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Main speakers cut out when sub powered on

Hi,

I'm seeing this weird phenomenon. I have connected my Velodyne SPL 800 II sub using it's high level (speaker) inputs. The main speakers and the sub connections share the same speaker binding posts.

If I have the music already playing, and I flip the master switch on the sub, the main speakers cut out for a very brief time (less than a second) and come back on. Is this normal?

The problem wont show up if I leave the sub on "Auto On" mode where it comes to life when it senses signal on the input.

Just not sure what's causing this behavior and probably affecting the amp and/or speakers.

Thanks in advance.
livin_262002
livin_262002 OP
187 posts
 
Hi Almarg,

Thanks for a detailed explanation. Although I doubt it's the AC line voltage drop because, when I have the sub disconnected from the amp, powering on the sub has no affect on the main speakers/amp, it's only when the sub is connected to the amp the main speakers cut out. The amp is not going into protection mode but the sound cuts out for a brief moment. Any other ideas?

Best Regards
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Although I doubt it's the AC line voltage drop because, when I have the sub disconnected from the amp, powering on the sub has no affect on the main speakers/amp, it's only when the sub is connected to the amp the main speakers cut out.
That is not inconsistent with my theory, because there is no signal going into the sub when it is disconnected from the amp. My theory is that the presence of an input signal causes the sub to briefly draw an abnormally large amount of AC current when it is turned on, until all of its circuits reach their normal operating conditions.
The amp is not going into protection mode but the sound cuts out for a brief moment.
It could be any electronic component in the main signal path that is muting or cutting out during that time, not necessarily the amplifier.
Any other ideas?
No, that theory is the only one that occurs to me. Unless, perhaps, your main amp has balanced outputs or is bridged. Let me know if that is the case.

Regards,
-- Al
livin_262002 OP
187 posts
 
Hi Almarg,

Sorry I misread the first sentence in your post. I'm using an integrated amplifier, it doesn't have balanced outputs and is not bridged.

Best Regards
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Do you have your speaker cables going from your integrated amp to the speaker cable binding posts on the sub; and then running speaker cables from the binding posts on the sub going to the speakers? Or do you have both pairs of speaker cables sharing the same binding posts on the back of your integrated amp and then connect them to each directly?
livin_262002 OP
187 posts
 
Hi Zd

I have the main speaker cables and the sub cables sharing the same binding posts on the integrated i.e. connected in parallel.
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