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Peculiar problem? Show me the light...

OK, I'm going to try and explain this as best as I can. I don't usually listen at mega volumes so this has not been noticed before. My Revel M20s can handle just about anything I put through them, and my subwoofer picks up the base inadequacies. There are some pieces of music that have tremendous base punch, and at very loud volumes I hear my Revels cracking up. Not my sub, but the M20s. Both speakers. If I turn down the volume gain from the neutral setting, on my subwoofer, the crackling goes away in the M20s. It's wierd. If I play the same piece of music with the sub off, I can play at prodigious volumes with no crackling at all. How can my self-powered sub, effect what's coming out of my speakers. I have it hooked up via the preout from my integrated. The sound, otherwise, is wonderful, but at the loudest levels with some powerful transient response type stuff, it'll crackle. I hope I'm explaining this properly. This is a very livable situation, for I just, in a blue moon, crank it up to satiate a sonic desire, sometimes. And it doesn't happen with most music. Anybody have any ideas? You might need more information, so hit me. Thanks in advance my audiophool friends. warren
Here's my system:
YBA Passion Integre
Micromega CDP
Sufire Architectural sub
Revel M20s
Audio Magic Stealth
Cardas GR Ics.
Sistrum Rack system
Sistrum Mini Monitor speaker stands
Sistrum Subwoofer stand
warrenh

Showing 6 responses by warrenh

warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
Now, I was told, from an astute audiophool, that this may be due to, believe it or not, subwoofer clipping. The signal can back up through the preout lines and do a number on the main speakers. Henceforth: crackling. Possible? Maybe that Sunfire sub just can't handle those killer, very-low- extension transients? Just thinking out loud. Sssgot to be something coming from the Ics via the preout. Maybe I've gotton a little volume, nuts? Make sense?
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
I have not test the solution yet, but it makes so much sense that I'm embarrassed that I did not think of it. It took a tech guy over at YBA to explain what he thought it probably is. He said very simply that the Integre is clipping due to the sub and all my other stuff being on the same outlet. When cranking the music up the sub is drawing huge current and the Passion doesn't have enough to drive the M20s without clipping. When I shut off the sub-no problem, because the Passion has all the current it needs. The Integre is a very high current drawing amp, and the M20s very inefficient. That coupled with a thirsty subwoofer on one outlet: WAHLA! I'm going to go the sane root and keep my music at normal volumes. Makes sense now. I'll get a long extension cord and run the sub through another separate current-outlet, just to make sure, but that is the deal. Thanks again, warren
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
How does one go about having a dedicated line installed? How much can or does that cost? I have all my electronics plugged into my Audio Magic Stealth. Obviously, as you've heard, my Stealth is plugged into one outlet. I listen at, usually, low to moderate levels, and it's jazz that's my love, so I don't feel the dynamics are affected. There are times, however, as you've read, that I do like to crank it up. Stehno or anyone: info on dedicated lines. Thanks in advance.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback. It seems that it should be a fairly inexpensive job, considering my home. The wall in question is on the same wall that leads into the garage where the circuit breakers are. Punch through the wall and you're there. Once I put my sub on its' own line, my clipping problems will be over. My electricity, with my Stealth is sssh..quiet. Just didn't have enough juice for my sub at mega volumes. The sub, not being plugged into the Stealth will hopefully not be a sonic negative. I believe, from what I've been told, that my Passion will run better, now, reagardless of volume (low and high). Sounds good. warren
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
Well, here's the next chapter in this saga. Seems, only myself and John are interested, but never-the-less I shall move on. I hook up my sub via an extension cord to another circuit. Sonic bliss. Everything's perfect. So, I figure, it's the dedicated line deal. Instead of plugging my sub back into the Stealth I plug it into the double wall outlet the Stealth is plugged into. I do the music test again, just to see if the clipping still happens. Lo and behold, sonic perfection. Mega volumes:no clipping/crackling, everything sounds perfect. Something going on in my Stealth? Anyone? Thanks for reading, at least...warren
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
That is just what I have done. Integrated and CDP in the Stealth (different outlets, though) and I plugged the sub into the same double outlet that the Stealth is plugged into. Wahla! Perfection. No crackling, quiet, black background. As it should be. Electricity is mystical, sometimes. It was a Stealth thing after all. I emailed, Jerry, the owner of Audio Magic, for some insight as to what the deal is with the Stealth. When I hear from him I'll post...thanks again guys for your help. warren
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