Signal too hot?

[Bullett]

For my birthday I have just been given a Cambridge AXC25 CD player.

I already have a Quad Vena2 amp wired up to speakers and a ProjectOne turntable.
I’m getting distortion on the left channel only. Changed the wire (rca), switched the aux in channel used, switched the red/white plugs over one at a time on both ends.

I’m assuming that the signal is overdriving the amp what I find weird is it’s only the left. Ch of the amp impacted.


Is this a send it back and get something else with lower output or is there anything else I can do?

[Bullett]

The Turntable plays fine and I plugged in an Alexa I had handy (2.5mm to RCA) also fine.

Mine is a Vena 2 - the fault shows up instantly when I play a CD but not otherwise but then only on the left channel. Weird.

[Bullett]

Turntable is on phono.

I've tried two different RCA leads, same result.

[Bullett]

ribbit said:

It won't be a signal overload, because it's a standard modern CD player connected at line level to a standard modern amp.

If you swap the L & R at the amp end, does the fault move to the other channel? If so, fault lies with CD player.

You could verify this by connecting only the channel (left) that distorts, using either just the red or just the white at both ends.

Your amp has two line level inputs. If you have the same issue using either of these, then that says the CD player has a fault.

If you try a different line level source on either of the amp inputs and it does not distort, it says the CD player has a fault.

I've done all these things.
It only happens with this CD player and only on the left channel of the amp.

I have a passive volume control I use between my computer and powered monitors. When I put that in-line everything works fine. I've ordered some RCA inline attenuators. Should be here tomorrow.