[Chazz]

Hi,

For reasons unknown to me, my right channel Stratos Extreme Monoblocks started behaving funny today today.  It's been working fine until now and it's causing me no little annoyance (the Stratos and the Loreleis were what made me stop play the upgrade game!)

The problem is that when I turn the volume up beyond a certain point - normally I have it much higher - the driver on my right speaker (Loreleis) suddenly jump in and out and I get high pitched 'squeeks' (not sure whether this is from the tweeter or the mid-range driver).  It looks like it's "clipping" but at quite reasonable volumes. 

To isolate the problem I have:
- switched Amps and confirmed that it is definitely the right channel monoblock amp and not the speakers
- tried swapping the fuse below the power point with the left channel monoblock amp and confirmed that it 's not the external fuse

Has anyone else had this issue before?  Since I live in Australia and would like to avoid shipping it all the way to the US to get Klaus to have a look at it, I thought maybe someone here may have a solution!

Many Thanks
Chazz

[Chazz]

PS.

Not sure whether this helps but both my monoblocks run quite hot.  I've heard that stratos runs cool, but mine are 50Hz/240V units so I assumed they were a bit different.  However, I've had no problems with them until now.  Does anyone else have experience with 240V Stratos Extreme Monos?

[DMi]

Did you also swap cables and power connections? That would isolate it to just the amplifer all other stuff being the same. Sorry can't be helpful with the 240v thing running 110v here.

Doug

[Eugene2]

If you have isolated to the amps and if it is imtermittent distortion could be a bad cap.  Best to check with Klaus he will help you trouble shoot.

[Chazz]

Ok, I opened up the Amp, and found that one of internal fuses had blown.

However, whenever I turned the power on the left front fuse kept blowing.  After going through 7 fuses, I've finally isolated the problem to my HT receiver!

Whenever I connect the pre-amp out of my receiver to my mono and turn the mono on, the same fuse blows each time.  All other connections don't blow the fuse.

Does this mean that my HT receiver has a short inside?  Can this short be transmitted through the interconnect?   

The other pre-amp out connected to the other mono shows no problems so can a short be limited to one pre-amp out in the HT receiver?

Thanks
Charles

[Chazz]

Hi Marbles,

Thanks for the advice.  I switched to the other mono amp (same power cable, same IC) and the fuse on that unit didn't blow.

It is only when I connect the IC to the problem amp that it blows - so I assume the problem is still with the amp now. 

Is this something that any local technician can fix or must I send it back to Herr Klaus (It will cost me ~$US400 just to ship it there and back!)

Many Thanks,

[Jack Dotson]

Curious what you found?

[Chazz]

Curious what you found?

I called Klaus and he said it could be the bias on my monoblocks - the amps shouldn't be running hot.  He's sent me some directions, but I'm no electrician so I will have to get a local audio store to see if they can rebias the monos.

If they can't I will have to send the monos back to Klaus.  Although he said I could send just the red board,  I've never done unsoldering or soldering so a bit nervous.

I wish Klaus had an agent in Australia!!!

Charles