BP26 plays very softly when volume is down 100%

Marius · « **on:** 21 Nov 2012, 12:12 pm »

Hi James,

Today I noticed that the BP26 plays very very softly, even while the volume-knob is turned left completely. but loud enough to hear it from the sofa.
(Was playing my ACDC once more, and my housecompanion asked me to stop... I turned it down and still heard Whole lota Rosie

)

Never had that before. If i mute the Bp26, there's nothing. What to do?

Marius

James Tanner · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Nov 2012, 12:31 pm »

Quote from: Marius on 21 Nov 2012, 12:12 pm

Hi James,

Today I noticed that the BP26 plays very very softly, even while the volume-knob is turned left completely. but loud enough to hear it from the sofa.
(Was playing my ACDC once more, and my housecompanion asked me to stop... I turned it down and still heard Whole lots Rosie )

Never had that before. If i mute the Bp26, there's nothing. What to do?

Marius

That's normal with the 26 depending on the overall gain in the system.

James

Marius · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Nov 2012, 01:26 pm »

thanks, glad to hear its normal....

How come Ive never heard it before? It couldn't have to do with the BHA1 added to the system? Bha1 was powered off.
I know the ESL's are sensitive speakers, sometimes the humidity makes them crackle or hiss a bit, but this is new to me, and Ive been playing them for more then 20 years, and I believe 5 with the 28b's.

Marius

Quote from: James Tanner on 21 Nov 2012, 12:31 pm

That's normal with the 26 depending on the overall gain in the system.

James

brucek · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Nov 2012, 02:09 pm »

Quote

That's normal with the 26 depending on the overall gain in the system.

Why would that be normal. The schematic shows no fixed resistance between fully counter-clockwise on the volume pot and ground. That situation would result in zero signal being passed.

brucek

Marius · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Nov 2012, 02:11 pm »

to be honest, that's what is has always done.....

Marius

Quote from: brucek on 21 Nov 2012, 02:09 pm

Why would that be normal. The schematic shows no fixed resistance between fully counter-clockwise on the volume pot and ground. That situation would result in zero signal being passed.

brucek

spinner · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Nov 2012, 10:52 pm »

My "BP25" is also audible at it's lowest setting. I guess that's why there' a mute button.

rmurray · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Nov 2012, 11:28 pm »

Yeh my 25 does as well

Anonamemouse · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 08:46 am »

Quote from: brucek on 21 Nov 2012, 02:09 pm

Why would that be normal. The schematic shows no fixed resistance between fully counter-clockwise on the volume pot and ground. That situation would result in zero signal being passed.

brucek

Seconded. My gear is dead silent on all inputs when the pre volume is set to 0.
The only amp I hever had this with was an el cheapo Pioneer...

spinner · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 06:33 pm »

That's odd because my amp is a 4Bst. Perhaps it does this due the fact that I'm using balanced connections . When it was single ended I never tried it to see if it was silent. Could there be a difference because of gain factors like James mentioned?

brucek · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 06:39 pm »

Quote

Could there be a difference because of gain factors like James mentioned?

Gain matters not if there's no signal to amplify.

My question is - why is there a signal?

brucek

Marius · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 06:48 pm »

+1

even stranger: the balance works in this situation. i.e. when the volume is down and the bp26 still plays softly, i does make a difference to change the balance. So there must be a signal, although it sounds like crosstalk (overspraak). powering down the 28's stops it, powering down the bp26 stops it.

Marius

i hear nothing on the cd and tuner selection even with volume 100%, on all other sources when the volume is all the way up, there is some signal, and on the bal1, which my ~~bp1~~ Bda1 is connected to, thats even stronger, even in the volume down setting

Quote from: brucek on 23 Nov 2012, 06:39 pm

Gain matters not if there's no signal to amplify.

My question is - why is there a signal?

brucek

drummermitchell · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 07:13 pm »

Have had my 26+ 28s for a few yrs,I hear nothing nadda,even being right up to the speaker with my ears.
Even a cheap radio set at zero,there's no sound,even my glorious AM radio in the van...silence.

Chicago · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 08:48 pm »

BCD-1, BP-25, 4Bsst, balanced interconnects. I can hear sound if I get up close to speakers with the volume turned all the way down.

spinner · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 08:53 pm »

I thought we referring to this with a signal (source) and a small amount remains audible. ( Is that what James means?) With "NO "signal at all my preamp is silent.

Chicago · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 09:31 pm »

Correct, with a cd playing

spinner · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Nov 2012, 11:12 pm »

Exactly , we are talking two different things here. Signal from a source or no source. With any source there is a whisper coming through.. without ...silence

PierreB · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Nov 2012, 01:48 am »

No sound at all with my BP25 and 2B SST and my Cambridge 840C playing and volume 100% down.

Rclark · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Nov 2012, 02:03 am »

This would be annoying to me. With my Warpspeed Optocoupler ldr the sound becomes completely silent at the bottom and has very fine volume control from there, you get several winds of the dial out to max...

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Nov 2012, 02:08 am »

I would not like this, either. A pet peeve of mine is volume controls that do not go to zero, have coarse gain adjustments around zero and/or are imbalanced (left to right) at very low levels.

Marius · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Nov 2012, 11:32 am »

Hi James,

Please explain why this is 'normal'. Crosstalk on the other inputs with volume up to the max, and why not all inputs ( set to two sources the Bp26 is dead silent) , and even louder sounds when volume is at 0%?

Thanks,
Marius