DMC30 s2

[coopersark]

My guess is the button panel is connected to the board with a multi-pin connector and it may have been dislodged during shipping; I wonder whether the dealer can take a quick look.

My Spectral 4000-SL CD player's eject button behaves the same way. This may be how the current Spectral electronics touch controls behave. Again, I never really gave it much thought, as on the second tap, whatever the command, works.

 

[ack]

Interesting... could it be that the first tap wakes up the processor and the second executes? What if you press once and hold?

 

[Adimon]

This is " normal" behaviour !?
I tried the amp on a AC source at 60 Hz but no difference.
I'm glad that all these strange issues are compensated by a great audio performance

 

[mmatuva]

Oddly enough, I seem to have this issue to my relatively new (9 month) unit. I can't think that it is by design, because the behavior is not consistent. About 2/3 of the time, the first tap changes the source without a problem; but, the other 1/3 it takes a couple of pushes of the button to switch. When I first read the thread, I thought perhaps the poster (or others) just had not held the button down long enough...it takes a little more effort than a light, quick, tap compared to other preamps. However, having read this thread, when I listened to my system last night, I played around with it and sure enough, I can't reliably get the source buttons to change either. I never noticed it because I have a digital-only system, with the 4000-SL as my (only) front end source and so it isn't really a functional issue for me; but, I'll admit that it now bothers me. I'll give my dealer a call and see if their display unit or others behave the same way. If it always took two taps to make the change, then I'd buy that it was by design; but, most of the time, a single press of the button works...just not always. Weird.

 

[Gregadd]

Perhaps spectral got a batch of bad ewitches. They should make good on it, Often manufacturers have a European repair shop.

 

[coopersark]

Interesting... could it be that the first tap wakes up the processor and the second executes? What if you press once and hold?

Pressing and holding does not work. One quick tap and then another...The second tap is the charm. I am not concerned. Never gave it a second thought. I am so used to doing this way that it has become second nature.

 

[ack]

Pressing and holding does not work. One quick tap and then another...The second tap is the charm. I am not concerned. Never gave it a second thought. I am so used to doing this way that it has become second nature.

So if you tap twice it works. Question: what if you were to switch to another input immediately after that? Would you still need two taps?

 

[coopersark]

So if you tap twice it works. Question: what if you were to switch to another input immediately after that? Would you still need two taps?

Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. The "double tap" is purely random in it's behavior.

 

[Steve Williams]

i am still quite miffed as to why one of you owners wouldn't pick up the phone and call Spectral to see if this is normal. If so then question answered. If not, is there a quality control issue

 

[mep]

i am still quite miffed as to why one of you owners wouldn't pick up the phone and call Spectral to see if this is normal. If so then question answered. If not, is there a quality control issue

Miffed or puzzled?

 

[Steve Williams]

bit of both

 

[mep]

I do find it puzzling that the OP hasn't communicated with Spectral directly either through email or a phone call to talk to them about the problem. It seems that should have been the first thing on the list once the problem became apparent.

 

[Steve Williams]

Hence miffed and puzzled.

 

[coopersark]

I do find it puzzling that the OP hasn't communicated with Spectral directly either through email or a phone call to talk to them about the problem. It seems that should have been the first thing on the list once the problem became apparent.

Since Spectral QC's their products for one month before releasing them from the factory, and since this "issue" is with all three Spectral products that I own that have these touch controls (I also have a 4000s Pro CD player that is in storage awaiting its place in another system that I will build for my office), I believe that it is not a problem at all, rather something of a quirk in Spectral's products. I am not really concerned, as it becomes a second nature that if the tap does not or on the first attempt, it ALWAYS works on the second attempt. Somehow that first attempt may be priming the processor's pump or waking it up, so to speak. Keith Johnson is doing so much to prevent noise in the units that he designs, that this may be an intentional behavior to keep noise out of the audio circuits.

 

[mmatuva]

Hence miffed and puzzled.

In my case, perhaps because it is Sunday (?)...doubting anyone at Spectral, and for sure at my dealer, is going to be there to answer my question today. I will talk to my dealer tomorrow or first chance I get.

 

[caliaripaolo]

The design?? What is the idea behind this?
Maybe this behaviour has something todo with the line frequency (50Hz instead of 60 Hz)
Most designers use the line frequence as clock for digital switch selection.

it is not a frequency issue. Same transformer for USA and European versions. Only different cabling/tip board.
Sometimes when switches are not used for a long time, it happens which you have to hold switch for more time than usual or press double time.

 

[nirodha]

it is not a frequency issue. Same transformer for USA and European versions. Only different cabling/tip board.
Sometimes when switches are not used for a long time, it happens which you have to hold switch for more time than usual or press double time.

Come to think of it...my dCS transport also requires two click when selecting a track. Never have given it a second thought though.

 

[Adimon]

it is not a frequency issue. Same transformer for USA and European versions. Only different cabling/tip board.
Sometimes when switches are not used for a long time, it happens which you have to hold switch for more time than usual or press double time.

Hi you are right!
No relation with the frequency (US 60Hz , EU 50Hz), i tryed both!
230 Vac 50 Hz and 230 Vac 60 Hz by using a AC source.
Also no relation to the switches.
I can reproduce this problem.
It must be in the design!?

 

[coopersark]

I found this on the Spectral site in my computer's cache, and I believe that this is the reason for the delay in the button/command controls:
"SLEEPING PROCESSORS
Remote control operations in DMC-30 include signal routing choices, gain and balance adjustments, and channel function modes. These and many internal operations for startup and protect conditions are microprocessor controlled. Normally, remote control systems of this functional complexity stay digitally active and ready to respond to commands and the results are evidenced by the strobing or flickering displays as well as noise added to audio signals. To maintain a silent environment for audio signals, all digital activity within the DMC-30 is shut down once an operation change is complete. Even the display is latched to fixed states during the microprocessor sleep interval. Clock cross talk becomes nonexistent and can not propagate to add jitter to digital playback."

 

[edorr]

So the package I have been on the lookout for finally shows up on audiogon. 30SS series 2 for $6,000 and 360 series 2 for $10,000. Put in a bid above asking price - no reply and gone today. Too good to be true I guess. Damn. Back to square 1....

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/so...s-2014-02-25-preamplifiers-53202-milwaukee-wi