Distortion from one speaker - any bright ideas?

[REM2112]

As it say above. I have a distorted static sound from one channel, even when all sources and the pre-amp are either in standby or turned off. Turn the power amp off for a while, and it returns to normal, only for the fault to return. All points to the power amp, but I would be greatful for any bright ideas!

Thanks

Rob

[gizlaroc]

Listing your kit would help.


You say power amp, have you tried disconnecting the phono or xlr cable between pre and power?

Swapped the speaker cable over on back of the amp to see if it switches speaker etc.?

You need to narrow down where the issue is.

[REM2112]

Thanks. I am keen to narrow down the issue before carting the power amp off to the menders. I will try what you suggest tomorrow.

Kit is Mark Levinson 39 CD/Roksan Xerxes, feeding a ML 38S/432 (pre/power) into Focal 1028 Be speakers.

Will report back!

[gizlaroc]

Poor ground on one of the cables between source and pre or pre and amp could cause the issue you are describing even while only the power amp is on. If it does it with only speaker cables plugged in then you need to swap speaker cables over to try and work out a bit more.

[REM2112]

I unplugged the XLR cables from the preamp, which made no difference. So just the power amp on, with the same static. Swapping the speaker cables, swapped the speaker with the static sound.

Then it stopped. Now playing fine on all sources. The only thing I can think I did was fiddling around with the plugs onto the Russ Andrews Silencer Block.

I think the only 2 things left to try are plugging the block into a different socket, or plugging the amp directly into the socket.

Just got a quick blast of static whilst typing this. Back to normal again, all very frustrating!

[gizlaroc]

So you know it is the amp, and it is one channel only. Or it could be the speaker cable of course.


Try swapping the cable from left out to left speaker to right out to right speaker, if it remains on the same speaker you know it is the amp, if it swaps to the other speaker you know it is the cable.

Double check the cable for splits, loose strands (touching chassis etc.) before plugging back in.

[REM2112]

Guy

Thanks. All points to the power amp, but will be borrowing one just to nail it down before sending the big lump to the menders!

Rob