Carver C-2 preamp problems

Aaron
Aaron Posts: 1,853
edited December 2001 in Technical/Setup
I'm having some issues with my Carver C-2 preamp. The right channel virtually drops out on me. The channel is there, but VERY quiet. The problem seems to be in the right channel input section. If you switch the preamp to mono, both speakers play fine. If you swap channels then the other speaker virtually drops out. If you play the right channel through both speakers there is sound, but again, it's quiet. I have two sources hooked up to the preamp, and they both exhibit the same behavior. I opened up the preamp but didn't see anything obviously wrong to the untrained eye. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Aaron
Post edited by Aaron on
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  • Aaron
    Aaron Posts: 1,853
    edited December 2001
    nt
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited December 2001
    Sounds like a nice mono pre-amp you got there.

    R
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • sgtgto
    sgtgto Posts: 310
    edited December 2001
    Hi Aaron:

    May sound crazy but does your pre-amp have a balance control? Most do! If so, are you sure it's centered? If you have tried switching amps and the same channel has the problem I would say you have a problem with the pre-amp.

    Gary
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  • Aaron
    Aaron Posts: 1,853
    edited December 2001
    Good thought, but the balance is centered. I also get the same behavior if I hook up my headphones to the preamp. Also, I'm using two amps in a horizontal bi-amp configuration and they both exhibit the same behavior.

    Aaron
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  • jdelan
    jdelan Posts: 244
    edited December 2001
    Have you tried kicking it? I find that a good swift kick can fix most problems...
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  • Aaron
    Aaron Posts: 1,853
    edited December 2001
    Last night I made an interesting discovery. If you switch the monitor setting from "off" to "T2" the preamp magically works in stereo. T2 coresponds to my tape 2 input (my computer). If I switch it to T1 (my CD player) this souce also works properly.

    So, here's my theory. It looks like the tape inputs go to both the regular input section AND a tape input section. The tape input section apparently functions properly, unlike the regular input section. Thoughts?

    Aaron
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  • Aaron
    Aaron Posts: 1,853
    edited December 2001
    Actually when I initially discovered the problem I smacked it a few times, and the channel would actually come back to a split second. It doesn't appear to do this trick anymore (I tried today).

    Aaron
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  • joelll
    joelll Posts: 120
    edited December 2001
    This sounds like it could be dirty controls. Operate *all* the switches, buttons, knobs and sliders and see if you can find one that's making staticky noise and causing the channel to drop out.

    If your controls are dirty, TV tuner cleaner (used to be available at Rat Shack, now I get it from a local electronics supply) will clean the switches and pots inside the case. You can also pay someone to do this if you'd be unhappy doing it yourself.

    I know this problem well, since lots of my audio gear is at least 15 years old, and some of it is over 25 years old. Old Sansui and Harman/Kardon seems to be quite susceptible to this problem.
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  • jcaut
    jcaut Posts: 1,849
    edited December 2001
    Actually when I initially discovered the problem I smacked it a few times, and the channel would actually come back to a split second.

    If that's the case, then it sure sounds like it might be a dirty control, loose connection or solder joint, or maybe a relay (?).

    I'd try spraying the relevant controls (like maybe the input selectors) with tuner cleaner first. Then maybe start looking for a bad solder joint, or relay, if applicable.

    Jason
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