search this forum, either). Final comment in hopes someone at PS Audio reads this: the reason I bought the Onix Zenith it has I2S output and because PS Audio does not make a SACD transport. I wish they did – such a transport would no doubt be fully compatible with my StellarGold DAC. The PMG transport seems to be permanently discontinued. I need to search eBay for used, I guess.
You are putting way more effort into this than I have. Ps audio products all have the same pin configuration protocol is what I was told by the staff. I emailed ONIX and there response was that it automatically defaults to the ps audio products which is option 1. I went with that and haven’t messed with it. Sounds great to me.
Well you did your due diligence. I was thinking about getting the Oniyx and selling my PST if they compared well just due to diminishing returns on the PST but that might change now PSA does not make SACD transports anymore. I am using the Stellar Gold DAC also.
Part of the reasoning also is I bought a Shanling ET3 and the cd playback via I2S is just as good as the PST.
I hope you enjoy the Oniyx
Just ordered the PS Audio system setup sacd just to make sure everything is correct.
You might want to verify that Mode 1 is correct. I have the StellarGold DAC but found that when playing an SACD in mode 1 it sounds absolutely great but the L and R channels were reversed. I believe the channels were correct on the CD layer in mode 1. This is using the I2S only – if you switch over to DoP via coax or optical on the Onix Zenith it is a different matter.
Oh wow! I did not know about the PS Audio system setup disc on SACD. Also ordered one just now! Thanks for the great tip!
I started down this long road of trying to understand the I2S pin configuration modes versus the what my DAC expected (ie the PS Audio standard for I2S) because when I play via I2S from my Onix Zenith to the StellarGold DAC, the orange dot on the display of the DAC is always orange even though there must be sync because the music is playing. All I have found on the PS Audio website is a short statement that the orange dot will turn green if there is PS Audio compatibility. Not sure what exactly that means.
I only use I2S. Are you getting on your dac its reading DSD 64? Even if your not and still plays music it is reading the DSD layer. My PMG is displaying DSD 64. Try turning on the transport first then switch your dac to I2S it should connect and read the DSD 64 signal. For some reason if I reverse that order the signal will not show on the dac and I get a Red light but music still plays. Try it I’m curious if it works for you.
I do not get anything on the DAC display except the filter number, the input (“1. IS2 1”), and the orange dot when receiving DSD from the Onix Zenith. No “DSD 64” or anything like that, which I wish it would display. The Onix Zenith is displaying the “SACD” logo so I’m pretty sure it is reading the SACD layer. I do get the sample rate and (sometimes word size) for PCM at the coax and optical connectors, also a green dot, but anything at the I2S is orange dot and no sample rate display.
I just tried your suggestion with cycling power on the DAC with both the front button and back switch, and even tried doing a factory reset. No green dot. Actually, I’ve never seen a green dot on the I2S ports ever. The Onix is the only device I own that sends out data via I2S so unfortunately I can’t try something else and compare results.
What I ment is have your dac on but say have it on optical just not I2S. Take Onix out of stand by (on ready to play) then switch Dac to I2S, should connect. You don’t have to cycle anything down and back on.
No, the dot stays on orange. Actually, what you describe is very much like what it does when the Onix is set for DoP through the coax connector. Switch the DAC to some other input, then back again and the coax green dot comes on. And my early impression is that DoP via coax from the Onix sounds better than native DSD via I2S, which is backwards. (Maybe it manages to play but the DAC is struggling with I2S for some reason?) If you have any other ideas I’d be glad to give them a try! Thanks! 
Same here - easiest set up in the world - plug it in and turn it on (would love if there was an SACD option in the input rename options). But don’t have a SACD to test the L/R channel thing - used my Tellurium Q cables burn in CD that has the same left right channel test tracks and those show that the PMG DAC is connected correctly via I2S to the Onix
May I ask which pinout configuration number you are using in the Onix? Thanks.
Well now that is interesting! I also got my PS Audio SACD disc and mode 1 on the Onix reverses the two channels! The mystery widens! Could there be a difference between the StellarGold DAC and the PMG Signature DAC? Doesn’t seem likely but they are built with different chip sets. I am using Onix mode 5. The other one that seems to work is 9.
That is odd for sure. Unlikely but any chance your cables are reversed anywhere? If not I would stick with pin mode 5 or 9 and call it a day.
I’ve checked for reversed cables many times – all seems to be correct.The L/R is correct when the Onix plays the PS Audio disc via the coax output to my DAC (Also, I have a Stereophile CD test disc and that plays correctly on the Onix via the coax output), so I think it fair to say that my system cabling is correctly wired from the DAC all the way downstream to the speakers. My theory is that there is some missing or misinterpreted handshaking going on, perhaps in the higher numbered pins of the I2S connector.
In spite of using mode 5 or 9 I’m having other little problems with the I2S connection-- I hear little clicks over the speakers in certain circumstances when the Onix is starting up. Also, when you put an SACD in the Onix, it assumes the disc is a CD (so PWM output) until it figures out it is SACD, then switches to DSD. But during that switchover the DAC appears to be struggling and puts out some really weird electronic-synthesizer type sounds. So I can listen to my SACDs with the Onix set to mode 5 but longer term I will likely go with something else. (PS Audio really needs to come out with a new SACD transport, or possibly rework the PMG with a new internal drive assembly that is currently available.)
I’m going to try my Onix on a Gustard DAC in a couple of weeks and it will be interesting to compare.