Popping sound from speakers

[joeparaski]

This happens when either turning the system on or off regardless in which order things are turned on and off. Volumes are all the way down too. Also, at the moment of the pop, the VU meters on the amps take a huge swing then come back down. I'm very concerned about hurting my speakers.....any suggestions on how to avoid this or protect my speakers?

[SuperDave]

Is this the same amp that was smoked earlier? :confused:

[George Grand]

Got a "Mute" switch on the preamp? If so engage it before powering up or down. Does the power amp have "Speaker On-Off" switches? If so, select off before powering up or down.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[amulford]

Does this happen with all of your amps? It sounds like the caps are dumping. Not a good thing. I would get it checked out, as this should be diverted to ground.

George has the right idea. Cut the path to the speakers before you power up.

Try a different amp while you get that one serviced.

[joeparaski]

There are no speaker "off" switches on the amps. I think I shouldn't keep taking any chances with this. I believe the best course of action (and easiest), considering that most of this equipement is 80's vintage, is to get some sore of cut-off switch like George suggests. I don't know what's out there because I've never used or needed speaker switches, so if somebody has a particular model or name brand they thing I should use, I'd like to know. Keep in mind that the mains and rears are bi-amped. Ideally, a rack mount multi speaker switch would be ideal.

This route will probably be less expensive than trying to service every component to eliminate the noise.

[George Grand]

Niles, Russound, and Adcom all had fairly decent speaker selector boxes that let you switch between "Speakers A, B, C" etc. Hook your speakers to "A" and before you power up or down select B or C. Then after power up is stable, select "A".

For what it's worth, the original Carver M1.0t had a WICKED on-off thump when hooked to Polk speakers. Bob and Mike McG. actually contacted Carver, and received parts and instructions for a fix. May not be available for your amp. I had one of those too, but decided to just sell the amp and move up the Carver line. No thumps with M4.0t or TFM-42.

Good luck Joe

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[dorokusai]

Parasound makes a very nice selector, the Zselect (http://www.parasound.com/zcustom/zselect.php), with an optional blank rack plate (http://www.parasound.com/zcustom/rack-mount-accessories.php) for use in a full size audio rack.

[George Grand]

I can't help but think that one is going to come with a fairly heavy "name on the front plate" attitude tax. Adcom and Niles came with impedance protection also, and are probably all over ebay and the used market.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[BobMcG]

For what it's worth, the original Carver M1.0t had a WICKED on-off thump when hooked to Polk speakers. Bob and Mike McG. actually contacted Carver, and received parts and instructions for a fix.

Well........... Mike's got fixed and I never did mine. Now the info is lost..... Yeah, I know, smooth move. :rolleyes:

[dorokusai]

I can't help but think that one is going to come with a fairly heavy "name on the front plate" attitude tax. Adcom and Niles came with impedance protection also, and are probably all over ebay and the used market.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

It's just a suggestion, as he mentioned something about being "rack mountable".

[George Grand]

I never saw the rack-mountable part Doro, and I'm sure it's a more than competent item.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[F1nut]

First things first. Which amp of the many you own does this? Did it always do it or is it something new? If it's something new, then as Anthony correctly pointed out you have a cap problem that needs to be fixed. If it's always done it, then the speaker selector idea would be the answer.