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Post by avaddikt on May 28, 2013 17:29:58 GMT -5
I have a strange and intermittent problem with my XPA-5. I have done several searches and have not been able to find a similar issue.
Channel 5 (I am using it for FL) will be OFF on occasion. There is no Fault LED indication when this happens.
I can go over to the FL output terminals and thump on them with my fingers and it will come back on. Indicative of a poor connection, maybe the inside terminal connections? a hairline/cold solder or board break? a marginal relay contact?
I turned everything OFF and moved the cables to the adjacent channel input and outputs. Everything is fine. I turn everything OFF again, put all the cables back where they belong. Everything is normal and not even any thumping will bring it back.
Normally, I would just write this off as a rare anomaly or glitch but it is has happened before on the same channel.
All my input and output cables and connectors are making solid connections.
I dread the thought of shipping this baby off to Tenn. My warranty is still good until November this year. So I am tempted to explore carefully on my own and look for a possible fault.
I will contact Emo tech before I do that, but I am open to any other suggestions.
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Post by Porscheguy on May 28, 2013 17:41:54 GMT -5
Check the connection on the inside where the RCA is for that input. It might be loose. I'm pretty sure its a plug..
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Post by avaddikt on May 28, 2013 20:23:40 GMT -5
Check the connection on the inside where the RCA is for that input. It might be loose. I'm pretty sure its a plug.. I'm using XLR to RCA cables, I don't use the RCA inputs. But good thought! I did wiggle the XLRs and it did not have the same effect. Of course now everything is working fine. |
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Post by avaddikt on Jan 31, 2014 9:07:25 GMT -5
UPDATE: Nothing has changed. I did isolate is as an output problem. My latest thing is to swap the L channel with the center one (no. 3). The center speaker leads are pins that are held under the binding posts vs. the other channels that are all bananas. Maybe using the binding posts differently will put a different stress on the terminals. I still think it is an intermittent connection at the post wiring inside. Just in no hurry to tackle the job of moving that big boy and opening it up to investigate. Will have to some time.
90% of the time there is no problem, when it does occur it does silently, no clicks, pops, or noise of any kind.
Just as advance notice in case it is not an 'obvious' issue (I am out of warranty) how difficult is it to exchange channel cards? I would think someone has done it by now.
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Post by lynnmass603 on Jan 31, 2014 18:05:38 GMT -5
chances are it is not the amp module rather the 5 pin wire that connects the the amp module to the input board typically one on the 2 wires with shrink tube over them
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Post by Gary Cook on Jan 31, 2014 18:28:03 GMT -5
Sod's law says it will become permanent just after the warranty expires, personally I'd either find and cure the problem myself or send it back to Emotiva for service. If you are not confident opening it up and examining the internals, maybe doing a bit of soldering, then Emotiva is there to help.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by cobra5wood on Feb 1, 2014 15:22:35 GMT -5
My 2 1/2 year old XPA-5 suffered a similar occurrence a few weeks ago. The left side surround speaker stopped working one day. I swapped it out with the right speaker and verified the speaker was OK. Before I had a chance to reinsert the RCA cables on the XPA-5, it began working again about a week later. I have no clue what happened but am relieved it's working again.
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Post by avaddikt on Mar 11, 2014 12:25:52 GMT -5
Mine has not repeated either after 'messing' with it. I plan on wiring panel mount insulated RCA connectors (like the Gen2) rather than rely on the weak attachment to the small board inside. Although it not necessary since I presently use XLR for inputs, I still think it is a good idea in the long run. It will also give me an opportunity to go over the amp and look for anything else suspicious like maybe around the speaker output terminal mountings and connections that may have contributed to the intermittent output.
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Post by avaddikt on Apr 7, 2014 13:31:58 GMT -5
It's B-a-a-ck!!! Probably wise transposing the left front channel with the center channel cables. Last night my center channel went dead, much more noticeable than a dead R or L channel. It has taken 3 months for it to reoccur.
I took a wooden soup spoon and very lightly tapped the suspect channel output terminal with the handle and the sound immediately returned. This last channel swap eliminated any cable issues I might have. There is something unique to the those particular output post(s) that is creating an intermittent condition. I am just going to have to pull the beast and check that out.
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Post by avaddikt on Aug 25, 2014 12:54:01 GMT -5
RESOLVED: Finally got off my butt and opened up the amp. Sure enough, cold solder joint at + output terminal NO.5. I could actually
see the wire moving inside the solder lug with light tugging on the cable. Touched it up, now it's rock solid. Thankful it was an end terminal, the center ones look like a pain to get to. As it was I had to remove the little shield over the power input switch to avoid heat damage to anything adjacent.
The two screws, nut and washers that hold it on could easily be lost in a low pile carpet.
I took a good look at the RCA jacks and how they are mounted. Replacing them with panel mounts (insulated) would not be too bad at all.
A little tedious. That will be the next time I get off my butt. Just love this amp otherwise!
Hopefully I found a loophole in Sod's Law.
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