[Audio Empire]

On Fri, 3 Dec 2010 03:54:26 -0800, Kele wrote
(in article ):

Thank you again, Audio Empire... The Adcom Service Center you
provided a link to isn't even listed on Adcom's own site. Yama's
looks like the real deal and half as far from where I live as the
place in Jersey that Adcom would have me contact. BTW, I=92ve been
sending queries to all seemingly high-end stereo dealers here with no
recommendation for a repair person locally. I hear you that it=92s
become specialized [and I'll add: and/or they don=92t have a good after
sale program and/or there actually aren=92t any here]. I know you
laughed when I said =93high-end=94 referring to fixing my Adcom =96 that=92=
s
ok.

I read and will do so again your description of DC voltage in the
signal path. I'm still processing. You've been very generous with
your replies, much appreciated. I'll be so bold and ask you one more
thing because of my current situation of not being able to proceed
with sending the defective pre-amp anywhere at this time. Since
reading you, I turned everything off, but would like to continue using
the stereo for now with the Dolby off (bypassed). Here's my
question... If there is no source playing and I turn the Master
volume knob way up and the speaker base cones don't move or emit sound
at all, can I continue to use the stereo until I save more pennies?
This is how it appears with Dolby off - no abnormal speaker movement.

I can fill in with everything you've already written to me about this,
so I'll understand a Yes or No response.

No =3D DC is still transferring and frying my circuits; you're gambling
with the life of other components. Yes =3D There is a power supply
problem, but it only manifests itself when using the Dolby chip
(basically the Dolby chip or it=92s power circuit is creating the DC off-
set); it=92s ok to use cautiously with Dolby off until qualified repairs
can be performed.

When I do get it fixed, I=92ll post here my experience.

IF there is no speaker cone excursion with the Dolby decode stuff turned off,
there is no reason why you cannot continue to use the preamp as an analog
preamp for tuner, phono (if any), CD player (analog inputs) etc. However, you
want to be sure. If you don't have one already go buy a cheap Volt/Ohm meter
(sometimes called a multimeter). You can get them from places like Harbor
Freight,, even Radio Shack, often for $20 or less:

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-funct...ter-92020.html

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2999093

Merely set the meter to DC volts, 20 Volt scale, and with the preamp and amp
turned ON, and nothing playing, but the volume turned all the up, put the
lest leads across the speaker terminals of both (all) channels, one at a
time. There should be NO DC (or at least almost none) measurable. If it's
more than a couple of volts, probably shouldn't use it until the preamp is
fixed.

BTW, one of these meters is handy to have around the house, so this likely
wouldn't be a one-use buy. You'll use it to check the AC mains voltage, check
continuity on connections, test for blown fuses, etc. they have 1001 uses.