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Last night, my system cycled through a strange set of events. I heard a thump or pop, then soundstage collapsed, highs were muffled, and volume reduced. Switched sources, same problem. The effect was the same in both channels, so I assume that it was not a tube in my Sonic Frontiers Pre-1 (6x 6922s). And I also assume that if it was something like a tube, it would not get better nor would it fail to exhibit some sort of noise. No funny noises going on. Everything seems OK this morning, back to normal. Could something like what happened be the result of some sort of power sag? Since the TV/DVR/Sat. receiver were fine when I switched on the TV after shutting down the audio system, I wonder: Can a basic Monster power filter that feeds the preamp somehow be the culprit? (My amps are fed off of a Wiremold strip with no filtering. All power connections seem tight.Any ideas of where to start a diagnostic sequence?
Follow Ups:
A wild guess perhaps based on an old event. I was running two amps, a SS and a tubed, off the two outputs on my pre-amp using long IC's and experienced the sonics you described (only one amp actually connected to the speakers). I unplugged one of the amps, the SS one, and there was no problem (I thought). Then in testing the SS amp I found one channel had be damaged and it burned out a tweeter in one of the test speakers.In subsequent reading, as well as the comments from the manufacturer of the SS amp who repaired it, it appears my pre-amp had become stressed by the loads the two amps and long runs of IC's created, it put out excessive DC and the SS amp was not protected and was damaged. Fortunately I had rugged speakers and I was able to disconnect before they were damaged.
Perhaps your pre-amp is emitting excessive DC due to a failing part. If you have a spare pre try using it and see if your problem continues. DC from tube pre-amps is not an unknown :-) event and can take out amps and drivers.
I suggest using an inexpensive set of speakers until you locate the problem.
nt
Happened again, maybe 15 minutes into a CD, first selection of the afternoon. Shut everything down. Sheesh. This is a bummer.
Unless it happens continually I wouldn't worry.A few weeks ago at supper time my system became excessively bright, really bright! I tried different amps, sources, tubes, etc. I even plugged in a SS amp. Nothing changed it. I just gave up and finally turned it off and went to bed. Next day all gone! Never came back either. Probably the dammed cat! Who knows, I'm happy in ignorance.
Very hard to diagnose electrical problems if they are intermittent ... because they almost always disappear when I decide to fix the problem, or bring the component to a repair shop.Seems like the problem was in a component "downwind" of your music sources, and most likely not in the speakers. If you were listening to VERY LOUD music at the time of the incident, then maybe that was the root cause.
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Richard BassNut Greene
Subjective Audiophile 2007
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