Does my Pass amp dislike my Meridian preamp?

My first guess would be a PLC (programmable logic controller). Could be socket mounted but more likely replacing a board. Can be intermittent and difficult to track down.

Of course, something, must be passing through the analog level of the pre to the amp, to create a problem for the amplifier--why hasn't anyone else written this?
I normally just 'hide behind others' on things like this, HOWEVER, this is too easy.
The amp is faulty, or the pre is sending something at the analog output which is creating problems.
It's easy... send the pre and the amp back...see who's honest and helpful.
Larry

Hi Bryon,

Sorry to hear of the further problems.

If I understand correctly, the G68 feeds left and right preamp-out signals into the Pass, and a center channel signal to a separate amplifier which drives the now damaged center channel speaker. And the signal path through the Pass to the left and right main speakers continues to function ok, apart from the intermittent freezeups in the G68.

Given that, my initial skepticism that the Pass could be the cause of the G68's problems is now increased to the point where it strikes me as complete nonsense.

If significant dc offset, or some other anomaly, were to have been fed back from the input circuit of the Pass to the output of the G68, it seems unimaginable to me that it would have caused a problem affecting the center channel speaker, to which the Pass is not connected, without also damaging the output circuit of the G68 that drives the Pass.

With respect to applying your multimeter to the problem, what I would suggest is that you disconnect all of the outputs of the G68, turn off all source components which are connected to it, and see if you can detect significant voltage at its output that had been driving the center channel. Try that with both the dc voltage and ac voltage functions of the meter.

Best regards,
-- Al

If I understand correctly, the G68 feeds left and right preamp-out signals into the Pass, and a center channel signal to a separate amplifier which drives the now damaged center channel speaker. And the signal path through the Pass to the left and right main speakers continues to function ok, apart from the intermittent freezeups in the G68.

This is all correct.

I used my multimeter on the Meridian G68 outputs and the Pass amp inputs, and here are the results:

Meridian G68 outputs:
DCV = 0
ACV = 1V (accuracy of meter is +/- .5ACV)

Pass amp inputs:
DCV = 0
ACV = .7 (accuracy of meter is +/- .5ACV)

Sorry, term I meant was PIC (programmable interface controller).