2. misc-audio
  3. 1244512091

I always do something stupid...

...I have a pretty nice system and it is important to me. I spend hours researching tweaking and getting it right. I spend even more time listening to it of course. I am a pretty careful and meticulous person in most things.

So...why is it that everytime I get a new piece of expensive equipment or a new cable or whatever, I always manage to do something you are not supposed to do. Like turning off the pre-amp before the power amps and getting a loud pop. Or leaving an amplifier on and unplugging the interconnect attached to it at the pre-amp. Or forgetting that the interconnects to the subwoofer are JUST long enough and trying to move the subwoofer (and thus stressing the interconnects) without unplugging them. Or SIMPLY NOT NOTICING THAT THE $!@*# VOLUME IS UP TOO HIGH BEFORE I PUSH PLAY ON THE TRANSPORT. I could go on.

Point being, I've never really screwed anything up, but it's not from lack of "rying." Is this just me? I realize I've opened myself up to cruelty on this one...
dgaylin
tobias
1,534 posts
 
Glad this thread came up. Just 2 days ago I had my cute little Audio Space
AS-3i integrated tube amp up on new Herbie's Iso-Cups. Wow, best the amp
has ever sounded, try Herbie's everyone. Only now I wanted more so I took
the CDP off its FIM roller balls to try the amp's former footers (also from
Herbie, great stuff Herbie's) under that. Had to rush a bit because was going
to be late for supper.

Well, a ball bearing rolled away behind the rack, natch, but the rack is on
casters. Easy to get behind when the rack is on casters, just pull it out. I did
that. The integrated amp slid right off the glass balls in the Iso-Cups and
down behind the rack. Agh, I tried to grab it but them KT66s were hot, did I
mention the amp was running while I did this. Total drop about 18 inches.
Amp weighs 14.5 kilos.

Oyaide connector on power cord totaled. One KT66 loose in base, maybe the
one I grabbed. Retubed with spare EL34 set, rebiased and switched on. Tubes
heat up but no sound, well, almost none when volume at max.

My guess is the drop pressed the speaker wires up against the chassis
connectors and shorted the output trannies. I just shipped the amp off to the
shop today.

I have nothing, nothing to gain from this dumb act of mine except maybe
learn I have a choice: either practice patience before I act or practice patience
afterward. Great posts from guys above, Mr Man and Stevecham are specially
for me.
rodman99999
6,125 posts
 
Damn those suppers!
dgaylin OP
255 posts
 
Tobias -- ouch! I'm always nervous about my equipment sliding off of the isolation devices I use. I do think that a combination of our enthusiasm to quickly finish the futzing so we can start listening again and/or other things creating a time crunch (supper) lead to these kind of things.
calbrs03
184 posts
 
That is a sad story, Tobias. My heart sank when the amp started rolling. You have my hope for a happy (inexpensive) return.

There's another thread in the archives on this same topic, but I couldn't find it. Mostly had to do with with guys zapping themselves. Damn funny thread. Favorite was a member who forgot to let the caps discharge and the voltage knocked him off his chair, caused him some paralysis, too, I believe. Not that any of this is funny, except that his response was something on the order of "had I remembered if was dc I would have reversed polarity and cured myself."
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
I sold a Dokorder open reel recorder I once had. That was really stupid !!!!!!!!!!!
More to discover