Problem with C46.....I think.

[Mighty Favog]

O.k., so after about a month, I get my MR85 back from Audio Classics and it now works as it should (YEA!!)

So, I'm doing some low-volume listening and things just didn't sound that clear. So I turned up the volume and it sounded better but not it's usual great. I didn't have time to experiment any further as I had to leave.

Tonight, I get home and wanted some low-volume background music for dinner (Michael Franks -The Art of Tea) but now the problem blatant. All of the music that would come out of one channel was now coming out of both speakers in mono. Sort of a Left Channel dual-mono.

I tried all its sources of any program (Turntable, CD/DVD, Tuner) and the same problem exists. I grab hold of the Balance knob and run it to one side and the music still comes out of both speakers as if I didn't touch it. Then I the Balance all the way over to the other channel and the music disappears from both speakers completely. I even rebooted the unit a couple times and no change

So, is there some sort of master reset procedure for this animal or am I facing sending IT to AC too?

........(sorry if I sound a bit gruff)


Thanks all,

Tom

[Mighty Favog]

Appendix - I also cycled the MONO switch a few times with no change and also too the eq out of the loop also with no change.

[jdandy]

Tom.......You might try a Reset of the Microprocessor. In the event that the controls of the C46 stop functioning, switch the POWER Switch to the Off Position and wait about three minutes. Press the POWER Switch to the ON position and press the STANDBY/ON Push-button. This will reset the C46 microprocessors.

If a Microprocessor Reset does not solve the issue, and I doubt it will from your description of the problem, then the C46 will need to be serviced. Your C46 is at least 7 years old, and could be as old as 15 years. It may be a power supply issue, perhaps failed caps.

[Mighty Favog]

Thanks Dan,

Resetting the microprocessors didn't help. Looks like it's going on a trip East, too.

If anything, I've learned not to ship through a UPS STORE, but use my office's account......much cheaper for the same service.

[Mighty Favog]

HAH!! FOUND THE "PROBLEM"!! (looking in the mirror)

O.K., so I had to play with it more to localize the problem. I got out a pair of headphones and plugged them into the C46. Guess what, they worked fine with proper stereo imaging! .....oh, great. So, the signal doesn't go through the balance circuit when using headphones?? Uh, yes, it still does (kicking myself). So, I could only thing it was the amp (MC252). Wait a minute....the amp? Hmmmmmmm........

When the tuner was out for service, I rearranged the power-trip cables so to turn the remaining system on. (I know, so what) But when the tuner came back and un-did the rearrangement of the power-trip cables, I also was cleaning the backs of each unit of dust, cob webs and anything else. So, while I was cleaning, I accidently moved the "stere-mono-dual mono" switch on the amp to "mono".

[Mighty Favog]

DOH!!

BTW- Don't use a mildly moistened wash cloth to remove the dust and cob webs off the chrome steel of an amp. It took a pretty good part of the silkscreening off.... (sigh). Oh well, it's mine and I have no intentions of selling it. Unless I fall into a bunch of money and pick up a pair of MC 501'S. And a MEN220 is just dying to replace my dbx1231.

[jdandy]

Tom.......Fabulous. That beats the heck out of shipping the preamp off for service. I did a similar thing years ago with my MC352. It drove me crazy until I discovered I had inadvertently moved a switch.

Happy to know you are back to normal.

[mtroo]

Originally Posted by Mighty Favog

DOH!!

BTW- Don't use a mildly moistened wash cloth to remove the dust and cob webs off the chrome steel of an amp. It took a pretty good part of the silkscreening off.... (sigh). Oh well, it's mine and I have no intentions of selling it. Unless I fall into a bunch of money and pick up a pair of MC 501'S. And a MEN220 is just dying to replace my dbx1231.

Boy, I was hoping my Mac gear would be a little more durable. Good to know. Glad to hear all is normal.