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"popping" when moving to balanced cables on Amp

Hi all,

I'm a bit perplexed on something. I just got some balanced XLR cables with Nutrik connectors for my Anthem setup. I have an AMV-20 Anthem Preamp and an MCA-20 amplifier. The cables really made the system come even more alive!

When I turn my setup OFF, there is a HUGE POP that now comes from the speakers when the amp turns off. There was no such massive pop when I was using RCA interconnects.

Is this characteristic??????? I don't know what to do and where to begin diagnosing. I guess one could say it's the cables, but that makes no sense?!!!

I haven't had any problems with the amplifier or the pre-amp and turning the volume DOWN before turning the system off doesn't make any difference.

Help!!!! I don't want to damage my speakers.

I have Revel Performa M22's and the Anthem AVM-20 and MCA-20 as I mentioned above. I am using Audioquest Type 4 speaker cable and now I just got new Balanced XLR connectors (.5 meter) from CableSolutions.
internetmin

Showing 4 responses by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Do you all with separates manually turn on your equipment one piece at a time or do you use triggers or what??

Ted
Internetmin

Yes, I turn all equipment on and off one piece at a time, and I have monoblock amps. :)
No triggers here, I don't trust them.

John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
The question is what is normally the cause of this type of "popping" when you turn off an amplifier. I always recall that my audio system had some type of minor "pop" when turning it off, but this is much, much louder.
Internetmin

Most of the time the 'popping' sound is caused by a leaky capacitor in the amp. Dave has a good reason it could be louder, the additional 6 db gain that you get from running balanced. Can you take the cables back to the dealer and try another pair? If so do it, if the pop persist then I would say your amp needs some maintenance. If the pop disappears, you had some bad cables.

Best wishes,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Ted, that sounds like a good plan. I didn't realize that you were new to seperates. Amp is always the last thing turned on and the first thing turned off. I have seperates, and no popping at all using this sequence.
Make sure you go through the first 3 steps before looking to the leaking caps.

Let us know how you make out.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Disconnect the interconnect cables from your amp completely, leave the speaker cables hooked up. Now power your amp on and off. Is the pop still there? If so, the problem is your amp, if not, then your amp is fine, and the problem is with the preamp or interconnects.

John
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