2. amps-preamps
  3. 1302836222

McIntosh C46 makes distorting pops thru speakers

Just hooked up McIntosh C46 to a Parasound HCA-2200 Mark II via balanced cables. The C46 makes these very loud distorting popping sounds through the speakers when it is turned on or off. The popping sounds are more prolonged when the C46 is turned off. My normal sequence of turning on the system is power amp, preamp, and source. Turning off the system is just the reverse. However, the popping does not happen when the C46 is turned on before the power amp is turned on. Also the popping does not happen when the C46 is turned off last. Using unbalanced cables do not help.
sfaudiobuff
gshepardbuster's avatar
gshepardbuster
620 posts
 
turn on your preamp before amp(s) --turn off amps then preamp.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Do not turn off you preamp before poweramp is completely off and do not turn on your amp untill preamp is completely on with any components you use.
sfaudiobuff OP
3 posts
 
Sid42, using the Standby/On switch does not cause it to making the popping sounds through the speakers.It only makes the popping sounds when I use the hard Power On switch to turn on and off, after powering up the amp and before powering down the amp, respectively. Chuck Hinton from McIntosh Labs says that using the rocker (hard) switch will certainly make the popping sound. However he advises that the hard switch is only for totally disconnecting power when the gear will be unused for a long time, it is meant to stay in standby when not in use. Lastly, he says without triggers, amps should be turned on last, and turned off first.



sfaudiobuff OP
3 posts
 
Thanks, Sid42, Gshepardbuster, and Marakanetz for your replies!
sid42
302 posts
 
SF, my C48 only has the standby/on switch, so I don't have the hard switch you mention. However, my former C37 had no problems doing it either way too. Thanks for the info from Chuck.
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