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Peculiar problem? Show me the light...

OK, I'm going to try and explain this as best as I can. I don't usually listen at mega volumes so this has not been noticed before. My Revel M20s can handle just about anything I put through them, and my subwoofer picks up the base inadequacies. There are some pieces of music that have tremendous base punch, and at very loud volumes I hear my Revels cracking up. Not my sub, but the M20s. Both speakers. If I turn down the volume gain from the neutral setting, on my subwoofer, the crackling goes away in the M20s. It's wierd. If I play the same piece of music with the sub off, I can play at prodigious volumes with no crackling at all. How can my self-powered sub, effect what's coming out of my speakers. I have it hooked up via the preout from my integrated. The sound, otherwise, is wonderful, but at the loudest levels with some powerful transient response type stuff, it'll crackle. I hope I'm explaining this properly. This is a very livable situation, for I just, in a blue moon, crank it up to satiate a sonic desire, sometimes. And it doesn't happen with most music. Anybody have any ideas? You might need more information, so hit me. Thanks in advance my audiophool friends. warren
Here's my system:
YBA Passion Integre
Micromega CDP
Sufire Architectural sub
Revel M20s
Audio Magic Stealth
Cardas GR Ics.
Sistrum Rack system
Sistrum Mini Monitor speaker stands
Sistrum Subwoofer stand
128x128warrenh
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
Well, here's the next chapter in this saga. Seems, only myself and John are interested, but never-the-less I shall move on. I hook up my sub via an extension cord to another circuit. Sonic bliss. Everything's perfect. So, I figure, it's the dedicated line deal. Instead of plugging my sub back into the Stealth I plug it into the double wall outlet the Stealth is plugged into. I do the music test again, just to see if the clipping still happens. Lo and behold, sonic perfection. Mega volumes:no clipping/crackling, everything sounds perfect. Something going on in my Stealth? Anyone? Thanks for reading, at least...warren
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Maybe your Stealth can't provide enough current. Its often recommended that amps not be plugged into power conditioners for this very reason. Not sure about the design of the Stealth. Maybe ask manufacturer.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Warren, thanks for the email. Swampwalker is most likely correct about the Stealth being limited on the current draw.

You might try using only the integrated on the Stealth, your source on the other outlet, and your sub on the extension cord again or even try moving the three around to see what improvements you may or may not hear.

-IMO
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
That is just what I have done. Integrated and CDP in the Stealth (different outlets, though) and I plugged the sub into the same double outlet that the Stealth is plugged into. Wahla! Perfection. No crackling, quiet, black background. As it should be. Electricity is mystical, sometimes. It was a Stealth thing after all. I emailed, Jerry, the owner of Audio Magic, for some insight as to what the deal is with the Stealth. When I hear from him I'll post...thanks again guys for your help. warren
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