Need more info on the Electron Kinetics Eagle-7A

Rick: I apologize for not getting back to you after last time we spoke. Too many things going on and not enough brain cells to keep track of them.

Here's the thread that i made mention of: [url=http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1014011751&read&keyw&zzac=polarity]AC noise, polarity & hum[/url]
If you can verify that everything checks out fine with your AC system and you don't have any ground related problems, it is possible that the "servo control" that Kana mentions could be playing games. I'm not directly familiar with this design, so i have no idea what it does.

As to Kana's comments about the Eagle's breaking and who will fix them, there is someone ( can't remember who ) that used to work at Electron Kinetics that repairs / updates these amps. Besides that, a good tech can repair anything that you hand them. It all boils down to whether or not one wants to pay the money to do so.

The Carver Pro ZR1600 as tested by John Curl via Brian Cheney at VMPS showed the amp to produce less than 200 wpc cleanly. Carver Pro ( nothing to do with Bob Carver other than someone using his name to market their products ) can say anything that they want, but when an amp goes into self-oscillation at or below 66% of rated power, it obviously doesn't meet spec. Then again for that matter and a WHOLE lot more money, the Pass XA 160's are a miserable failure also. Sean
>

Here's a clickable link. I really wish Audiogon would fix that. Maybe they aren't aware of this problem ??? Sean
>

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1014011751&read&keyw&zzac=polarity

Kana: My comments are not only based on the technical measurements that John Curl obtained when testing this unit, but the suitability of this product for Rick's specific intended use.

From my past experience with the Perreaux 2150's, these amps typically clip in excess of 250 wpc @ 8 ohms and 400+ wpc @ 4 ohms. The 3150 is a far beefier amp with much greater bottom end authority, as Rick will confirm. While i can't explain the specific problems that he's having, my guess is that the Carver Pro might not solve the problem and would probably be a step backwards in terms of bass output and control.

The fact that the ZR 1600 was breaking up / oscillating at less than 200 wpc @ 8 ohms ( John measured 180 wpc into a dummy load ) would mean that it would probably perform even worse with a more reactive, far lower impedance load. Comparing that to the "real" 500+ wpc that the 3150 is capable of into 4 ohm loads or even the 400 wpc that the 2150 was offering should demonstrate why i have the thoughts that i do.

As a side note judging by what Rick and i discussed on the phone, i don't think that he's unhappy with the performance of the 3150. From what i gathered, i think that his main problem is the hum and other "odd" noise being generated with it in the system. If he could solve this problem, i think that he would prefer to run what he already has. I could be wrong, but that's what i was led to believe. Sean
>

Kana: That's a good suggestion about measuring the DC leakage. My brother did this after having problems with some speakers. What he found was that one amp was passing 3 volts of DC on one channel and 2.5 volts on the other. Luckily, this problem arose while he was running some junk speakers. Needless to say, that amp is out of the system until we can get it straightened out. 500 millivolts ( 1/2 a volt of DC ) is considered to be "acceptable" by most, but that is way high in my opinion. The amp that i gave my Brother to use measured less than .02 volts of DC on either channel.

As to the Perreaux's, the 2150's and 3150's are very similar amps ( cosmetically and in terms of basic circuitry ) that have very different sounds to them. I don't know anyone that has ever chosen a 2150 over a 3150 after hearing them side by side. Having said that, i run my 3150's strictly for woofers, as that is what they do best. Sean
>

Rwd: Hogging this thread ? It's YOUR thread !!! : )

As to your problem fixing itself, that is simple. Your 3150 overheard you discussing it being replaced, so it decided to straighten up and fly right. This is common practice for electronics when they are about about to be replaced or go in for service. I run into it all the time.

Quite honestly, i have NO idea why this stuff happens. It is possible that something else in your system or outside of your system was aggravating the situation. Something as simple as moving a cable, altering the quality of connections, etc... could have solved your problem. All i can say is that you should enjoy this while it lasts. It could be forever or you could be back to tracking it down tomorrow. Sean
>