Need Help Troubleshooting

jwl

I have the following

Polk Monitor 40 Series II
Polk PSW10
Adcom GFA-535
HT Omega eClaro (PC sound card)

Problem: I hear bits of noise through the Monitor speakers when I play music, but nothing discernible. It might be the louder parts of the music, but I cannot tell.


Here is how everything is connected

3.5mm-to-stereo RCA cable connects L/R output from sound card to RCA inputs on Adcom
Speaker cable (12 AWG) from the GFA-535's outputs to the speaker-level inputs on the PSW-10
Speaker cable from the speaker-level outputs on the PSW-10 to the Monitor 40s


Tests I tried

1. I know the sound card works because I can hear sound through computer speakers.
2. Tried connecting Adcom directly to monitor 40s - no sound

All the equipment is new, except the Adcom which I purchased on ebay. This is the first time I hooked everything up (I cannot tell you if they work or not).

My first thought is that the amp does not work, but I have no idea how to test it. Other then the power light, there is not indication that it is on (makes no sound). Of course, the same can be said for the sub.

What should I test and how?

I suspect I may need to purchase something to test, so if there is an economical way to test, that would be good.

Thanks for your help.

J

11tsteve

so in this scenario you are asking the sub's amp to be driving the 40s and are basically using your Claro as a pre amp? is the sub turned up all the way?
possible the Claro's line level output does not have enough gain to give the amp a proper signal by bypassing the use of a pre amp?

i still stick with my original statement from your other thread. get a decent pre amp and a DAC. i am not saying that to be a jerk, or just to tell you what to do, but as a suggestion to start saving and researching. it will end up not being cobbled together audio, and in the end, should be of much better quality.

11tsteve

also, on your computer in the mixer or the Claro's mixer, make sure the volume for those outputs is turned up.

as far as properly testing the amp, seems to me you need something with preouts and a signal source (cd player, dvd player with a cd in it, etc) .

jwl

11tsteve wrote: »

so in this scenario you are asking the sub's amp to be driving the 40s and are basically using your Claro as a pre amp? is the sub turned up all the way?
possible the Claro's line level output does not have enough gain to give the amp a proper signal by bypassing the use of a pre amp?

i still stick with my original statement from your other thread. get a decent pre amp and a DAC. i am not saying that to be a jerk, or just to tell you what to do, but as a suggestion to start saving and researching. it will end up not being cobbled together audio, and in the end, should be of much better quality.

My understanding of this setup is that the AMP is providing the power (sound card -> AMP -> Sub ->speakers). I tried going from (sound card -> AMP -> speakers) and still did not get sound.

jwl

Tried another test. Connected a DVD Player to Amp via RCA cables and tried to play a CD. One of the speakers made some faint static like sound while the CD was playing, but nothing discernible.

What else would you test?

Thanks,

J

Syndil

Either the amp is not receiving an input, or the amp is broken and is not outputting any sound. Since you tried to play a CD through the amp and still got nothing, and since we also know the soundcard's outputs are working since you tested it with PC speakers, I think you have done all the troubleshooting necessary to narrow it down to the amp as the faulty element. If the amp was sold as being in working condition when you bought it off of eBay, then it's time to file a claim.

Syndil

Actually the only other thing it might be that you haven't necessarily ruled out are the cables. Do you know for certain the 3.5mm to RCA cable is working? Or the speaker cables?

MADGSF

I suggest one more test before writing off the amp. Take the sub out of the loop and go from CD Player -> Amp -> Speakers. And it's not a bad idea to check the speaker cables as well.

jwl

I asked Adcom about this and they answered only in the context of the test I ran using the CD player - they said I should have a pre-amp between the CD player and the AMP. I am trying to get clarification if the same is true for the sound card. Assuming this is correct (for all cases), can I use a Klipsch dd5.1 to handle this task (I happen to have one)?

http://www.klipsch.com/promedia-dd-5-1 (manual: http://www.themusichelpers.com/z/248061100000001)

With regards to the cables, it is possible there is a problem there, but probably not likely. They are new from monoprice - never had a issue from them before. Unless it is the 3.5 mm to RCA that is the problem, multiple cables along the chain would have to be bad for nothing to work.

MADGSF

They are right you do need a preamp and as far as I know that Klipsch should work as it looks to have inputs and pre-outs.

jwl

I ran 3 more tests - still no sound.

I placed a Klipsch Promedia DD 5.1 between the sound card and the AMP (connected with different RCA Connectors) - nothing.
Then connected the DVD/CD player to the Klipsch (which was connected to the AMP) - again, no sound.
The last test, I kept the DVD/CD connected, but then connected the AMP to the speakers (skipping the sub).

Assuming the Klipsch Promedia DD 5.1 is a good enough preamp, I think I have ruled out the sub as the problem. I also ruled out the 3.5mm to RCA cable. That still leaves the amp, the speakers and all their cables....although I assuming if only one cable was bad, I would still hear something.

Suggestions?

11tsteve

just curious. which outputs on the promedia did you use?

jwl

I used the L/R outputs (and the Line In Inputs).

Syndil

Sounds like it's the amp to me. Might check to see if it's been switched to 220 volts. As odd as it sounds, I bought an Adcom from eBay that was wired for 220. Thankfully they are usually pretty easy to change. The 535 has a switch underneath the top cover for it, unless it's the 535 II.

http://www.adcom-usa.com/voltage-conversion

jwl

I will check that tonight. By the way, should the AMP make any sound, blow air or heat up when it is on? I have never had one of these, so I do not know what is normal.

Syndil

No fans. Should be utterly silent. Might or might not hear a slight buzz of inrush current when you first turn it on, but nothing once it's operating. It should warm up a bit, but without having it do any work it would probably take it a long time before you would notice.

jwl

Got a hold of a receiver and proved speakers, sub, setup and cables work...the AMP is the only thing left and must be the problem. Thanks for your help