Hey guys- need some help. Here is the background on my potential power issues- I seem to have an issue blowing tubes and fuses and am now wondering if it's related to my condo.
I installed a dedicated 20A line to my living room years ago. I run two speakers (active subs), a 60" Pioneer Kuro, 2 small monoblocks, a preamp, dac, and two sources off this same line. I use TrippLite surge protectors (2).
I have never had problems with SS amplifiers (Pass, FirstWatt, Onkyo, etc). However, my BAT 75SE blew one set of fuses back in 2005, but overall was pretty stable over 2 years. In 2011, I had a pair of Sophia amps in on demo and in a week, one just refused to power up. Turned out to be a B+ issue in the amplifier and the manufacturer said the amps weren't ready for primetime. Fast forward to 2012, my Quads blew a transformer last summer (the heating filament or something). I purchased a Almarro 318B integrated and had no problems for several months. After that, I had a Vac Phi Beta---which blew a fuse (1 of 10 in the power supply, so very robust build) as well as had a "runaway" tube---which unusually, actually smoked two KT88s at the same time. New tubes and the Vac hummed right along. I sold the Vac ultimately for sonic reasons. My Quads 2 40s are back in my system and just blew a rectifier (274B) and now won't give me any sound even with stock rectifiers---they heat up, but no output, so I've been told by a friend the issue is in the B+ and he is stopping by tomorrow to open them up.
We've tested my voltage at the wall with a voltmeter and it was 120. I have not called my power company, but am thinking about it. I have never had a source component, preamp, or SS amp have one issue in the past 10 years on the same outlet.
I think there is too much room for chance in this situation and that I must have a power issue with high voltage amps--I have thought about a PC in the past, but haven't done it because 2k isn't an inexpensive solution and I'm puzzled why these issues are occurring. I'm pretty much reached my limit and may just go back to SS amplification.
Look to the forum for some much needed guidance.
Happy Monday,
KeithR
I installed a dedicated 20A line to my living room years ago. I run two speakers (active subs), a 60" Pioneer Kuro, 2 small monoblocks, a preamp, dac, and two sources off this same line. I use TrippLite surge protectors (2).
I have never had problems with SS amplifiers (Pass, FirstWatt, Onkyo, etc). However, my BAT 75SE blew one set of fuses back in 2005, but overall was pretty stable over 2 years. In 2011, I had a pair of Sophia amps in on demo and in a week, one just refused to power up. Turned out to be a B+ issue in the amplifier and the manufacturer said the amps weren't ready for primetime. Fast forward to 2012, my Quads blew a transformer last summer (the heating filament or something). I purchased a Almarro 318B integrated and had no problems for several months. After that, I had a Vac Phi Beta---which blew a fuse (1 of 10 in the power supply, so very robust build) as well as had a "runaway" tube---which unusually, actually smoked two KT88s at the same time. New tubes and the Vac hummed right along. I sold the Vac ultimately for sonic reasons. My Quads 2 40s are back in my system and just blew a rectifier (274B) and now won't give me any sound even with stock rectifiers---they heat up, but no output, so I've been told by a friend the issue is in the B+ and he is stopping by tomorrow to open them up.
We've tested my voltage at the wall with a voltmeter and it was 120. I have not called my power company, but am thinking about it. I have never had a source component, preamp, or SS amp have one issue in the past 10 years on the same outlet.
I think there is too much room for chance in this situation and that I must have a power issue with high voltage amps--I have thought about a PC in the past, but haven't done it because 2k isn't an inexpensive solution and I'm puzzled why these issues are occurring. I'm pretty much reached my limit and may just go back to SS amplification.
Look to the forum for some much needed guidance.
Happy Monday,
KeithR