Probably the amp but to be sure switch the left and right speaker hook ups. If problem switches sides then switch the inputs to the amp. If problem stays in same side than it is in the amp. |
I would suggest sequentially reversing the left and right IC connections at one end only, first between the linestage and amp, then between the phono and linestage. If the channel going into protect mode switches then the problem is something earlier in the chain than the cable you just reversed. If the problem stays in the right channel it is being caused by something later in the chain. One other possibility although less likely is an partial/intermittent short circuit in either the right speaker cable or the speaker itself. You can eliminate this possibility by reversing the speaker cable connections at the amp to see if the problem stays in the same channel or not. Good luck and let us know your findings. |
Why do you think it's the preamp and not the amp? |
I had something happen similar to this issue one year ago when I bought the Ray Samuels Nighthawk phono preamp. The amplifier would go into protect mode while playing music. Before I checked the phono stage with the multimeter for DC leakage, I sent the amplifier back for evaluation. They could not find anything wrong with the protection circuit or anything else for that matter. When I returned the Nighthawk and went with ClearAudio basic phono stage, the amplifier stopped going into protect mode. So, I'm making a big leap here and assuming there's a connection but I could be completely wrong on this. I did run the multimeter on the preamp right channel output jack - it did register something but it was always intermittent. Does that provide additional helpful information? |
Same amp, same channel again???? W two different phono stages and two different line stages??? I'd be thinking its something w the amp that only happens after it warms up, and that when you sent the amp back, the tech did not let it run for a long period of time. I'd try swapping speaker cables, then the various interconnects, and work my backwards to isolate the component. It'll be a long haul if it takes 1-3 hours each time to get it to go into protect mode, but that seems to be the only certain way. |
Thanks for the recommendation. You're right, this is going to take an inordinate amount of time to isolate. I wonder if I should just contact CODA Technologies and cut to the chase and see what they say about the problem. I wonder if the right channel is going into thermal overload due to dust build-up or something like that. I could open it up and use a can of compressed air to clean it. |
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Hmm. For your solid state amp to go into protect mode, either it is itself broken or it is putting out a lot of power into the right channel.
Assuming the solid state amp is not broken, you should be hearing the power that it is putting out in the right channel unless that power is outside the audible range or outside your speaker's performance range. Unlikely that it is high frequency. More possible that is could be subsonic.
If so, it could be originating from your cartridge or turntable, although the turntable is less likely because it would probably affect both channels. Maybe your cartridge is going bad. How old is it?
Or it could be your phono preamp. Like something involved with RIAA equalization?
If your linestage preamp is working properly, it would transmit the subsonic signal to the solid state amp and cause it to shut down. If the linestage preamp is somehow handicapped from effective transmission of subsonic signal, then the solid state amp should keep working and not shut down.
Have you tried swapping left and right channels between the turntable and the phono preamp? How about between the phono preamp and the linestage preamp? |
Thanks for the great ideas. I'll give them a try and see what happens when I get the speaker cable back from Acoustic Zen. First, I'll hook up everything as it should be and then wait for the right channel to shut down. Unless AZ detected problems with the right speaker cable, the shutdown should happen again. Then, I'll begin the process to reverse cables as suggested above, one step at a time, to isolate the problem. I also plan to contact CODA today and see if they have any thoughts on the subject. |
Was on another website and got some great ideas. Need to check out speaker damping. My speakers sit directly on carpet. They come with spikes but I didn't install them. Maybe I need to use them or put some marble pavers underneath them. Secondly, recommendation to use turntable shelf instead of placing on butcher block and then on dedicated wood table. Third idea deals with tonearm/cartridge resonance issues. If indeed it is subsonic frequency issues, this could get complicated. |
You don't need to wait for your Acoustic Zen cable to come back to perform this testing. You can use Radio Shack speaker cable ($5-$10), or even some plain old lamp cord for the sake of trouble-shooting.
Why would you not install the speaker spikes??? Correct that wrong first, that should make as much of a difference as isolating your turntable. If the issue is feedback going through your system, fix the spike issue first, then if there is still excessive woofer excursion, look into a turntable wall mount.
If you are still having issues, then follow the switching cables path suggested above to trace down the guilty component. |
Have had this problem before, with MIT SC and classe amp, would send the amp into oscillation, never figured out, MIT checked the cable and was stumped, the cable and amp would not match up. That was the solve, no other cable caused the problem.
Make sure your rca's to your amp if single ended....are installed properly, ie, tightened so the ground is making good contact. Had this problem with WBT's once and it always happened when the system had been playing and heated up. Pliers fixed that problem, a barrel on one cable was a little too big for the inputs.
Did you find out if your tube preamp was passing DC? Could also be a loose solder joint around the tube socket from swapping out tubes.....have had that happen also.
Double check cartridge clips and wire/solder connection to the clips - has not broken or been compromised....have had that happen also and ended up sending my phono pre back only to find out it was fine....
Stay in this hobby long enough and just about everything will happen eventually....you will find it, good luck! |
