|
|
Post by drumace on Aug 7, 2018 8:05:58 GMT -5
Hey EMO friends,
I recently noticed that one of my mono block amps stops sending audio signals to the speaker once in a while.
If I pull the XLR cable and reconnect it, the amp returns to life and sends signals to the speaker.
I also noticed that this channel sounds less dominant and dynamic than the other channel.
I thought about using a contact spray to clean the XLR outputs on this amp, hoping this will solve the two issues above.
Has anyone encountered a similar scenario and/or used contact spray on the XLR inputs?
Thanks!
|
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs 
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,101
|
Post by klinemj on Aug 7, 2018 10:49:53 GMT -5
Call Emotiva on this one.
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Aug 7, 2018 12:43:00 GMT -5
Yes, EMO will eventually be involved.
However? You MIGHT try swapping cables L/R or perhaps hook the amp in question up single ended (RCA) just as a test.
When swapping the balanced cable, try swapping the ENTIRE cable. Than just at the preamp end......
If the problem stays the same AND with the same amp, than off it goes.
|
|
|
|
Post by petew on Aug 7, 2018 20:14:15 GMT -5
If your amp has a switch to toggle between the balanced and unbalanced inputs, that could be the problem. Flip it back and forth a few times to clean the contacts. I have a couple of Rotel amps with crap switches that need regular fiddling.
|
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Aug 8, 2018 1:03:10 GMT -5
Use contact cleaner sparingly AFTER inspection of the part to be spritzed. Some switches (toggle and rotary) along with potentiometers are fairly well sealed and you won't get
much penetration of a spray on cleaner.
I've used DeOxit to good effect and RS (Radio Shack) if still in business near you ALSO stocks a good product. At least it WAS at one time well regarded.
|
|
|
|
Post by 405x5 on Aug 8, 2018 7:40:20 GMT -5
Use contact cleaner sparingly AFTER inspection of the part to be spritzed. Some switches (toggle and rotary) along with potentiometers are fairly well sealed and you won't get much penetration of a spray on cleaner. I've used DeOxit to good effect and RS (Radio Shack) if still in business near you ALSO stocks a good product. At least it WAS at one time well regarded. I think all Radio Shacks are now gone, but yeah, I used all of their electronics cleaners and were very effective. Important to note the Deoxit comes in two flavors. The one that dries instantaneously, and the one that leaves some lubrication. Need to be cautious about where to use the latter. Bill |
|
|
|
Post by 405x5 on Aug 8, 2018 7:43:09 GMT -5
Call Emotiva on this one. Mark I agree....that doesn’t sound like dirt to me. Bill |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Aug 8, 2018 16:47:24 GMT -5
Balanced has a PLUS leg and a MINUS leg.....in addition to the 3rd wire 'ground'.
If ONE of the legs fails, that might account for what the OP hears. Less level might actually be 3db or so less. That's gonna do it.
A simple part failure on the board, or even a bad solder connection caused by 'wiggling' a connector would do the same thing.
Contact cleaner? Maybe.....and maybe NOT. A real cause / failure would do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by 405x5 on Aug 8, 2018 16:51:35 GMT -5
Balanced has a PLUS leg and a MINUS leg.....in addition to the 3rd wire 'ground'. If ONE of the legs fails, that might account for what the OP hears. Less level might actually be 3db or so less. That's gonna do it. A simple part failure on the board, or even a bad solder connection caused by 'wiggling' a connector would do the same thing. Contact cleaner? Maybe.....and maybe NOT. A real cause / failure would do it. What he said! |
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,101
|
Post by klinemj on Aug 8, 2018 19:48:35 GMT -5
It could even be a pin on the male end of the XLR cable. Have you tried a different cable?
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Aug 8, 2018 21:29:12 GMT -5
It could even be a pin on the male end of the XLR cable. Have you tried a different cable? Mark suggested but not answered in my post of yesterday 10-something AM. I hope YOU have better luck......and the OP gives something a try that is good troubleshooting rather than just shipping something off to EMO...... Inspect sockets on amp, too. with amp UNPLUGGED for 1/2 hour, try to 'wiggle' each pin in turn. Cold solder is still on the table. |
|
|
|
Post by drumace on Aug 9, 2018 8:02:05 GMT -5
Hi guys,
I switched between the cables and also played with the balanced-un-balanced switch. Also cleaned the cable connectors (but not the sockets on the amp).
There was no fading since then, however, the right side still feels a bit lower compared to the left side.
I'll try to switch between the amps and see if the result is the same.
I was wondering if this might be related to a gen1/gen2 difference. All these amps look like gen2, however, I'm 100% sure because one could replace the side trims of gen1 with gen 2. I can say the lowest S/N out of the 3 amps I have is >1000 but I do not know from which S/N Emotiva started the gen2 of these amps (XPA-1L).
Thanks again for everyone who provided suggestions.
|
|
|
|
Post by 405x5 on Aug 9, 2018 8:54:01 GMT -5
Hi guys, I switched between the cables and also played with the balanced-un-balanced switch. Also cleaned the cable connectors (but not the sockets on the amp). There was no fading since then, however, the right side still feels a bit lower compared to the left side. I'll try to switch between the amps and see if the result is the same. I was wondering if this might be related to a gen1/gen2 difference. All these amps look like gen2, however, I'm 100% sure because one could replace the side trims of gen1 with gen 2. I can say the lowest S/N out of the 3 amps I have is >1000 but I do not know from which S/N Emotiva started the gen2 of these amps (XPA-1L). Thanks again for everyone who provided suggestions. This is some new info. Are you saying these are different timeline production blocks? Bill |
|
|
|
Post by garbulky on Aug 9, 2018 9:22:43 GMT -5
Hi guys, I switched between the cables and also played with the balanced-un-balanced switch. Also cleaned the cable connectors (but not the sockets on the amp). There was no fading since then, however, the right side still feels a bit lower compared to the left side. I'll try to switch between the amps and see if the result is the same. I was wondering if this might be related to a gen1/gen2 difference. All these amps look like gen2, however, I'm 100% sure because one could replace the side trims of gen1 with gen 2. I can say the lowest S/N out of the 3 amps I have is >1000 but I do not know from which S/N Emotiva started the gen2 of these amps (XPA-1L). Thanks again for everyone who provided suggestions. The gen 2 says gen 2 on the bottom right in very faint letters. I would try different cables. |
|
|
|
Post by drumace on Aug 9, 2018 9:29:36 GMT -5
The XPA-1 gen2 doesn’t have the “gen2” label on the front. From what I see on online photos, the gen1 has silver power button on the front and my amps have black so they are probably gen2.
I’ll make the switch between my amps during the weekend and update.
|
|
|
|
Post by garbulky on Aug 9, 2018 17:40:36 GMT -5
The XPA-1 gen2 doesn’t have the “gen2” label on the front. From what I see on online photos, the gen1 has silver power button on the front and my amps have black so they are probably gen2. I’ll make the switch between my amps during the weekend and update. The gen 2 does have gen 2 on the front below XPA-1 but it's very faint in black. See?  |
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,101
|
Post by klinemj on Aug 9, 2018 21:34:47 GMT -5
It sounds to me like you really need to go through some strategic troubleshooting.
I'd start by swapping the connections on the speaker cables at the speaker end. Disconnect the speaker cables only at the speaker end...swap them to the opposite speaker. Does the result swap? As in, is the left speaker now the lower volume side? If not, and the right side is still lower in volume...you have a speaker issue. Based on what you've said so far, I doubt you have a speaker issue - but worth confirming.
Once you rule out the speakers, move the speaker cables at the speaker end back to where they were. Then, work backwards to the speaker cables, the amps, then the cables from the preamp to amps. This will tell you when the issue "travels" and doesn't. This will show you where the issue is and therefore - where to focus.
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by tchaik on Aug 10, 2018 11:03:14 GMT -5
The XPA-1 gen2 doesn’t have the “gen2” label on the front. From what I see on online photos, the gen1 has silver power button on the front and my amps have black so they are probably gen2. I’ll make the switch between my amps during the weekend and update. The gen 2 does have gen 2 on the front below XPA-1 but it's very faint in black. See? the gen 2 also has the front switch changing from class A to class A/B. the gen 1 does not. |
|
|
|
Post by drumace on Aug 10, 2018 12:17:19 GMT -5
The gen 2 does have gen 2 on the front below XPA-1 but it's very faint in black. See? the gen 2 also has the front switch changing from class A to class A/B. the gen 1 does not. My mistake, I was talking about the XPA-1L, not the XPA-1. Sorry for the confusion guys. And I do have A/AB switch on all 3 amps. |
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,101
|
Post by klinemj on Aug 10, 2018 12:29:04 GMT -5
My mistake, I was talking about the XPA-1L, not the XPA-1. Sorry for the confusion guys. And I do have A/AB switch on all 3 amps. No worries - the same advice I gave you on the troubleshooting still applies. Let us know what you find out. Mark |
|
