@sdorfman58 The only thing at issue is you've not been clear about use of the one Black Magic cable. In your original post you seem to state it worked for two months then suddenly stopped working when you decided to use volume control. This makes all the difference as to whether cable defective or not. Casting false aspersions on cable maker not warranted if cable is not defective.
@mitch2 This seems correct, if it was handshake issue dac would have not worked with or without dac volume control.