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Interconnect quandry WTH!

playittwice

playittwice

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
So I hook my Monster Cables between my DAC and Sansui AU9500 and I get channel drop and static. If I wiggle the ICs around while it's playing the channels drop. So I use some cheap ICs and it sounds fine. Then I use the same Monster Cables with my 9090 and it works fine! WTH is happening here? I don't get it. Everything has been cleaned three times!

Thanks.
 
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The weight of the Monster Cables is causing an intermittent connection on the PCB mounted RCA jacks, broken solder joints more than likely. If you wiggle the cheapo cables do you get the same effect?

Craig
 
No I do not get the same effect. That's what I don't understand. It does cut out intermittently with the cheapos, I just can't get it to do it by wiggling them. I think there's something wrong with the amp just don't know what. I think it's worth fixing though.
 
I cut the end off the cable and resoldered it. Same results. Works with the 9090 so it must be the amp. No?
 
It does it on tape and aux. Did not check any other ones.
Possibly dirty switches yet?
Speaker relay?
 
The bad solder joint does make sense though. So how do o go about diagnosing this.

Sorry first go-round.
 
Sometimes the connector sleeve can be unscrewed exposing the solder joints.

On a side note, I don't like using fancy IC's with vintage. Old jacks are often fragile and break with the weight of the connector and wire.
 
Ok you're talking on the amp correct? Because I did cut the end off the IC and resoldered that cuz I thought that's what was causing the drop. It was exclusively in the right channel. But when the cheap ICs were used it was fine. So I was thinking perhaps the gold plating. I just don't know. I'm glad my 9090 works!
 
I had similar problem short thick cable did not bend well. It would pressure the jack and cause intermittent drops. Took a while to determine it was the cable. Especially since the cable was impressive looking.
 
Try cleaning the speaker relay. Sounds like it could be dirty contacts but do the usual deox cleaning of all pots and switches first.
 
That's my next step, but it appears as if I have to remove the board and De-solder to get it out to clean it. Right?
 
Female RCAs wear out. There's not great contact in there even when new. Over time, the sleeve gets enlarged causing exactly this kind of issue. I have experienced this also. WBTs and other high grade ones are spring loaded inside circumventing the issue.
 
I just read a reply saying someone else had kinda the same symptoms. I'm wondering now if it's the volume pot. I turned the loudness switch to the on position and the sound came back. I believe the loudness switch goes through the volume pot is that correct? So maybe it still could be a dirty contact somewhere. Wow hard to trace down.
 
I'm saying this because my static and dropout has returned just doesn't seem as bad, and I can't wiggle the ICs to do it on command. Here's the other thing that may help diagnose the problem. I notice the static and dropout the most at the end of a song, like when the sound tapers off. Usually in the right channel. 98% of the time. Crazy stuff.
 
Weird. If cables are involved, it makes no sense for swithes/pots to be the problem. Have you tried switching speakers from A to B?
 
Update so I just powered up my amp for the first time in a week. The sound in the right channel was very weak and dropping intermittently. Turned balance knob to the right and listened. Static and low volume went on for about 15 secs. Wiggled LEFT low grade IC and could get the RIGHT channel to fade in and out! Wow I don't get it but it has to be something simple I'm overlooking. Thanks for the help and suggestions. I'm not giving up, but have to admit it's a challenge.
 
You could be having multiple issues causing similar symptoms. If flipping loudness or turning up volume causes a channel to come back, I'd suspect the relay contacts as had been mentioned. The increased volume can cause contact to be restored. Could also be that a poor rca connection jolts the relay back when you wiggle it.
 
Must be the relays. I'll have to figure out how to get at them. There is only one is that correct. I've looked around the unit a bit and seen one. It's the plastic clear box. Pretty sure the board must be removed to remove the relay if I'm looking at it correctly. This will be my first electronics surgery! We'll see how it goes.
Thanks.
 
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