Troubleshooting quiz

[edorr]

So yesterday I found my left channel was playing 6db lower than my right channel. Time for some troubleshooting. Switched output from preamp to poweramp, and now right channel is lower. Conclusion 1: poweramp is not the problem. Switched input from DAC into preamp and now left channel is lower. Conclusion 2: preamp is not the problem. Changes digital source into DAC. Nothing changes - digital source is not the problem. Changed DACs, same problem. DAC is not the problem. Connect poweramps directly to DAC, problem disappears - DAC is definitely not the problem. Switched input into preamp again - low level channel inverts. Now I'm really puzzled. What is the problem. Took me an hour to figure it out. What was the problem?

 

[Ronm1]

Cable/conn ?

 

[edorr]

Cable/conn ?

Correct answer! One of my XLR cables was defective and running effectively single ended, resulting in 6db gain loss.

 

[JackD201]

That would've been my guess. You didn't give us much time to take the quiz! I just logged on!

 

[Ronm1]

One of those blitz quizzes! Brings back memories.

 

[edorr]

I had the exact same problem with a Transparent cable in the past, so I should have arrived at the conclusion quicker myself.

 

[Atmasphere]

Sounds like you change out your connections a lot. A wire broke off inside a connector, right? This takes a bit of cable manipulation for this to happen.

 

[BobM]

I bet you it is a cable problem.

Was I right? What do I win?

 

[edorr]

I bet you it is a cable problem.

Was I right? What do I win?

I got four (correct) replies. Winner gets a defective XLR cable,