[Wayner]

I started having hum problems in my phono stage with my older Insight+ EC preamp. When I started the record all was fine. By the time it ended, out came the hum on the left channel. It was a small amount, but nonetheless, why was it not there at the beginning and then later, very present.

After numerous attempts at cable swapping with ARMod and failing with the same results, I tore open the preamp and decided to swap the op-amps in the phono board. Again, no effect. The hum came back.

Well, sadly I got out the saved shipping box and decided it's time for Frank to get involved.

While I had the two systems totally torn apart, I saw the one cable I really forgot about. I was bussing signal from the new Insight EC preamp to the older Insight preamp via tape output/input 1.

I remember telling Frank that I was doing this, and he gave me that lifted eyebrow look and said "OK". I did this to buss the HDFM from one system to another without connecting/disconnecting any cables. Well it did work.

The problem was that I forgot that the old Insight preamp has tape buffers and the new one doesn't. So I think I had a little war going on between the 2 preamps and didn't realize it.

So I decided to switch preamps that I was using to power my other amps, reconnected everything and left out the bussing cables.

Now I have to do a complete new review of the Insight preamps "CAUSE THEY ARE FRICKIN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!"

Apparently, my little bussing technique was handicapping both systems to a point. Now with the older EC running the Insight 170 amp, Oh my god, where did all the bass come from. And it's even more 3D. The other system had revelations too. More 3D sound.

It's taken 2 days for me to understand that this is not a fluke, and to remind those of you that run 2 AVA systems not to buss between them.

Moral of the story? What a dumb ass Wayner is. (oh, hum is gone too)

Wayner

[ricmon]

LMAO 

[dB Cooper]

"We have met the enemy and he is us." -Pogo





"Take it easy on yourself..." -Burt Bacharach

[avahifi]

Now if you would only connect the Insight preamp and U70 amp and Insight 170 amp to your big electrostatics and figure out just how good your sound can really be.  A Sunfire on the Electrostats?  Geeze.  Pardon me while I go - - -   
Best regards,

Frank

[charmerci]

.

[rockadanny]

I am SOOOO glad I don't do such stupid things! 
Oops! Wife saw me typing this reply. She sorta looked at me like this ... 

[Anji12305]

In a previous incarnation, I installed electromechanical gear for radiation therapy.  At the time, everything was pretty much a boutique-style operation of a few small vendors.  My parent company was Swedish.

Swedish people are so polite in dealing with non-Swedish speakers that a phrase so simple as, "You could do that."  had multiple interpretations, from "I've never consider the possibility." to "Have you heard of Chernobyl?"

One installation had four years of wiring and rewiring crammed into a 4 inch chase that ran into the concrete vault beyond.  There were three years worth of wierd readings coming from some of the more sensitive devices and occasional positioning errors (reportable to the NRC).

The first thing my mentor did was to pour concrete into both ends of the chase.


I considered this drastic, and asked why we didn't try to troubleshoot the problem.
"You could do that."  came the reply.

Problems sorted in one weekend, his way.

I guess we get to the age when we take the advice requested.

[ArthurDent]

Hey Wayner -
 "don't worry, be happy" (Bobby McFerrin ?) 

I even thought I made a mistake once. But I was wrong. 

[gjs_cds]

Now if you would only connect the Insight preamp and U70 amp and Insight 170 amp to your big electrostatics and figure out just how good your sound can really be.  A Sunfire on the Electrostats?  Geeze.  Pardon me while I go - - -   
Best regards,

Frank

Frank--Do you have any preferences on Tube vs. non-Tube for the pre-amp of electrostatic gear?  My Acoustat 2+2s have always sounded on the warmer side to me, so I just always assumed that SS was the better option.

I've still got the OmegaStar gear, so it is time for an upgrade...

And Wayner--I agree w/ Frank.  I'd love to read a review re: amp-swapping on your electrostats

[orthobiz]

What a dumb ass Wayner is. (oh, hum is gone too)

Wayner

But your my FAVORITe dumb ass. And what does it say about me when I admit that I like reading your posts and actually LEARN from them?

Paul