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#1
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Help!! My C2200 Balance Control is now the Input Selector!!
Hello all --
I turned on my system this morning and noticed R channel output is lower than L channel output on the meters of both preamp and amp. When I push the mono switch both channels sound and look to be on the meters at the same level. Now here is the strange part. When I tried to check or adjust the balance control, it would display the balance (20 to 30 or more higher for the left channel) but then immediately turn itself into the input selector. In other words, turning the balance knob now selects the input! This is similar I think that happens during setup. Probably unrelated, but when tone controls are not bypassed (I always use with them bypassed) and when the treble control is operated in the extreme counterclockwise area is shows spikes in the right meter and static through the speakers, regardless of how many times I clean the pot. I did a search on C2200 problems and found two balance related problems. But none that mention this strange input selector/balance control thing going on. Is it possible to jumper around the balance control to solve this problem? I never use the balance control so this would be a pain-free solution. It appears it may be more complex than simply removing a control from circuit would correct. If that's the case, is there a way to bypass the setup circuit that I am thinking is involved here? I would be fine with a short term solution even if it bypassed balance control, input control and setup. As mentioned above I never use balance, only use one input and never use setup. I am in France and any McIntosh tech is far away in Paris. And I would probably not see my preamp for many many moons. I am fairly competent with a soldering iron and am hoping someone here could coach me thru this. Thanks -- Rob |
#2
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If you haven’t already tried it, I’d reset the microprocessor. This from the C2200 manual:
“In the event that the controls of the C2200 stop functioning, push the POWER switch OFF and wait about two minutes. Then push the POWER switch ON followed by pushing the STANDBY/ON Push-button. This will reset the C2200 mi- croprocessors and the Preamplifier should be functioning normally.”
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Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#3
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Hello thanks for the suggestion
Funny I pulled up C2200 reset earlier and it said to hold 'mute' and 'outputs 2' buttons for 5 seconds to do a reset. That seems to do nothing, so I was hopeful when I got your post maybe it was just the wrong reset. But it seems following your procedure has no effect either.
I do have progress to report however. I pulled the front panel so I could get a better look at the microprocessor and to see if I could clean contacts, etc. And also cleaned and reseated all of the connections that run from the face to the main board. I then put everything back together and fired it up and now the balance control works like a balance control and does not revert to being an input selector. However, the unit still acts like the left channel is down in volume. What I mean is that, when the balance control indicates 0 correction, the L channel is down by the same amount it was. BUT now I can use the balance control to correct it. When the display is showing +7 to the L the meters and the sound seem balanced. I wish I could 're-center' the control somehow, but not sure how to try. Am wondering if I disconnected the central ribbon cable and reconnected if I would be able to "re-zero" the balance display. -Rob |
#4
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One quick question is about the age of the tubes. One possible reason is that one tube
may be start to be showing its age and its parameters may be getting out of spec. If you do have spare tubes or the original ones if you changed them, you can try swapping them. If you have a tube meter to test them even better.
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Main: Mc C2200 (Telefunkens) and MC207, Spectral DMA-180, Marantz AV8805A, JL Audio CR-1 and SAv2, Sony ST-SA5ES, TC-KA3ES and MDS-JA50ES, Oppo UDP-205 and BDP-103D, Bryson BDA-3, Magnum Dynalab FM Signal Sleuth, Remedy, PS Audio P12, Pioneer DT-555, Samsung 65" QLED TV 8K, JBL 4311B, M&K MX125II on Ultra SS Stillpoints, B&W HTM2D2, CCM7.3 S2, CCM683 Office: Sony TA-F700ES (Mod), MDS-JA50ES (Mod) and SEQ-333ES, Accuphase T-107B, Bryston BDA-3, BHA-1 and BUC-1, Audeze LCD-4, Linn Tukan, REL T7 on Ultra SS Stillpoints, PC Server (16 TB) Mobile:Audison bit One Virtuoso HD, bit Play HD, Amps and speakers. |
#5
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Hi Piolaxo -- I did try switching tubes and got no change. I kept investigating and at one point switched out interconnects completely. I had earlier switched interconnects at the DAC side and the low channel stayed on the right. Dumb mistake, as that cleared the DAC as a source of the problem but not the interconnects. Turns out the low level in R channel was due to a bad interconnect cable. I have no idea why the balance/input problem coincided with the bad interconnect but can only assume it was a coincidence. Only problem now is the unit still does not do a reset. But can live with that as otherwise the unit is fully functional now.
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#6
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Hi Rob, good to hear that is working fine. That is the perfect state! Enjoy it to the fullest.
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Main: Mc C2200 (Telefunkens) and MC207, Spectral DMA-180, Marantz AV8805A, JL Audio CR-1 and SAv2, Sony ST-SA5ES, TC-KA3ES and MDS-JA50ES, Oppo UDP-205 and BDP-103D, Bryson BDA-3, Magnum Dynalab FM Signal Sleuth, Remedy, PS Audio P12, Pioneer DT-555, Samsung 65" QLED TV 8K, JBL 4311B, M&K MX125II on Ultra SS Stillpoints, B&W HTM2D2, CCM7.3 S2, CCM683 Office: Sony TA-F700ES (Mod), MDS-JA50ES (Mod) and SEQ-333ES, Accuphase T-107B, Bryston BDA-3, BHA-1 and BUC-1, Audeze LCD-4, Linn Tukan, REL T7 on Ultra SS Stillpoints, PC Server (16 TB) Mobile:Audison bit One Virtuoso HD, bit Play HD, Amps and speakers. |
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