Opinion sought on replacement pre-amp

[Generic]

I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.

Financial constraints limit me to something used and not so recent. A
headphone jack would be nice, but not necessary.

Unit would be tied to a Hafler DH-220, a Denon DCD-1290 and a pair of
Vandersteen 1Cs.

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[AZ Nomad]

On Sun, 5 Mar 2006 18:57:14 -0700, Generic > wrote:


>I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
>When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
>ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
>old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.

before you dump it, get some contact cleaner and clean the contacts on the
straight-wire mode switch. There's a good chance it'll cure your problem.

[Bret Ludwig]

Probably it is fixable even if that isn't the problem. if it worked
before and doesn't now, components have drifted or opened or shorted.
Suspect caps first if it isn't the switch.

And pass the word on never to do business with PS Audio.

[[email protected]]

Generic wrote:
> I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
> When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
> ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
> old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.
>
> Financial constraints limit me to something used and not so recent. A
> headphone jack would be nice, but not necessary.
>
> Unit would be tied to a Hafler DH-220, a Denon DCD-1290 and a pair of
> Vandersteen 1Cs.

I don't know what your budget is, but you might consider getting a
Sonic Impact T2, which is $139 list, so you don't have to look at the
used market. Its a very basic integrated 15w amp. And it only has one
input, but if you don't have an LP source and only one cd player, and
your speakers are at least 90db, it will do the job.

"Generic" > wrote in message
...
>I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
> When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
> ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
> old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.

What kind of a switch is it? Rotary? slide? pushbutton? It's probably a
case of dirty contacts.

Incidentally, why do you switch in and out of straight wire mode so often?
I'd be inclined to pick one position and stick with it.

Norm Strong

"Generic" > wrote in message
...
>I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
> When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
> ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
> old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.
>
> Financial constraints limit me to something used and not so recent. A
> headphone jack would be nice, but not necessary.
>
> Unit would be tied to a Hafler DH-220, a Denon DCD-1290 and a pair of
> Vandersteen 1Cs.
>
Very often contacts in switches get dirty and can cause the problem you
descibe, so turning the unit off, unplugging it and trying some contact
cleaning spray might do the job.

Of course the easiest solution is to not use the straight wire mode and set
the tone controls to flat when you don't feel any need for them. In almost
all cases this will not add any coloration at all, and there is no good
reason for the switch at all.

If you feel you must repalce the switch, it should not be a big deal price
wise as they are fairly inexpensive and the major cost will be labor.
Assuming everything else is working these seem like the most sensible
options to me. YMMV.

[Generic]

In article >,
says...
> On Sun, 5 Mar 2006 18:57:14 -0700, Generic > wrote:
>
>
> >I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
> >When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
> >ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
> >old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.
>
> before you dump it, get some contact cleaner and clean the contacts on the
> straight-wire mode switch. There's a good chance it'll cure your problem.
>
>

In the case of the PS Audio 6 contact cleaner will not work. The buttons
are have no real contact points, they are more like capacitors.

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[Generic]

In article >,
says...
>
> "Generic" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
> > When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
> > ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
> > old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.
>
> What kind of a switch is it? Rotary? slide? pushbutton? It's probably a
> case of dirty contacts.
>
> Incidentally, why do you switch in and out of straight wire mode so often?
> I'd be inclined to pick one position and stick with it.
>
> Norm Strong
>
>
>

The "button", if you can call it that is not a rotary, slide, or a
pushbutton. Its more of a capacitor. Think of those lamps where you
touch the body to turn it on of off. It's just like that. I don't switch
in or out of it. I've left it in straight mode, but I was planning to
sell it and felt that the problem diminished its resale value.

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[Generic]

In article >,
says...
> I have an old PS Audio 6.0 pre-amp that has developed an odd problem.
> When switching in or out of straight wire mode. The unit generates an
> ungodly loud POP sound. PS Audio says they won't repair something that
> old so it looks like I destined to buy a replacement.
>
> Financial constraints limit me to something used and not so recent. A
> headphone jack would be nice, but not necessary.
>
> Unit would be tied to a Hafler DH-220, a Denon DCD-1290 and a pair of
> Vandersteen 1Cs.
>


Well fate seems to have made the decision for me. I got a raise at work
and an old friend of my fathers decided he wanted to upgrade some of his
system so he sold me a 4 month old Linn Kolektor for $500!! Now if I can
just convince him to upgrade that Levinson amp...........<LOL>

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