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Almost fried my matrix m-stage

post #1 of 12
7/15/11 at 9:22pm
Thread Starter 

hey guys, I haven't messed with my audio gear since mid of last year when I first got my m-stage and audinst combo. This morning my hands got a little itchy and thought I might reinstall the stock OPA2134 but I completely forgot that they have to be installed in a specific fashion, i.e. cut sides have to be facing in the same direction, yes SILLY me.

 

I only realise something was off when I detected a faint stream of smoke emitting from one of the capacitors, I don't know which exactly as I'm no electronics guy, but I quickly shut everything off to mitigate damages. I could detect a faint burning smell, took several sniffs after to sense it but it was there nevertheless.

 

Now i've replaced everything in its original position and I'm getting sound output, as far as I can hear, there seems to be nothing amiss but I'm still getting a naggy feeling that my stupidity and carelessness has compromised the performance of the m-stage.

 

Anyone with technical knowledge of this matter care to comment?

 

Thanks!!

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post #2 of 12
7/15/11 at 11:31pm

You probably began to cook one of the components in the power lines to the opamp.

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post #3 of 12
7/15/11 at 11:59pm

If everything's working that's all that matters. If you'd ruined anything it would have stopped working and you'd be crying. You obviously caught it in time.

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post #4 of 12
7/16/11 at 2:14am
Thread Starter 

i've noticed a couple of blue colored components labelled R14, R9, etc look charred/browned. I don't know if this is from wear and tear or from the incident this morning. Am I right to happily assume that cooking components along the power line shouldnt affect sound output?

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post #5 of 12
7/16/11 at 3:01am

I also put the opamps in backwards and cooked the same two resistors- unit went dead. Mine were too burnt to ID  so I contacted Tam Audio to find the values (47Ω 1/2 watt) and replaced. 

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post #6 of 12
7/16/11 at 12:29pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by avexdevil View Post

i've noticed a couple of blue colored components labelled R14, R9, etc look charred/browned. I don't know if this is from wear and tear or from the incident this morning. Am I right to happily assume that cooking components along the power line shouldnt affect sound output?


The unit won't work the same, if at all.  Yes, it is from the incident.  Not too difficult to replace on your own, or you can have Tam Audio repair it for you, which will be much costlier due to shipping.

 

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post #7 of 12
7/16/11 at 12:38pm

If you can't do it yourself find a TV repair shop and they can replace those burnt resistors/capacitors, less expensive than shipping it to the manufacturer for repair.

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post #8 of 12
7/17/11 at 4:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Max View Post

 


The unit won't work the same, if at all.  Yes, it is from the incident.  Not too difficult to replace on your own, or you can have Tam Audio repair it for you, which will be much costlier due to shipping.

 


could you elaborate? what symptoms am i likely to encounter with this components burnt? I can't seem to tell the difference in sound output...?

 

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post #9 of 12
7/17/11 at 9:36am
The same has happened to me, but not to the extent that the equipment would start malfunctioning. I have not tried using the M-Stage without an opamp at all, I guess tht would give you a preview. I messed up my DAC a bit long time ago by inserting an opamp backwards.
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post #10 of 12
7/18/11 at 7:10pm

It's likely that those partially cooked resistors will fail at some point down the road. Are you handy or comfortable with DIY (soldering etc ) ? Replacing those 2 resistors is pretty easy even for a beginner as long as you have right right tools for the job.

 

Peete.

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post #11 of 12
7/19/11 at 6:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete View Post

It's likely that those partially cooked resistors will fail at some point down the road.

 

 

Not necessarily. All vintage equipment has "cooked" resistors that nevertheless go on forever. Unless they've actually cracked with the heat they could be fine.

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post #12 of 12
7/19/11 at 4:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pp312 View Post



 

 

Not necessarily. All vintage equipment has "cooked" resistors that nevertheless go on forever. Unless they've actually cracked with the heat they could be fine.


Old gear should be checked and any out of spec parts replaced regardless of visual condition. Why tempt fate when replacing the 2 resistors in question would cost less than a dollar if you DIY ?  Besides no part (like this) "goes on forever"...an old amp (especially tube amps) can be dangerous if the original parts have long since passed their MTBF rates. It always a good idea to replace any parts that have drifted badly (either from age or abuse/mishap/accident whatever). The gear in question using in spec quality parts will then be able to deliver the designer's intended result.

 

My advice for any amp 20 years or older (it's good to check caps and such every few years anyway) is to have a qualified tech inspect the unit before powering up for the first time...this advice goes double for old tube gear. Carbon comp resistors drift badly over time, older tech parts (like film caps and electrolytic types) need to be carefully checked out since they definitely do not last forever either. The older tech parts are not as well made as today's parts (caps/resistors/diodes/regulators) so checking all of this is just sound policy (pun intended). Just because something still works is no reason not to have it checked out (vintage gear should always be checked no matter what).

 

My advice for the OP still stands...replace the stressed parts with new ones. If the OP wants to sell that amp to another member down the road I would expect those parts to be replaced before selling the unit. Might as well  replace them and be sure of the unit's stability.

 

Peete.

 


Edited by Pricklely Peete - 7/19/11 at 6:22pm
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