New Tube Amp - Clipping left channel
audiocr381ve
Posts: 2,588
As some of you may know, I bought a Rogue Stereo 90 Super Magnum from Mike (brgman). So far, it's been pretty awesome. I didn't have a lot of time to play with it when it came in because I was leaving the next day on a 4 day work trip. Today I had some time to listen and it sounds great.
Now that the good news is out of the way, I had something happen when I started cranking the volume. This is my first tube amp, so I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is normal at high listening levels.
I'm running Totem Hawks (6 ohm) on the 4 ohm tap of the amp. They are inefficient speakers but when cranking the volume it didn't sound like the amp was struggling at all (90wpc ultra linear and 60wpc in triode mode). Because I didn't hear any struggle, I turned up one more click and the left speaker crackled and then just completed went out. My knee jerk reaction was to just turn the volume down (obviously). I checked all connections and everything looked fine. I slowly turned the volume back up and the left speaker was playing a lot lower than the right, but then started playing completely normal. Because I was sure that nothing was blown, I wanted to see if I could recreate the problem, and yes indeed I was. I cranked the volume again and there goes the left channel. And again it's back to normal after backing off and bringing the volume back up.
Everything is fine now and I suppose I just drove the amp to its limit, but the left channel going out and coming in seems really strange. I'm wondering if any one could help me troubleshoot what's going on. Fuse? Cold solder joint? Left speaker? Thanks in advance!
Now that the good news is out of the way, I had something happen when I started cranking the volume. This is my first tube amp, so I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is normal at high listening levels.
I'm running Totem Hawks (6 ohm) on the 4 ohm tap of the amp. They are inefficient speakers but when cranking the volume it didn't sound like the amp was struggling at all (90wpc ultra linear and 60wpc in triode mode). Because I didn't hear any struggle, I turned up one more click and the left speaker crackled and then just completed went out. My knee jerk reaction was to just turn the volume down (obviously). I checked all connections and everything looked fine. I slowly turned the volume back up and the left speaker was playing a lot lower than the right, but then started playing completely normal. Because I was sure that nothing was blown, I wanted to see if I could recreate the problem, and yes indeed I was. I cranked the volume again and there goes the left channel. And again it's back to normal after backing off and bringing the volume back up.
Everything is fine now and I suppose I just drove the amp to its limit, but the left channel going out and coming in seems really strange. I'm wondering if any one could help me troubleshoot what's going on. Fuse? Cold solder joint? Left speaker? Thanks in advance!
Post edited by audiocr381ve on
Comments
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Shane I never used a speaker like that so I cannot offer anything on that but I say we need to call rogue tomorrow for their take.
It was perfect when it left here but I can understand if you doubt that so let's figure out the issue so I can make sure you're happy or take it back or whatever is necessary.Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC
Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords
I’M OFFENDED!!!! -
Try the 8 ohm taps as the 4 ohms must be current limited in design. It sounds like it could be a weak tube. You could swap tubes L to R and see if the issue moves channels, that is the beauty of a tube piece. User friendly.HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable
2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable -
Did you check/set the bias?Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Shane I never used a speaker like that so I cannot offer anything on that but I say we need to call rogue tomorrow for their take.
It was perfect when it left here but I can understand if you doubt that so let's figure out the issue so I can make sure you're happy or take it back or whatever is necessary.
Mike I wasn't insinuating anything brotha! It's all good. I swapped out speakers today and couldn't recreate the problem, even at ungodly levels. I'm really guessing it has something to do with the left speaker which was knocked around during shipping. I'm going to open the speaker up and take a peak.
F1nut, I did set the bias recently to the factory recommended settings. -
Don't think i was mad at you.I just want to be sure you get what i sent and no damage was done.It's a great piece and i hate to hear of any problems.
Glad it seems right now.
Hopefully just a loose connection or something fickle like that.Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC
Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords
I’M OFFENDED!!!!
