"popping" when moving to balanced cables on Amp

Thanks for the prompt responses!

What I'm going to try is this:

1) I have the Antem pre AVM-20 and the 2-Channel MCA-20 amp set with triggers. So when I power the AVM 20 pre down it also turns off the MCA-20. I will try turning the amp off first manually and see what that does and then the pre first, etc.

2) I did NOT re-balance my speaker setup since I put in the balanced cables. So I neglected to do that obvious part. If I recall I think I had my setup at a +2 when I did the calibration last on the fronts with the RCA connectors.

3) I got the cables direct from the manufacturer online (so no physical store for me to try out). I will contact them if #1 and #2 don't work.

4) I'm also going to contact Anthem directly re: the capacitor leak that John mentioned.

I've always assumed that "popping" was normal to some degree; however, when I was using my receiver--7.1 Marantz--I never had the degree that I've gotten since moving to separates.

So I'm wondering if there is a trick to separates that a receiver takes care of.

Thanks for the quick feedback.

Ted

Ted, that sounds like a good plan. I didn't realize that you were new to seperates. Amp is always the last thing turned on and the first thing turned off. I have seperates, and no popping at all using this sequence.
Make sure you go through the first 3 steps before looking to the leaking caps.

Let us know how you make out.

Cheers,
John

Thanks john. I just got back from a trip so assuming I can stay awake I will try it out tonight :-)

Ok, now I'm perplexed.

1) I recalibrated all my speakers and took down the L and R about 6 decibels so that they are now at "THX reference" with the balanced connections.

2) I tested a series of sequences with power on and power off and took my amp off the trigger.

3) The speaker "popping" and loud "booming" on startup and shutdown happens when the anthem AVM-20 PRE-AMP is engaged or turned off!!!

4) Turning off the unit with volume down or in mute makes no difference (no surprise)

5) I think that the VOLUME of the boom/pop is lower since I recalibrated the speakers

I'm perplexed?!?!? At this point I'm wondering if the issue is the balanced cables at all or from the Pre-amp and if from the pre-amp why that would be?!!

Any additional thoughts?

No preamp is going to be stable during power up and power down. Internally voltages are changing rapidly and operating conditions for the preamp stages are not established. I would expect some output transients.

It's not your cables. You have to ensure that your power amp is the last thing turned on and the first thing turned off. The trigger does not enforce this.