2. amps-preamps
  3. 1090202922

Pre-Amp Problem Opinions Please

HI TO ALL.
I own an audio research LS3-B line stage that bought brand new in 1996 i believe it was. it has very few hours on it,and it was sitting on my rack for all this time,really!
I was using my conrad johnson intergrated . I just bought some used digital gear from audiogon and decided to re-arrange my system and hook the LS3-B in. after all hook ups and everything I sat down for some listening and to my disbelief I noticed that volume control is acting up big time.
At 7:00pm position is off(which is normal) at 9:00pm position you get barely sound ,at 11:00pm is the loudest it will get(but still very low volume level) and at 12:00pm sound goes down again and at 1:00am there is no sound(normally it should get louder there).
Also I notice pops every time I touch the volume control,and sometimes pops heard even if I am not touching or turning volume control at all.
My rest of system if it matters is,,Krell md-1 transport
audio research dac-3,conrad johnson mv-55 power amp,and mission 753 3way speakers.
Any help is greatly apreciated.
best regards
George
yioryos
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Auto mute is self created by the equipment as a protection at turn-on. It SHOULD drop off as soon as the equipment is stabilized... maybe it is a relay? and is sticky? (My friends Marantz has such and it IS a mechanical relay in hers)
Definitly would cause low sound problems.
As to using the contact cleaner, You should ask Audio Research if it is safe to use.
Some controls are wire, and some are a film. I do not know about cleaning a film type pot. The wirewound or descrete resistors are fine to clean with a contact cleaner.
The relay is also very likely, as my friends Marantz would make nasty crackling noises till we cleaned the relay contacts.
yioryos's avatar
yioryos OP
723 posts
 
ELGORDO I had to use a toslink out of necessity ,but I did order and waiting for delivery of Illuminati D-60 1m RCA to RCA DIGITAL cable and a 1.5m of Kimber Hero interconnects
,they should be in anyday now.My optical cable is bad and I am aware of it,it's a SAEC brand.
ELIZABETH I tried Audio Reasearch recommendations but it didn't change a thing. Also I did rotate volume control like around 80 times but nothing.So I called LENARD back at ARC and he now wants me to take it to my dealer so they can take a look at it.They adviced me against any contact sprays.I am kind of pissed off because it broke at the wrong time and by,itself.
thank you all.
jea48
2,944 posts
 
I have An LS3, when I first turn on the unit the Mute light is dim lit for about 3 sec then goes bright.Does your unit do that? It sure sounds like your not patched in correctly.It sounds like cross talk within the unit,you know,if your not using the [direct input jacks] and say for instance your were patched into the CD input but had your mode selector switch on AUX, ect.The volume control will acts like you have discribed.
jea48
2,944 posts
 
Just a note you can use a regular patch cord from your transport to your DAC, it just won`t have the Bandwith as the Digitl cable.It probably would still sound better than the glass you were using.My first reply to your problem I said [Mode switch] I ment [In put switch].Are you sure you were ported in the Direct in? Had the toggle switch in the dirrect position?
yioryos's avatar
yioryos OP
723 posts
 
HI JEA48
I will describe to you how my LS3B looks front and back.
Front ...Balance control in the middle..Mode in stereo..
Input cd.. power on..operate..direct..source..
Back ...using direct inputs..outputs I am using the one set of RCA outputs .
This is how its set and produces the above problems.
Can you see a problem in connections or otherwise. I will probably take it for service on coming friday. But I sure feel bad ,and somewhat changed my opinion on ARC gear.
I mean I own older less known , least expensive equipment that never failed,even after long time of not being used and all that.
I have a PROTON FM-AM table radio that bought in 1987 and use every blue moon(like once in two years)and the other day I listened to it,and it fired up like a rocket.
As good as the first day out of the box.Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks guys and gals
George
More to discover