[TjMV3]

Today I commited the most ridiculous,  boneheaded blunder.

I can't believe I didn't blow my speakers up and destroy them completely.

On Monday, the frame of my eye glasses broke, so I had to go pick out new frames and get a new prescription. They won't be ready till later today.

This morning I couldn't find my spares. It seems my two and half year old son sneaked into my bedroom, while I was still sleeping and took them to play with. When I woke up I searched around the house, but couldn't find them.

Anyway, about 11:30 AM I wanted to put my Vincent SA-T1 Pre Amp back in my system, as I had been testing my BAT VK-3i Pre Amp to make sure it still works fine. The SA-T1 is the Pre Amp I normally use,  in this system.

Well, while I was changing my Pre Amps out, is when I screwed up.

I accidently hooked the Pre Amp Output [Record], instead of utilizing the standard Outputs. Without my glasses I didn't see things correctly. 

A friend of mine lent me his Ayre System Enhancement Disc ( Irrational, But Efficacious), so I could see if I notice any difference in my system.

I pressed my remote for the "Full Glide Tone" (Track seven) and went out side for a minute or two to do something. Well, roughly a minute later the wife comes running outside to tell me my system is making an incredibely loud, strange sound. I came back in and my woofers on my Wharfedale Opus 2 were pumping in and out like crazy. I couldn't find the remote for the CD Player and I didn't want to get any closer to the speakers, for fear of hurting my ears. After roughly another 30 seconds or two, I found the remote. I tried to turn the volume down but that didn't work. The volume does not work at all when outputting from the "Output Record". So I hit stop.


All together my speakers (my amp and pre amp ) was pumping this Glide Tone out at extremely high volumes, for roughly 2 to 2 and a half minutes.

God, I feel like a major idiot 

Afterwards I realized what I had done with the outputs and corrected them.

There doesn't appear to be any audible damage as the speakers and system in general are playing fine now. The speakers sound fine.

Well, it appears that ( at least from what the tech at Wharfedale said) thanks to the high quality of my Butler Audio TDB2250 amplifier, my speakers were saved from destruction.

He felt if my amp had clipped, the drivers on my Opus 2 would have been destroyed.

Thank god for Butler Audio!!!  Thank you BK!!!  And a big thanks to Shane, too!

What a scarey audio experience.

[warnerwh]

That's why I wear glasses. I even have a headlight I wear so I can read everything. Glad your system is ok. I bet you don't do that again

[loki1957]

your system should be demagnatized now, may be you could sell this to us audio fools

[MaxCast]

That's why I wear glasses. I even have a headlight I wear so I can read everything. Glad your system is ok. I bet you don't do that again

Good idea, beats holding a flashlight in your mouth while snaking around the back of the rack.

[TjMV3]

That's why I wear glasses. I even have a headlight I wear so I can read everything. Glad your system is ok. I bet you don't do that again

Thank you. 

That is a great idea and I want to get a headlight.  I'm a trainwreck when trying to do things with my hands and also trying to hold a flashlight   And now you know what happens when I'm not wearing my glasses

Are these Headlights widely available?  Where could I get one? 

Do I have to mug a miner to get one?   j/k

[TjMV3]

your system should be demagnatized now, may be you could sell this to us audio fools

 

For the record I noticed no audible difference in my system,  whatsoever;  after playing the Ayre System Enhancement CD.  Nor did my friend. 

I'll tell my friend you're interested in buying the CD from him

[woodsyi]

That's why I wear glasses. I even have a headlight I wear so I can read everything. Glad your system is ok. I bet you don't do that again

Thank you. 

That is a great idea and I want to get a headlight.  I'm a trainwreck when trying to do things with my hands and also trying to hold a flashlight   And now you know what happens when I'm not wearing my glasses

Are these Headlights widely available?  Where could I get one? 

Do I have to mug a miner to get one?   j/k

Here is a cheap but functional one.  http://www.amazon.com/MPI-Camping-Hunting-Boating-Fishing/dp/B000F9DIFK/sr=1-22/qid=1158159371/ref=sr_1_22/104-5994325-7610336?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods
There are more on that page.  They are good for mowing lawn at night, too, when you are running behind. 
Glad your woofers survived.  The surrounds should be compliant now.   

[TjMV3]

Thank you, woodsyi !

A lot of great options there.

[Phil]

You aren't the only one.  My CDP, which has an internal volume control, can play directly to my amp (the Butler 2250, also sold by Shane, who I would recommend to potential buyers) and that is how I have it hooked up.  I was playing with power cords, as audiofools are known to do, and accidentally moved the switch that changes the CDP to bypass the volume control (to use with a preamp) and play at full volume. 

When I hit play the sound was REALLY loud.  I tried lowering the volume via the remote (luckily it was in my hand) but that didn't work.  My brain finally figured out that I should hit stop.  Given the power of the amps, it is lucky the drivers didn't fly out of the enclosures.  In fact, I wonder if there is a circuit in the amp which prevents a full rush of power.  Is that possible?

Anyway, I tend not to move stuff around the CDP now and use this mnemonic to remember the correct position of the switch:  Keep it up!   

[fajimr]

Are these Headlights widely available?  Where could I get one? 

or this if you want something a bit smaller... some people don't like the LED light  but I do

http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-E43P2-Tikka-Headlamp-Green/dp/B0006J30FC/sr=1-3/qid=1158165423/ref=sr_1_3/104-4553818-0199141?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods

[warnerwh]

I don't know where mine came from but it's very comfortable. It's an elastic band that goes around your head as well as over it with a nice LED light. It's fast to put on and take off with excellent light so you can see that dark area behind your equipment. I had one with a plastic band and it didn't work nearly so well and wasn't as comfortable. It's a wonderful thing to have when you need both hands. I'll ask my brother in law as it had been a gift. Before I opened it he said "You need one of these". Boy was he right as I'm on my third set of batteries already.

[lonewolfny42]

I don't know where mine came from but it's very comfortable. It's an elastic band that goes around your head as well as over it with a nice LED light.

A nice one on Ebay.......

[TjMV3]

warnerwh,  fajimr,   lonewolfny42 .......thank you for the excellent suggestion and links!

The amazon link has dozens of different headlights and I will choose from their selection. 

[warnerwh]

The one that has just been posted on Ebay is very comfortable. Don't get one with the plastic band as you won't like it. The flexible stretch band is far more comfortable and stays in one place better. For under 20 bucks it's hard to beat. I'm amazed how much use that thing has seen since I received it.