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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 4, 2014 19:15:15 GMT -5
This morning I turn on my system to listen to a cd. Immediately after turning all amps (Outlaw7700, two XPA1's) i heard distortion coming from my left speaker. It only lasted five seconds and then disappeared. At the same time I noticed on the XPA's just the red led lights were on.
Again in the afternoon I turned the system on and this time the distortion came from the right speaker.
The distortion sounded as if there was a lose wire.
I shut everything down and decided to check all the cables connecting the XPA's and the 804's. Also I checked the power cable in both amps. They do not seem lose however I adjusted all of the cables so my mine would be certain that it could not be coming from a cable not connected properly.
Just about an hour ago I turned everything on and there was no distortion.
Can't wonder what the problem was or is since I cannot say for sure it won't happen again.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this issue?
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 4, 2014 19:20:21 GMT -5
That's why I buy equipment with a five-year warranty. It'll happen again or it won't. If it doesn't - problem solved. If it does, then it'll probably increase in frequency. Once you have a handle on what & how often, call service & ask. I've, fortunately, never seen a red light on any of my Emo gear.
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Post by audiobill on Feb 4, 2014 20:07:26 GMT -5
I'd leave them on 24/7 for a while.....
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Post by Gary Cook on Feb 4, 2014 20:22:51 GMT -5
A red light on one channel of a power amp is commonly a sign of a short circuit in the input or output wiring. You may have fixed it by checking and tightening the output wiring. Or it may have actually been in the input wiring and while tightening the outputs you resettled the input that was causing the problem. If it reoccurs take note of which channel it is and check the inputs and outputs of all equipment on that channel.
BTW it's not really "distortion" it's simply noise that power amp is amplifying and it's best not to let it go on for too long. Turn it off fast and find the source.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by garbulky on Feb 5, 2014 3:44:38 GMT -5
A red light on one channel of a power amp is commonly a sign of a short circuit in the input or output wiring. You may have fixed it by checking and tightening the output wiring. Or it may have actually been in the input wiring and while tightening the outputs you resettled the input that was causing the problem. If it reoccurs take note of which channel it is and check the inputs and outputs of all equipment on that channel. BTW it's not really "distortion" it's simply noise that power amp is amplifying and it's best not to let it go on for too long. Turn it off fast and find the source. Cheers Gary I too think it's the wires. They are secure, they are transmitting sound but they may be damaged causing these rare instances. It could be the wire, the connectors in the wires etc. Any amount of stuff really. Usually it would be a single wire usually the RCA. It could even be a power wire. Do you have any that are a little stretched /bent? |
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 5, 2014 7:23:23 GMT -5
I am using new cables from Legend Audio and after I examined the cables I do not think it is the cables. I disconnected the cables to the amps from the speakers and the same issue occurs only of course no sound. The amps come on I get a beam of the red led lights across the face of the XPA's and then they go blue but go across the face with no volume.
I have both amps plugged into the same 20amp circuit.
It seems like interference. This issue does not occur all of the time.
I don't think it is the amps. What are the chances that BOTH XPA's have a malfunction problem.
I will try a different circuit with one of the amps.
If that that not work I will call Emotiva. The weird thing about this is that it did not happen when I first connected these amps it just stared yesterday.
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Post by garbulky on Feb 5, 2014 8:42:34 GMT -5
How about with no RCA cables attached?
The startup - are you saying it goes all road and the nturns to blue eventually (within about 3-4 seconds?) Because that is normal startup.
I still think it's likely some cable - despite them being brand new from a decent brand. It could be a faulty soldier etc. Pick up some radioshack RCA interconnects and if they don't work, you can return them.
Other causes of wierd sounds - the cable box. Do you have a cable tv coaxial connection somewhere?
What do you think of the BDA-1?
Have you tried without your power conditioner direct to the wall?
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 5, 2014 11:02:41 GMT -5
I have disconnected everything related to the XPA1's. I let them reset for fifteen minutes unplugged.
After that time I connected the amps to an outlet and turned on the amp without the speakers connected. The red lights came on then the blue but on one of the amps the blue light had movement when there was no speaker connected.
I just reconnected the speakers and it seems the problem happens when I first turn everything on after that initial turning on process it does not happen. It's not ongoing when I change sources.
I do have a cable box but it is definitely not causing the problem. I think that would be more of a ground loop issue.
You could be right about the cables. I have bi-wire so I do not think Radio Shack will be able help.
Love the BDA1....
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 5, 2014 12:07:14 GMT -5
I reset both amps but one of the XPA's still is an issue. I called Tech support.
No more guessing the amp is going back. I have it packed up and ready to go. As soon as I received the packing label it will be transported to UPS.
I can't say how disappointed I am with only having these amps for a couple of weeks and they were not in use all that long.
Not to mention the royal pain in the A_ _ it is to pack these amps back in their containers.
What can I say I guess in the scheme of things happening in the world this does not amount to anything.
Patience but disappointed.
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Post by Gary Cook on Feb 5, 2014 13:20:14 GMT -5
What is brutally called "infant mortality" is one of the most common types of failure in electronics. The view that "it's brand new so it shouldn't have a problem" sounds logical but it in practise isn't. For example, if there is one out of spec component then the equipment it is used in shouldn't be expected to work for one week, one month, let alone one year. Electronics, unlike mechanics, doesn't physically wear out, if it works for a week it will usually work for many years, decades even. I've ben dealing with audio electronics for a long time and the ratio of infant mortality to long term worn out is hundreds to one. Take it out of the box and if it survives the first few hours of use then it mill most likely survive a long and useful life.
Look at it another way, infant mortality is usually a sign of a rouge out spec component, whereas failure after some time of use is a sign of poor design. The fact that Emotiva routinely guarantee their products for 5 years shows the confidence they have in their design.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 5, 2014 14:34:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the support Gary.
It is really a weird thing. Initially there was no issue with connecting these amps. I plugged them into an unused 20 amp circuit and purchased new speaker cables...bi wired for my B&W 804S speakers. Everything was super.
Speaking to the Tech I thought what are the chances that TWO XPA's have an issue? I am beginning to think it maybe a cable issue and I expressed this to the tech but he wanted me to ship the amp back since after resetting the XPA it still had the same problem.
I can't imagine what the problem is but the Tech said we will take it step by step. If after getting the new amp the problem does not occur I will ship the second back to Emotiva. If the problem is still there then I think the next step will be new cables
Electronics are certainly perplexing when they do not work correctly.
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 6, 2014 7:30:48 GMT -5
The latest news in this event is that I am waiting for the return shipping label for one of the XPA's.
I have to correct myself saying that I was beginning to think it was a cable problem with the XPA's and not the amp itself.
However over the last fifteen hours or so I had all cables disconnected from the amps and when I turn the XPA on I have the same problem. Therefore I do not think it is a cable issue.
It is hard for me to believe that this issue is happening with both amps....but it appears to be true. The only cable connected to the amps were the power supply cable or power cord.
Trying to be patient.
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Post by garbulky on Feb 6, 2014 8:05:31 GMT -5
Have you tried swapping the power cables?
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 6, 2014 13:32:41 GMT -5
The issue was happening with both amps.
When the XPA's were turn on the red LED lights remained on for a few seconds, then when the blue LED lights came on they are moving with a distortion like sound coming from the speakers. It only lasts less than five seconds but I do not think that is normal.
My speaker cables are new Legend Audio cables and my balanced cables are new BJC.
As instructed by theTech at Emotiva I disconnected all cables from the amps to try and eliminate a cable if that was the issue, however after disconnection the blue LED lights still came on across the front panel of the XPA as if I had the volume on.
When I first installed these amps the red LED lights came on and then the blue Led light but no movement. Movement did not happen until I increased the volume.
Sorry but
That's the best way that I can explain this issue.
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Post by deltadube on Feb 6, 2014 13:47:08 GMT -5
hi Blue sorry to hear about your troubles..
yeah I turn on my xpa 1s and the red lights shot across all lite up.. then the single blue dot.. no distortion..
use some different speaker wire hook up speaker turn on amp.. if noise send back.. no source..
cheers..
Bob
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 7, 2014 7:12:49 GMT -5
It happens when there are no cables connected.
No speaker cables, no balance cables.
Therefore it cannot be a cable issue.
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 8, 2014 7:27:13 GMT -5
Spoke to Jessica yesterday in regards to the shipping labels that I had been waiting for since Wednesday and apparently they were not processed. However I did received them later in the afternoon on Friday thanks too Jessica. She also instructed me to send both amps back since both were having the same issue. According to UPS tracking they are scheduled for delivery to Emotiva in TN on Tuesday. I asked her when the new amps would be shipped and she informed me that she was not sure if I was getting new amps or that Emotiva was going to repair the units I sent back or at the least check them over.
She said she would look into that matter and e-mail me on Friday as to what decision Emotiva was going to make but I have not heard anything.
I will be disappointed if I have to wait for the amps to be repaired or looked at.
I think that the circumstances being the amps are only a couple of weeks old Emotiva should be sending me new XPA's as soon as they receive my XPA's but I am not in control at this point.
This has been a long process since my original ordering of theXPA's. To make things worse the issue I was having seems like a very unusual one to say the least. Realizing anything can happen when it comes to electronics I am counting on Emotiva to come thru here to my satisfaction.
Just wanted to keep things up to date.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
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bootman
Emo VIPs 
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
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Post by bootman on Feb 8, 2014 8:36:31 GMT -5
When did you get these cables?
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Post by bluemeanies on Feb 8, 2014 9:20:58 GMT -5
A couple of weeks ago about the same time I got the XPA's
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