EMOTIVA Thread Q&A [TECHNICAL TALK ONLY] - Page 383

Originally Posted by kbarnes701

Henryld - can you just go through this with me one more time? Was everything working OK before you tried to insert the external amp? I assume you had normal sound from all your speakers?

Then, tell me that you did the following steps: you connected an RCA cable to the FL pre-out on the AVR? And repeated this for the FR channel?

You then disconnected the speaker cables from the AVR, for the FL and FR and reconnected them to the terminals on the external amp?

Then you powered up both the AVR and the external amp, selected one of your usual sources, eg DVD, and you get no sound from the FR and FL speakers?

Can you confirm each of those steps?

One more thing. Are you 100% sure that you have connected the external amp to the correct pre-outs on your AVR? I don't know your AVR but on my Onkyo, it is quite easy to connect the cables to the wrong outlets -- there are all sorts of RCA outlets on the back there that could be used (incorrectly). The pre-outs should be clearly marked as pre-outs and there will be one for each of all your channels - FR, FL, C, SL, SR, BSL, BSR, F-Height, Subwoofer 1, Subwoofer 2 etc. They are usually all grouped together in one place.

If you can confirm all that, I'm sure we can, collectively, get you up and running here.

Kind Regards,

Keith

Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel

As long as you don't have any speakers connected to the Onkyos binding posts for the main speakers or center the pre outs for those channels should be working. I don't know of any AVR that has on/off selections for the pre outs. Im not saying they don't exist. I just don't know of any right off hand. My guess is that there is either an issue with the pre outs on the Onkyo or the ins on the Emotiva. You could connect a pair of ear buds to the pre outs on the Onkyo by using the proper adaptors and wires to get the headphones wired to check for sound. Maybe someone can comment on the best way to check the ins on the Emotiva.

Originally Posted by henryld

Yes to all.

Originally Posted by henryld

Yes to all.

Originally Posted by Fastslappy

if U have done all that then call Emotiva & request a replacement as that amp is DOA
these amps come shipped & boxed as is from China . Soo they basically just un-pack a sea container & ship them out to FedEx as orders come in .

Originally Posted by kbarnes701

OK, thanks. Have you tried using a different set of RCA cables? Seems unlikely both would be no good, but just for elimination purposes?

Have you tried resetting the AVR to factory? You will lose your Audyssey settings, and all your other settings, but it might be a good idea, as you have made various changes along the way to solving this problem. All you need to do is that other post of mine - it's really that simple - and you seem to have done it all OK, so it's a mystery.

And, sorry to labour this point, and please forgive me - I am not doubting you in any way, but I have seen this happen on more than one occasion - here is a diagram of the rear of your RC-180. The RCA cables are definitely connected to the outlets I have circled in red?

Originally Posted by kbarnes701

It's sure starting to look that way isn't it? henryld seems to have done everything right. In fact, setting up an external amp is just about the easiest thing anyone could do in a HT system as you know. Usually a 5 minute job. I think one final thing I would do, as I suggested to him, is to reset the AVR to factory and try just one more time.

Kind Regards,

Keith

Originally Posted by henryld

Yes to the cables. Yes to the reset. Yes to the connection points. And yes I am really suspecting the amp at this point.

Originally Posted by henryld

Yes to the cables. Yes to the reset. Yes to the connection points. And yes I am really suspecting the amp at this point.

Originally Posted by henryld

Finally got back to running some more test. Nothing wrong with my front speakers and/or wiring. Did a temporary hookup with my new amp to the center channel. No luck with this either even with all other speakers deselected and the mains disconnected. Just wondering if there is some other source (cd player, something) I can hookup directly to the amp to check it out. This would at least narrow it down to the amp or preouts. Just remembered, I have not tried the Zone 2/3 preouts yet.

Originally Posted by henryld

Without going into a lot of details I spent a good part of the day on the phone with Emotiva and Onkyo running various tests. The net result being the UPA-2 gets RMAed tomorrow. What a PITA this has been so far just to add a 2 channel amp. At least I get a $40 credit since they just went on sale and they will honor it for recent past purchases.

Originally Posted by anmg

Thanks for the help. Got the XPA-5 hooked up, sounds great.

Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel

Sure it's possible to have a bad channel. There could be several issues. A bad input on the back of the amp. Possibly a bad amplifier on that channel. A bad connection internally inside the amplifier.

Originally Posted by Topend

Or balanced is selected on one channel when it should be unbalanced.

Dave.

Originally Posted by Topend

Or balanced is selected on one channel when it should be unbalanced.

Dave.

Originally Posted by pjb16

Oh, I need to check this. It might be something simple like this, where I accidentally hit it.

Originally Posted by pjb16

Yea, it was set to 'balanced.' I haven't reconnected the center yet to check the 3rd channel, but I feel pretty confident that I won't be having issues.

Thanks Topend (Dave) for the good suggestion.

Originally Posted by pjb16

Switched my center back from the 3008 to the XPA-5 this morning and sure enough it works. Damn, user error.