Dead Acoustat MK131aB Interface

[toxrtp]

I own and love a pair of Acoustat 1+1 ESLs. Today, one of the speakers is totally dead. No static, nothing. I isolated the problem to the speaker, not the source/amp, etc. All 3 fuses are fine (two internal, one external). COntinuity on everything I could check is fine. But, there's lots left (capicators, quadrupler, etc.) If the problem's in the panel, I am SOL. So, I want to assume the problem is in teh interface. Who diagnoses and repairs such things these days? Six years ago, I had a fellow in Florida, but I can't locate him. Please let me know if anyone still repairs Acoustat interfaces and how to contac them. Thanks!

[moray james]

Toxrtp: first thing that you can do is to swap interfaces. If the panel which presently does not work then plays ok on the opposite interface then you can know that the panel and its connections are fine. Then the next thing to check on the troubled interface is the high voltage supply. You will need to borrow a high voltage probe to use with a DVM and you should read about 4Kv from the end of the supply. If you can not find a probe that's ok simply use a length of thin gage wire and run it from your good supply to the supply contact pin on the problem speaker and run that speaker panel with the stepup transformers of the sick interface. If the problem is the supply only then the speaker should run properly if not then the problem is most likely a cap and probably one of the high voltage caps. See if you can track down which cap perhaps with a little local assistance. I can help you out with identical new high voltage caps. Start with checking these things and we can take things from where ever you are at that point in time. Good luck don't worry chances are this is not a big deal. Best regards Moray James.

[toxrtp]

Thanks. As it turns out, the problem was that the striated wires one of my speaker cable leads had come disconnected from its spade lug end. So, the problem was not in the interface after all. Thanks for the advice to literally switch interfaces. My diagnostic procedure up till then led to the conclusion it was an interface.

[moray james]

Toxrtp: well that is great news to hear. You must have spent the weekend feeling very worried with a dead speaker and no immediate service available. Glad to see that things have worked out and that you were able to set thing right. You have been able to see that the WWW can however be a wonderful connector to others with similar interests. These forums are a resourse of incredible value. You find friends to help when you get in a jam and can learn from the experiences of others. Regards Moray James.