Gremlins!
Moose68Bash
Posts: 3,843
Just had a peculiar experience.
I was listening to my system in the exercise area this afternoon. When I shut it down for the day, I decided to switch out the coax cable from the Wadia transport to the PS Audio PerfectWave DAC II with an Audioquest Hawkeye digital coax cable I have.
I made the switch. Turned the system on to see how it sounded v. the Wadia stock coax cable.
It sounded strange -- i.e., weak and out of balance. I discovered that the tweeters in the right channel of the 1Cs were putting out nothing, nada, zip. I confirmed that all connections were properly seated. No change in output.
I reversed right and left channels at the amp to see whether it was something in the speakers or further up the "food chain." Turned everything back on.
Then, both channels worked perfectly.
Switched the speaker cables back to their correct configuration at the amp, and viola everything was fine.
I'm clueless about the cause of this temporary "gremlin," but I hope it is a one-time event.
I was listening to my system in the exercise area this afternoon. When I shut it down for the day, I decided to switch out the coax cable from the Wadia transport to the PS Audio PerfectWave DAC II with an Audioquest Hawkeye digital coax cable I have.
I made the switch. Turned the system on to see how it sounded v. the Wadia stock coax cable.
It sounded strange -- i.e., weak and out of balance. I discovered that the tweeters in the right channel of the 1Cs were putting out nothing, nada, zip. I confirmed that all connections were properly seated. No change in output.
I reversed right and left channels at the amp to see whether it was something in the speakers or further up the "food chain." Turned everything back on.
Then, both channels worked perfectly.
Switched the speaker cables back to their correct configuration at the amp, and viola everything was fine.
I'm clueless about the cause of this temporary "gremlin," but I hope it is a one-time event.
Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.
Comments
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Ken, can we please get this fixed so that pics get inserted back in line with text?
Agree.Pio Elete Pro 520
Panamax 5400-EX
Sunfire TGP 5
Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
PS Audio GCPH phono pre
Sunfire CG 200 X 5
Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
OPPO BDP-83 SE
SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
Ctr CS1000p
Sur - FX1000 x 4
SUB - SVS PB2-Plus
Workkout room:
Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
Onkyo TX-DS898
GFA 555
Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
Ft - SDA 1C
Not being used:
RTi 38's -4
RT55i's - 2
RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
LSI 15's
CSi40
PSW 404 -
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is a furtive form of censorship. Interesting that this shows up now! See some recent threads.Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
"Things get curiouser and curiouser," said Alice.
She went down the rabbit hole, too, if you recall!
With respect to the "gremlin" in my system: The "cutting out" of the tweeters in the right channel occurred again.
This time I "corrected" it by biassing the balance on the DAC to the right and returning it to the center position. it did not eliminate the problem till I returned the balance to the center, not when I shifted it to the right channel.
Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
If it is only the tweeters cutting out I believe you have an issue with the crossover in the right speaker. A cold solder joint or dirty/loose Molex connector contacts would be the first things I would look at. That said, are you sure it's only the tweeters?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 -
F1nut,
I can't replicate the problem at will, so I'll have to wait till it appears again to confirm that it is only the tweeters.
But there was sound coming from the right channel speaker. So, it seems likely that two of the MWs must be working.
Perhaps, sound is coming only from the SDA drivers?Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Perhaps, sound is coming only from the SDA drivers?
That's where I was going.
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 -
Thanks. F1nut and nbrowser.
If I can reproduce this fault, I'll be able to pursue some systematic fault finding.
Like you, Jesse, I suspect the right channel fails completely, and the sound out of the right channel speaker is solely from the SDA drivers.
My fear is that the problem is in my PS Audio PerfectWave DAC II. It was the most recent change in my system. I had a problem with it that required a return to the manufacturer. When PS Audio returned it to me via FedEx, I opened the box only to hear something moving around inside. The box also showed signs of having been dropped.
It sounded like a heavy transformer moving around. I tried to open up the DAC to see, but I couldn't get it open. When I returned it to PS Audio for diagnosis and repair, they confirmed that a transformer had broken loose and repaired it.
It was returned for the second time a couple of weeks ago. Everything had worked perfectly (great sound) till the appearance of this "gremlin." I fear that the loose transformer did some damage that PS Audio did not diagnose and repair.
I'm hoping it's a simpler problem -- e.g., dirty connector -- but I'm not confident.
I appreciate your advice.
Thank you.Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Phil, in light of that info I believe your suspicions are correct.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 -
Yes, Jesse, I think so, too.
I better notify PS Audio tech support to see what they suggest.
If I could replicate the problem, I could narrow down the possibilities, but recurrence appears to be random at this point.
PS Audio will probably not want to look at the DAC till I can eliminate most or all other causes and better isolate the root cause of the problem as something within the DAC.
Thanks, again.Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Today, I made several attempts to reproduce my problem, and I was unable to get the fault to return.
I guess that's the nature of gremlins!Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Amen to that, nbrowser.
I was a bit of an auto junky in my youth (even started my college career as a co-op student at General Motors Institute), and I recall the kind of frustration you describe all too well.
Cars were a lot simpler in the early 1960s. Even with contemporary diagnostic techniques, I suspect isolating intermittent problem can be far more complex these days.Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
The last car that I owned and did serious work on was a 1970 Volvo station wagon -- four cylinders, standard distributor, standard carburetor, no emissions controls.
When the emissions standards came in, simplicity went out.Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Well, today the fault reappeared and persisted long enough for me to do some diagnostics.
This is the email I sent to PS Audio about my problem:
"On 9 June I received the PWD MKII and reinstalled it in my rig a few days later.
On 23 June I experienced the first in a series of episodes of an intermittent problem -- the signal to the right channel is completely lost. The first time this occurred I shut down the system, switched the right and left channel speaker cables, and powered the system back up. The fault disappeared. When I returned the speaker cables to their correct channel positions, the system continued to function properly,
The fault reappeared on 26 June. In this case I biassed the balance on the PWD MKII to the right channel and, when nothing changed, I returned the balance to center. The fault then disappeared -- after the balance was restored to neutral, not when it was biassed to the right channel.
Over the last week I have spent more time trying to isolate the problem to verify that it originates in the PWD MKII. My hunch has been that the transformer's moving around inside the DAC damaged a component that now fails only intermittently and randomly.
My challenge has been that, like all such problems that appear to correct themselves as abruptly as they appear, I cannot reproduce the failure in the system whenever I choose.
Today, the problem occurred again and persisted long enough for me to switch the speaker cables between channels to verify that the fault moved with the cables and was not within the speakers. This was verified.
I was also able to switch inputs from my preamp to my amp between right and left channels to verify that the fault moved with the signal from the pre to the amp. This was verified.
Finally, I was able to switch inputs from the PWD MKII to my preamp to verify that the fault moved with the signal from the PWD MKII to the preamp. This was verified.
Then, the fault disappeared again after I powered down to return the interconnects to their correct channels and powered the system back up.
I still have to test for a potential fault between my Wadia iPod dock and my PWD MKII. Because this connection is made using the coax port, I cannot simply switch channels. Next time the fault appears, therefore, I shall switch sources from coax to the bridge to see whether that eliminates the fault.
If it does, I still cannot be sure the fault originates in the Wadia because the fault may simply disappear because of or along with the shut down and restart to switch sources from the iPod dock to the network bridge.
I can say unequivocally, however, that while I had my PWD MKI in my system during the period that the PWD MKII was in for diagnosis and repairs (both times), the entire system performed flawlessly through all ports that I use in this system -- coax, optical, and ethernet through the network bridge.
I may reinstall the PWD MKI in the "faulty" system and place the PWD MKII in another system (where the PWD MKI is now installed) to see whether the fault reappears in that system or whether the fault reappears in the system in which is now experiencing faults with the PWD MKII.
This email is just to give you a heads-up that I still seem to be experiencing problems with my PWD MKII.
Any advice you can offer me to better deal with this problem will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you."Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
The DAC is now on its way back to the factory for the third time.Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Now the DAC is back!
So far, no problems after about 30 hours of use.
However, I haven't been able to get a reply from PS Audio service about what they found or what they did to remedy the problem.
Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
@nbrowser,
Thank God I didn't have a mouth full of coffee when I opened that ^^ up!
Nice way to start the day.
Thanks!
Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.
