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Post by wilburthegoose on Jun 23, 2015 21:08:49 GMT -5
Hi,
I’m running an XMC-1 with 2 amps – an XPA-5, and my new SA-250. The amps are connected with XLR cables. The SA-250 is replacing an XPA-200.
I had been running the backs thru the XPA-200 and the rest thru the XPA-5. I switched the Front L/R to the SA-250, and am running the backs from the XPA-5.
However, the SA-250 keeps going into protection mode at moderate to high volumes.
Debugging steps: • I removed banana plugs from the L/R speakers and the SA-250, now using bare wire. Very tight, and nothing is touching anything it shouldn't • I tightened every other speaker cable and ensure every banana plug on the XPA-5 and XMC-1 was well seated. • Testing using reference stereo from my PC – sound is great until I hit about -19db on the XMC-1. At that point, the SA-250 goes into protection mode • So I disconnected one of the XLR cables. The volume on the one speaker (Left) went as high as I wanted – no issues. • Connected the other channel (Right), and protection mode kicked in. • Switched back to the “good” one SA-250 terminal, but swapped speakers – this worked.
• Therefore, I think either the XLR cable or post on the SA-250 on the right speaker terminal might be bad. To be honest, the Neutrix XLR terminals on the SA-250 are a little loose (using 2-month old Blue Jeans XLR cables).
• I had zero issues with the Blue Jeans cables on the XPA-200.
Any other advice? (I also sent this to Emotiva Support, and I'll give them a call to follow up, but was hoping somebody here might have advice)
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bootman
Emo VIPs
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
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Post by bootman on Jun 23, 2015 21:21:03 GMT -5
Try unbalanced and see if it still goes into protect.
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jun 23, 2015 21:26:01 GMT -5
Yep - That was exactly what my next step was planned to be. Would've done it tonight, but 'twas a long day at work, and then we had a tornado warning at 1800. Ughh! (All is well )
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Post by wizardofoz on Jun 24, 2015 12:07:58 GMT -5
I've had many problems with bad unbalanced connections on many of the xpa series amps...normally a bad RCA connector on the cable...my guess is no earth connection.
Unless the amp is very hot to the touch, I would say cables at fault
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jun 24, 2015 12:32:11 GMT -5
Yeah, the amp is very cool. I'm only driving it to -20db before it conks out. PS - I'm running XLR cables, but the SA-250 has a really strange Neutrik XLR connector that doesn't seem to seat the cables well. Doesn't even have a locking latch: www.neutrik.us/en-us/xlr/combo-a-series/
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Post by garbulky on Jun 24, 2015 14:30:28 GMT -5
I'm betting it's that XLR cable. Replace!
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Post by wizardofoz on Jun 24, 2015 20:22:27 GMT -5
Could it be vibration related?
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jun 24, 2015 21:45:32 GMT -5
It's on a very stable table. And it really not THtAT loud when it cuts out. Only -19db on my XMC-1.
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jun 25, 2015 18:40:18 GMT -5
I tried the unbalanced cable, and the same thing happened. So I wired my XPA-200 back running the L/R speakers with the XLR cables. Worked perfectly. But it's killing me because the SA-250 sounded so sweet! I've been e-mailing with Emotiva tech support, and unfortunately I'm thinking I may have a unit with a defect. Any advice on getting this big boy back upstairs?
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Post by DavidR on Jul 19, 2015 19:27:59 GMT -5
That sucks. What's new with this problem? I got some 1.5 ft Monoprice XLR cables. All is good.
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jul 19, 2015 21:11:31 GMT -5
I shipped it back to get a refund. I wanted confirmation that there was a defect in the unit before I reordered a new one*. However, still no news from Emotiva.
*-Didn't want to buy a new one if it too would fail due to my own system config. But the fact that the XPA-200 worked perfectly tells me that my system is fine.
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Post by DavidR on Jul 19, 2015 21:29:23 GMT -5
Good Luck.
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Post by flatpicker on Jul 20, 2015 5:12:57 GMT -5
I shipped it back to get a refund. I wanted confirmation that there was a defect in the unit before I reordered a new one*. However, still no news from Emotiva. *-Didn't want to buy a new one if it too would fail due to my own system config. But the fact that the XPA-200 worked perfectly tells me that my system is fine. Maybe the SA-250 is less tolerant than the XPA-200... my SA-250 recently began to go into protection mode, but only when the volume got to a certain point. I investigated all the wiring connections and found that the casings on my Emo speaker cable were touching or close to touching.... not the spades but the casings which I assumed were insulated from signal transfer... in any case, I pushed them apart and all has been back to normal for the 2 months since. So maybe it's possible the XPA-200 has a different threshold or the SA-250 is trigger happy. Just sayin...
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jul 20, 2015 6:43:18 GMT -5
flapicker - I had he same thought, but a guy in Emotiva tech told me back in June that all Emotiva amps share the same protection features.
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Post by flatpicker on Jul 20, 2015 11:07:22 GMT -5
flapicker - I had he same thought, but a guy in Emotiva tech told me back in June that all Emotiva amps share the same protection features. Well, good to know... and good luck in the resolution!
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Post by SteveB on Jul 20, 2015 16:10:41 GMT -5
I bought an SA-250 when they first came out. I've never had it go into protection mode. I generally don't go louder than -25db on the volume level though. I'm running it off an XMC-1 with Monoprice XLR cables.
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Post by DavidR on Jul 20, 2015 16:48:27 GMT -5
I'm driving a pair of AR90's thru an XSP-1 with my SA-250. Rarely do I exceed -25 but have gone to -20 and a bit higher. AR90's are a difficult load, not the worst out there but difficult. Without VU meters its hard to tell how hard the amp is working but with the amount of capacitance it has I would think it'd be OK to drive your speakers. I assume you are driving the Paradigm Studio 100.
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Post by garbulky on Jul 20, 2015 16:59:32 GMT -5
I tried the unbalanced cable, and the same thing happened. So I wired my XPA-200 back running the L/R speakers with the XLR cables. Worked perfectly. But it's killing me because the SA-250 sounded so sweet! I've been e-mailing with Emotiva tech support, and unfortunately I'm thinking I may have a unit with a defect. Any advice on getting this big boy back upstairs? Hi KeithL Hair Nick , maybe you can help with this. It looks like he has been trying to make contact with y'all and has been unable to.
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Post by wilburthegoose on Jul 20, 2015 17:48:08 GMT -5
I"ve made contact several times - a CSR sent me an e-mail, but several attempts to reach her failed (left my phone number, she never called back, plus each and every time I called, I was told that she was at lunch). Sent in e-mails using their internal tracking system, but nobody contacted me even though I asked. I finally talked to the person that answered the phone and she said it was in the queue of a member of the technical staff, and I'd just need to wait. Like I said, it's vacation time, and they might not be big enough to have adequate coverage when people are out. C'est la vie - I still love my XMC-1 and XPA-5. I think they'll do just fine without one purchase
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Post by DavidR on Jul 27, 2015 21:53:21 GMT -5
Anything yet?
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