I wonder if anyone can help with an issue I have...
My integrated amplifier exhibits speaker pops ONLY if I start it with a signal passing through. After that, the speakers will pop regularly every 15-20 mins until I power off.
If I start the amp with NO signal passing through, it performs perfectly for an indefinite period.
The above scenario has been tested extensively here, is 100% repeatable and allows me to exclude: household power, components, amp channels, cables, or speakers.
Has anyone else ever experienced this behaviour in an amplifier? My assumption is that with a signal passing through, one or more caps cannot charge correctly and subsequently fail to smooth out the power.
Rather than replace caps, I feel I can live with the workaround, but it has got me interested in what might be causing it. I'm confused by how this corruption could happen - if the caps can operate ok after a signal-less start, what might prevent them from correcting themselves at some point after being started with a signal?
Thanks in advance!
My integrated amplifier exhibits speaker pops ONLY if I start it with a signal passing through. After that, the speakers will pop regularly every 15-20 mins until I power off.
If I start the amp with NO signal passing through, it performs perfectly for an indefinite period.
The above scenario has been tested extensively here, is 100% repeatable and allows me to exclude: household power, components, amp channels, cables, or speakers.
Has anyone else ever experienced this behaviour in an amplifier? My assumption is that with a signal passing through, one or more caps cannot charge correctly and subsequently fail to smooth out the power.
Rather than replace caps, I feel I can live with the workaround, but it has got me interested in what might be causing it. I'm confused by how this corruption could happen - if the caps can operate ok after a signal-less start, what might prevent them from correcting themselves at some point after being started with a signal?
Thanks in advance!
What is the signal, how is it enabled/disabled? Both speakers? Loud pop like a dc pulse? Which amp?
Thanks for the reply. The signal is an audio signal (from any input). Only happens on right channel.
It happens periodically but ONLY after starting amp with audio running through. Runs fine when started with no audio playing.
After no signal start, will run indefinitely without issue. Similarly, starting with signal, the amp will keep popping every 15-20 mins or so until power off.
Also worth noting that after a signal start, even if I then remove the signal, the pops continue to occur regularly until power off.
It's like a dc pulse pop but comes in groups of pops close together over a second or so.
I have eliminated channels, speakers, sources, cables etc. It is definitely the amp and is 100% reproduceable.
Amp is Rega Mira 3. No schematics available, but apparently the Rega 2000 is similar (attached).
Thanks again, much appreciated!
It happens periodically but ONLY after starting amp with audio running through. Runs fine when started with no audio playing.
After no signal start, will run indefinitely without issue. Similarly, starting with signal, the amp will keep popping every 15-20 mins or so until power off.
Also worth noting that after a signal start, even if I then remove the signal, the pops continue to occur regularly until power off.
It's like a dc pulse pop but comes in groups of pops close together over a second or so.
I have eliminated channels, speakers, sources, cables etc. It is definitely the amp and is 100% reproduceable.
Amp is Rega Mira 3. No schematics available, but apparently the Rega 2000 is similar (attached).
Thanks again, much appreciated!
Intriguing - wouldn't be too hung up on the signal start behaviour, this is something that's right on the edge of happening and will be sensitive to temperature, that initial pop with the signal might be affecting temperatures and propagating the problem.
I'd expect over time the bad behaviour may develop into something more serious.
Perhaps instability due to decoupling capacitor degrading over time? This is a common issue.
I'd measure the DC offset on both channels and see if there's an obvious issue with that channel. Check the biasing too.
I'd expect over time the bad behaviour may develop into something more serious.
Perhaps instability due to decoupling capacitor degrading over time? This is a common issue.
I'd measure the DC offset on both channels and see if there's an obvious issue with that channel. Check the biasing too.
Thanks Mark. I'll investigate decoupling caps. I'm not an engineer so my knowledge tends to be very high-level.
Worth noting I don't get a classic startup pop either way on my amp. It's just that the periodic popping (every 15-20 mins) happens indefinitely after starting with a signal.
I'm happy to use the workaround so my OP is less about solving the problem (via new components), but more trying to understand how an amplifier can behave this way. I do enjoy a technical discussion!
For the purposes of this one, I'm focused very specifically on the signal thing because it's 100% reproduceable and very confusing to me. It's a form of temporary corruption of the system somewhere (until power off). But it feels like the amplification chain is in tact (transistors?) as I can run it for days without popping at all (after starting without a signal). Every time, 100% of the time.
Tapping your knowledge is great for my learning so thanks again!
Worth noting I don't get a classic startup pop either way on my amp. It's just that the periodic popping (every 15-20 mins) happens indefinitely after starting with a signal.
I'm happy to use the workaround so my OP is less about solving the problem (via new components), but more trying to understand how an amplifier can behave this way. I do enjoy a technical discussion!
For the purposes of this one, I'm focused very specifically on the signal thing because it's 100% reproduceable and very confusing to me. It's a form of temporary corruption of the system somewhere (until power off). But it feels like the amplification chain is in tact (transistors?) as I can run it for days without popping at all (after starting without a signal). Every time, 100% of the time.
Tapping your knowledge is great for my learning so thanks again!