Oh man, I broke my class D amp. Make fun of me. Then help.


So... I made a new pair of super fancy interconnects this evening. Of course I was on auto pilot on the second one, especially the last connector. And, of course I always test my DIY cable projects before install..

Except tonight. Installed the ICs and all I hear is clicking. Not loud, and independent of the volume on the pre. Independent of source. Weird. I shut everything down and figure maybe, for the first time ever, I miswired a cable, so I pulled the new ICs and tested. Sure enough, I crossed my signal and ground. I repaired my mistake, reinstalled and now the amp the crossed IC went to is jacked.

The volume is much lower than the other channel, there is distortion during strong high frequency signals and the sound drops out during strong low frequencies signals. The other amp is fine. I swapped channels coming from the pre and the problem stayed with the amp. I doubt it is the speaker, as there were no sudden loud noises. Just the innocuous clicking...

So, what did I fry? Some kind of capacitor? Or everything? The amp is a Ghent audio monoblock, which is class D and uses ICEpower a/s modules. It is a GA-M500. Here’s its webpage: https://www.ghentaudio.com/amp/ga-m500p.html

I’m fine sending it in for repair, but if anyone has either knowledge of amp design or the unfortunate luck to have done this, I’d love to just fix it myself and save a lot of sending it around the world. Also, feel free to make fun of me. I deserve it. Such are the consequences of hubris.

If you’re wondering, I used KLEI pure harmony connectors, which have two identical looking tabs, one on each side, to solder the signal and ground to. If you look even remotely closely you can easily tell which is the ground.. but it’s not at bad as if I had done this with a more traditional RCA connector. That would have been really pathetic. 

Also. Recommendations for repair shops please.

Ugh.

128x128toddverrone
Are you sure your interconnect is OK? Have you swapped in a different interconnect to make sure you don't still have a problem?
Just open the case and with a magnifying glass and flashlight see if anything is obvious such as a burned resistor. 
Todd - Is the clicking coming from the amp or through the connected speaker?  Also, is the clicking present even with no input to the amp?

Depending on the above answers, you should probably also check your speakers by swapping them from one amp to the other. If it is your amp, the ICE modules are totally plug and play and broadly available, so that might be the cheapest and easiest solution if it turns out to be the amp and you're comfortable working on it yourself.

Good luck

Greg

Todd, don't feel badly. Everyone has done something like that - at least, I have, and my genius friend has.

I second what gs said. Look around inside and see if you can find anything that has a part of it looking dark brown or black. If not, make sure it is the amp and not the speakers, by doing as Greg suggested.

Good luck!

Hey, Todd, cheer up.  Everyone has had the experience of screwing up but it takes an admirable part of one's personality to admit it in public.  So, I'll just *S* and say "Welcome to the club.  Try not to come here often, right?" *L*
Related recent event...my spouse 'does fish'.  Added 3 angels to her 55g. tank to join 2 angels and 2 algae eaters.  Had planned and ordered additional plants and enhanced lighting to support all...but hadn't covered that part of the 'equation' yet...
She got to watch as all 7 fish literally suffocated, slowly...heartbreaking for the both of us.

At least you didn't kill anything.

If there's an applicable moral here, double check yourself and everything.  Then do it again if it's expensive or a PIA to fix or replace...

...because sometimes it's irreplaceable....;)