2. amps-preamps
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adjusting the bias on an amp YBA

I have an older YBA Integre Single Transform. It must be 10 years old. About 3 years ago it developed a hum/buzz in one channel that progressively turned into distortion. I thought it was hosed. I sent it in and they said "we adjusted the bias" and sent it back. Now it works perfectly.

I had assumed that something major was wrong (like a cap or something going bad). I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth but what exactly is "adjusting the bias" and how might it have solved my problem? Are there some screws or something one would turn? Is it a user serviceable adjustment?

Thanks in advance.
eltbee
jshopper1963
3 posts
 
if your amp does not have a external biasing adjustment, you will have to open up the amp and adjust the biasing internally, at this point you will be subjecting your self to extreme danger! this is only some thing you should do if you know what you are doing. what you should do is ask how much it would cost to install an external biasing adjustment to your amp. that way you can do it your self when ever you need to (safetly). Joseph.c
asdf7e16
60 posts
 
Adjusting the bias refers to the operating point of the output transistors. If the transistors aren't always "on" slightly, there will be a discontinuity at the zero transition point which would actually be visible on a scope with a small signal. The audible result would be high distortion with low signals, while loud ones wouldn't be as bad. If the bias is too high, power is wasted doing nothing but heating. The bias is adjusted using an aptly named "trim pot" which has a screw slot. Sometimes they are multi-turn pots, but not in a YBA Integre for some reason. It is user serviceable depending on the user and his equipment of course. Sometimes the trim pot gets dirty and just needs to be moved to clean it. You can adjust it if you know the spec. and have a millivoltmeter, or are good at reading a scope trace.
eltbee OP
6 posts
 
Thank you very much for the responses. Very interesting stuff (to me anyway).

I have another YBA Integre which is an 8 year old Dual Transform model. I have pretty efficient Cabasse speakers. For some reason that old Single Transform has this magical sound with my speakers that the Dual Transform can't produce. It sounds good but just not the same presentation. I'm not that much into audio anymore but I always thought it was kind of counter-intuitive.
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