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  3. 1078090754

How to Identify which Is the

I recently purchased an all-new stereo system about three months ago. Late Friday night I heard a loud "pop" sound coming out of the left channel. Then, the left channel went totally dead quiet.
I was wondering if someone could help me with a step-by-step logical plan for determining which component is the "bad" or "guilty" party with a dysfunctional left channel. I would think that with changing the speaker cables, interconnects, etc., there must be a good way of determining/isolating which specific component has the problem.
I have high-end tube preamplifier and amplifier. The CD player is a possibility too, since it also has a tube. I wouldn't think it is the speaker, but I suppose that's possible, too.

Thank you!
Steve
bigpowerballs

Showing 3 responses by bigpowerballs

bigpowerballs OP
34 posts
 
Thanks for the responses. As of this morning , it was a very distant left channel, and no right channel.
I tried a different (borrowed) CD Player-SAME RESULT.
I tried reversing the CDP out to the preamp--same result.
I then tried reversing the L and R to the power amp from the pre-amp--same result.
Then, I switched the speaker cables to the speakers.
Now, I have a good-sounding normal volume left channel, but still a dead right channel.
Any other ideas? Does this indicate a bad (now, right)speaker cable; a bad right speaker, or what?
(Yes, I know it was initially a dead left channel--this is wierd)!

Thanks
Steve
bigpowerballs OP
34 posts
 
Thanks for the responses. I switched the out connectors to the CDP, per Niravp's suggestion. What I got was a dead right channel, and a very distant left channel (not the volume level the working channel previously had at all).
Newbee, I first tried switching a tube in the preamp for a new (6922) one, since it did not light up. Now everything lights up, but still the problem remains.
I didn't mention that I added a PS Audio P500 power regenerator into my system a few weeks ago. The prior two times I used it it flashed "fault" when first turned on, then was fine when turned off and on again. Could this be causing the problem(s)?
bigpowerballs OP
34 posts
 
OK, here's the answer. Brian, owner of The Analog Room, volunteered to come over to troubleshoot. Within abouit a minute, he found the problem. One of the fuses in the power amp had blown out, although there was no red LED indicator lit up in the back (as there should have been).
He said that CJ eqipment has tendency to do that--too sensitive or something.
Thanks to all.
Steve
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