First thing to do is to switch the outputs between the amps (with the amps off, of course) and see if the problem stays with the amp or with the outputs. That would eliminate that possibility.
Little help please
Have a bit of an issue, and you people here have always been extremely insightful.
Sat down to listen tonight, and came across an unfamiliar issue. Sounds fine for five minutes, then fades out completely for about 20 seconds. Wait 15 seconds or so, fade back in. Wash, rinse and repeat about five times. No static. Just a slow fade out and fade in.
Using a MastersounD Compact 845 amp in direct mode through an EAR 868 pre-amp. Source is an Ayon CD5 player. I switched over to Frankenstein 300B monos, and it works fine. That should pretty much eliminate the pre-amp and CD player as the problem. Note that both the 845 and the 300B's are both connected to the pre-amp. They run through outputs 1 and 2. When I want to switch amps, all I have to do is change the speaker cables at the speakers themselves and turn the appropriate amp(s) on and off. Simple set up.
Sounds like a problem with the 845, correct? Could be an issue with the output channel the 845 runs off the pre-amp, but that's kind of strange to have both channels go at once. Tubes on the 845 look fine, and would also be strange to lose both channels at once with a tube issue. Don't think it's the IC's I use on the 845- that would also likely be one channel instead of both, and usually comes with a lot of static. This is just silence.
Output transformer, perhaps? Any ideas for a potential quick fix, or is this something that I should just pack up the amp and send it back to the manufacturer for a check and possible repairs?
Thanks in advance!
Sat down to listen tonight, and came across an unfamiliar issue. Sounds fine for five minutes, then fades out completely for about 20 seconds. Wait 15 seconds or so, fade back in. Wash, rinse and repeat about five times. No static. Just a slow fade out and fade in.
Using a MastersounD Compact 845 amp in direct mode through an EAR 868 pre-amp. Source is an Ayon CD5 player. I switched over to Frankenstein 300B monos, and it works fine. That should pretty much eliminate the pre-amp and CD player as the problem. Note that both the 845 and the 300B's are both connected to the pre-amp. They run through outputs 1 and 2. When I want to switch amps, all I have to do is change the speaker cables at the speakers themselves and turn the appropriate amp(s) on and off. Simple set up.
Sounds like a problem with the 845, correct? Could be an issue with the output channel the 845 runs off the pre-amp, but that's kind of strange to have both channels go at once. Tubes on the 845 look fine, and would also be strange to lose both channels at once with a tube issue. Don't think it's the IC's I use on the 845- that would also likely be one channel instead of both, and usually comes with a lot of static. This is just silence.
Output transformer, perhaps? Any ideas for a potential quick fix, or is this something that I should just pack up the amp and send it back to the manufacturer for a check and possible repairs?
Thanks in advance!
4 responses Add your response
Probably no reason to ship to Italy unless it's under warranty. Any good tube technician should be able to fix the amp. Usually (maybe always) output transformers are one per channel so that's unlikely. Which is a good thing because they are usually very $$. OTOH, sounds to me very much like it's a power problem, perhaps the power transformer?? Any possibility of the pre-amp being involved could be eliminated by running the 845 as an integrated. |
Definitely swap amps, as you’ve decided. See if it follows. I can’t see how it could possibly be the ICs. And I agree, no need to send it back to the manufacturer. See if you can get schematics and specs from the manufacturer to aid whoever fixes it for you. I’ve used deltronics in Chicago to fix a ground loop on my tube pre and they seemed knowledgeable, honest and professional. http://www.deltronics.com/ Give them a call or email and see what they say. If they can’t work on it, they’ll tell you. If they can, they’ll do it right. I had a tube go out that they installed and the owner shipped out a replacement that same day. Good people. Good luck! |