A few C2600 questions

[audiobliss]

I have never liked how the HT passthru on these Mac preamp work, by a 12v trigger. Mainly because my Oppo 205 is used for my HT processor and CD player. So if I just want to play a CD and turn on the Oppo, it triggers the passthru.
Anyway, since I just got this c2600, I figured I would try it out anyway to see if I could find a way around the issue. I even tried using one of the cC2600 triggers to trigger its own passthru port, when I select the input assigned to that trigger, independent of the Oppo, but it didn't work.
So I have given up on that, maybe I will have to build a separate 12v switch just to solve that issue.

But here is my question, now that I got that off my chest. The couple times the Oppo put the cC2600 into passthru, after it comes out of passthru, the meter lights and output 1and 2 dose not come back on. The main output stays on, but to get everything back on i have to turn the preamp off and back on. Is this normal. Or did I mess up some setting.
Thanks for any insight.

 

[damacman]

It's really not designed to work that way. Rather, it's a feature intended to be used when using the C2600 in conjunction with a HT AVP. This allows you to use the C2600 and 2-ch sources as a traditional stereo system. When switching on the AVP to watch TV or a movie, the C2600 is now simply the conduit to pass the L&R info to amp and speakers of the 2-ch system.

I use it everyday and wouldn't change a thing! My oppo 205 connects to my C200 via XLR as a 2-ch source and to my Integra 80.6 via HDMI as a multi-ch source.

Operation is seamless and it permits the whole family to use the Integra / HT system with zero knowledge of how any of the 2-ch system works. I also automated power up of the amps to further simplify.

 

[audiobliss]

It's really not designed to work that way. Rather, it's a feature intended to be used when using the C2600 in conjunction with a HT AVP. This allows you to use the C2600 and 2-ch sources as a traditional stereo system. When switching on the AVP to watch TV or a movie, the C2600 is now simply the conduit to pass the L&R info to amp and speakers of the 2-ch system.

I use it everyday and wouldn't change a thing! My oppo 205 connects to my C200 via XLR as a 2-ch source and to my Integra 80.6 via HDMI as a multi-ch source.

Operation is seamless and it permits the whole family to use the Integra / HT system with zero knowledge of how any of the 2-ch system works. I also automated power up of the amps to further simplify.

So you are using a separate unit for your HT, I am using the oppo 205 for both 2 channel CD, and also HT. So when the c2600 get triggered into passthur. I can't play CD.

 

[damacman]

So you are using a separate unit for your HT, I am using the oppo 205 for both 2 channel CD, and also HT. So when the c2600 get triggered into passthur. I can't play CD.

Yes, I have an Integra DHC-80.6 AVP and the C200, interconnected via the PassThru feature. Only one UDP-205, connected as I outlined above.

 

[TSmith8605]

. . .When switching on the AVP to watch TV or a movie, the C2600 is now simply the conduit to pass the L&R info to amp and speakers of the 2-ch system. . .

What does this mean exactly? Does the C2600 just switch the signal through passively so that the C2600 can be turned off when in passthrough or must the C2600 remain active? The difference is important to those who what to use the HT for many hours watching TV without running (possibly expensive vintage) tubes needlessly.

I am thinking about an upgraded Mc pre-amp to work with my MX121 and so I have been curious about this.

Right now, I have the LF and RF outputs of my MX hooked to a line input of my C220 and set the C220 to that input and set the volume control to the proper setting (same all the time) and that is my "pass-through" mode. Operationally this means I'm uselessly burning tubes while watch TV, although I can turn off the phone-stage tubes in the C220. Also, I have to set the C220 volume pretty high so as not overdrive it when turning up the MX121 volume. And the volume of the C220 affects the front-rear balance of the surround system and that must accounted for as well. A passive through or bypass line would solve all these issues.

So I understand that the auto-sequencing of passthrough afforded by the C2600 is convienent but does one need to be running the C2600 tubes when used like this or does it set up a passive through line. For me, this would be less of an issue with a SS 2-channel preamp rather than the C2600 (or C220). I have no problem running a SS preamp all the time.

 

[TSmith8605]

I have never liked how the HT passthru on these Mac preamp work, by a 12v trigger. Mainly because my Oppo 205 is used for my HT processor and CD player. So if I just want to play a CD and turn on the Oppo, it triggers the passthru.
Anyway, since I just got this c2600, I figured I would try it out anyway to see if I could find a way around the issue. I even tried using one of the cC2600 triggers to trigger its own passthru port, when I select the input assigned to that trigger, independent of the Oppo, but it didn't work.
So I have given up on that, maybe I will have to build a separate 12v switch just to solve that issue. . .

So I guess this means that the C2600 can only be put in passthrough mode via a 12-volt trigger from a surround processor and has no other method (e.g. manually via the remote or C2600 front panel switch) to be put in passthrough mode. If so, I think a separate 12v switch is the only answer for you.

 

[audiobliss]

So I guess this means that the C2600 can only be put in passthrough mode via a 12-volt trigger from a surround processor and has no other method (e.g. manually via the remote or C2600 front panel switch) to be put in passthrough mode. If so, I think a separate 12v switch is the only answer for you.

That's correct, a separate switch is the only way. I may just do it like you, use a regular input and set the volume to match the other channels, and forget the passthur setup. Its a pain anyway, as to recover from the passthur mode to go back to anything else, you have to turn off the preamp and back on again, further stressing out the tubes.

 

[damacman]

You both are correct on the downfalls of using the PassThru feature. However, tubes have long since been retired at my casa!

 

[TSmith8605]

I thought about an outboard A/B source selector to put between the preamps and the amplifiers. But in my case, I would have switch both the XLR source to the main MC 452 and the unbalanced preamp line source to my Musical Fidelity amp that runs my sat woofer. I guess two separate outboard switches would work and I already have a Niles switch around here for the unbalanced lines.