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Amp keeps shutting off

I have the Schiit Vidar powering two 98db 1w/1m speakers. This thing will turn into fault mode so quick once turned up. Only using 4-10 watts per channel, it will turn off after 20min with a box fan blowing on it. I took the cover of the amp off, which I didn't want to do, and that didn't help at all (again with a box fan blowing on it). Once using anything above the 30 watt per channel range, the thing will last 1 minute before shutting off (although that 1 minute sounds really good). The amp is rated for 100w RMS per channel into 8 ohms. I'm not expecting it to actually sustain that rated power, but come on. Why isn't it at least sustaining 20 or 30 or even 10? Am I doing something wrong? Or am I out of luck?
oedstrom11
erik_squires
16,058 posts
 
Try without playing music.  If it happens then, turn off, disconnect inputs.

If your amp is DC coupled, an upstream DC bias will cause these issues as well.
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,506 posts
 
How are you measuring the amp's output? 30 watts continuous using a 100wpc amp is going to create a heavy thermal load. You'll want to have the amp looked at but you might just be driving the poor thing too hard?  
bslon's avatar
bslon
2,174 posts
 
From your Owner’s Manual:

ClEARINg FAUlTS
Okay, so you have a flashing light. Deep breath. We’ll get this taken care of shortly.
When the Vidar’s front light flashes during operation (and the amp mutes), or if it never stops flashing after you turn on the amp, there’s a problem, or fault. There are three kinds of faults:
1. Over-temperature. The heatsinks are too hot, and Vidar has shut down to protect its output. If the amp is very hot, turn it off, wait a while for it to cool down, and try turning it on again.
2. Over-current. If Vidar is connected to very low-impedance speakers (2 ohms in stereo, or
4 ohms in mono), playing very loud music can cause an over-current condition. Simply turn the amp off and on again to clear this fault.
Alternately, Vidar may shut off from over-current if the speaker cables are shorted. To trouble- shoot this, turn off the amp, disconnect the speaker cables from the amp, and turn it back on again. If it comes back on, there may be a short in your speaker cables (or your speakers). Examine your connections to ensure there are no stray wires or shorts. Once those have been fixed, you can reconnect the speakers and play music again.
3. High DC offset. Vidar is a DC-coupled amp. Its microprocessor monitors DC levels at the output and adjusts it down to zero. However, it may not be able to correct for high DC from your source (such as a preamp). To clear this fault, turn off the amp, disconnect the RCA cables or XLR cable from the amp, and turn it back on again. If the amp turns on normally, then there may be high DC on the output of your source. Have the source inspected and repaired.


drew_f
19 posts
 
Had an issue with a Primare amp randomly going into fault shut down, couldn’t figure it out. Manufacturer rep was very helpful, suggested it could be DC in the AC (from other devices leaking into home AC). That was confirmed by torroid transformer hum. Maybe that’s your situation?

Power off and on reset, for awhile. Got a DC filter from Emotive (only such filter i found). Surprised that other filter devices didn't filter out stray DC.
speakermaster
738 posts
 
I am going to say this as nice as i can but a lot of today's so called high efficiency designs have severe impedance dips in the bass and it is this reason that i believe that the amp is shutting off because low power consumption small amps do not have the current to tackle the low impedance. Try a vintage beast amp at least twenty years old and see what happens but my guess is that one like that will drive your speakers beautifully.
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