NAD C375BEE protection circuit activating.

[unacat]

Certainly, but then there is always someone like yours truly who will unwittingly purchase a product like this and thus maintaining a market. Now I will follow the lead of TLS Guy and purchase one in a reputable establishment and test it before purchase. Tomorrow!

 

[unacat]

Gentlemen, Please excuse my absence from this thread as work and other obligations prevented me from obtaining a functional meter and taking the readings from the Totems. I did learn from you, TLS Guy, and purchased a $50 Autoranging Multimeter from Lowes which did give me a 'zero' readout when touching the leads. Of course this does not have the rotary selector that previous meter had, so I switched it to 'capacitance' with the Omega symbol and left the 'auto' on as indicated on the screen. Providing that i was correct on those settings here are the readings:

Left Speaker Mid Woofer .44
Tweeter 4.29

Right Speaker Mid Woofer .48
Tweeter 4.46

The tweeter readings are fairly stable, the left at one point dropped to 4.27, but the mid woofer readings seem to vary from .27 to 1.04 whereas my initial readings were as shown above. Is this possible, or have I not set the meter correctly? There is also a button marked 'REL' alongside the mode range and hold buttons.

Also, oddly, when I disconnected all of the speaker cables including the REL sub from the unplugged amplifier and powered on the REL there was no hum in the subwoofer. The hum started when I hooked the REL to the NAD and I tried plugging the REL directly into a wall outlet and not into the power conditioner and surge protector but the hum continued. The REL was connected to the amplifier speaker outputs with a hot lead to the left and right positive speaker outs and a ground lead to one negative speaker out.

I do hope that this information provides some useful information and has not added new pieces to the puzzle. Thank you so much, folks. I realize from the large number of 'thanks' hits on your profiles that you provide guidance and skilled advice to a large number of people in a similar situation as myself and I appreciate your time spent trying to assist me. Please take care, Joseph

 

[PENG]

Gentlemen, Please excuse my absence from this thread as work and other obligations prevented me from obtaining a functional meter and taking the readings from the Totems. I did learn from you, TLS Guy, and purchased a $50 Autoranging Multimeter from Lowes which did give me a 'zero' readout when touching the leads. Of course this does not have the rotary selector that previous meter had, so I switched it to 'capacitance' with the Omega symbol and left the 'auto' on as indicated on the screen. Providing that i was correct on those settings here are the readings:

Left Speaker Mid Woofer .44
Tweeter 4.29

Right Speaker Mid Woofer .48
Tweeter 4.46

The tweeter readings are fairly stable, the left at one point dropped to 4.27, but the mid woofer readings seem to vary from .27 to 1.04 whereas my initial readings were as shown above. Is this possible, or have I not set the meter correctly? There is also a button marked 'REL' alongside the mode range and hold buttons.

Also, oddly, when I disconnected all of the speaker cables including the REL sub from the unplugged amplifier and powered on the REL there was no hum in the subwoofer. The hum started when I hooked the REL to the NAD and I tried plugging the REL directly into a wall outlet and not into the power conditioner and surge protector but the hum continued. The REL was connected to the amplifier speaker outputs with a hot lead to the left and right positive speaker outs and a ground lead to one negative speaker out.

I do hope that this information provides some useful information and has not added new pieces to the puzzle. Thank you so much, folks. I realize from the large number of 'thanks' hits on your profiles that you provide guidance and skilled advice to a large number of people in a similar situation as myself and I appreciate your time spent trying to assist me. Please take care, Joseph

Thanks for the update. Those readings surprise me. Please give us the make and model number of the meter so we can have a better chance to tell whether you use it correctly.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the update. Those readings surprise me. Please give us the make and model number of the meter so we can have a better chance to tell whether you use it correctly.

I don't think it should be on capacitance.

Those readings from the woofers are far too low, and the reading on the high pass circuit should have been infinity.

We need to download that meter manual.

 

[unacat]

PENG....thank you for your reply. The meter is a Southwire Autoranging multimeter model # 10040N. To be honest I am not at all familiar with this type of device so the chance of my using it incorrectly is great. The fellow that I spoke with in Lowes when I purchased the meter gave me rudimentary instructions on it's use but no information at all on the various settings available on the instrument. If the measurements surprise you there is a strong possibility that I was using the meter incorrectly. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you...Joseph

 

[unacat]

Sorry, TLS Guy. I am no doubt confused as I thought that capacitance was what we were seeking. The manufacturer and model number are listed and when I did a GOOGLE search there was a pdf spec sheet for the meter. Any information on the correct use of the meter to obtain the measurements required for you to evaluate the Totem speakers is greatly appreciated. Again, I thank you. Joseph

 

[TLS Guy]

Sorry, TLS Guy. I am no doubt confused as I thought that capacitance was what we were seeking. The manufacturer and model number are listed and when I did a GOOGLE search there was a pdf spec sheet for the meter. Any information on the correct use of the meter to obtain the measurements required for you to evaluate the Totem speakers is greatly appreciated. Again, I thank you. Joseph

The red lead should go in on the right socket and the black in the middle.

The selector should be set to the second setting anticlockwise from the off position. ohm cap etc.

Now you have to use the mode button. Press it until an M followed by the omega (ohm sign) appears in the LCD display

Now put the leads across the woofer connections.

Record the results.

 

[PENG]

I don't think it should be on capacitance.

Exactly, but he also said there was an Omega sign, so I thought we should read the manual first in case there is something else about that meter's selection schem. Anyway, I see that you have read the manual now and gave some instructions. He should be able to get it right this time.

Those readings from the woofers are far too low

There wasn't resistance he was measuring obiously.

 

[PENG]

PENG....thank you for your reply. The meter is a Southwire Autoranging multimeter model # 10040N. To be honest I am not at all familiar with this type of device so the chance of my using it incorrectly is great. The fellow that I spoke with in Lowes when I purchased the meter gave me rudimentary instructions on it's use but no information at all on the various settings available on the instrument. If the measurements surprise you there is a strong possibility that I was using the meter incorrectly. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you...Joseph

Please update us with more believable results, I am sure TLSG is as curious as I am now..

 

[TLS Guy]

Exactly, but he also said there was an Omega sign, so I thought we should read the manual first in case there is something else about that meter's selection schem. Anyway, I see that you have read the manual now and gave some instructions. He should be able to get it right this time.

Yes, I did finally get the manual downloaded. It took multiple attempts as the manufacturer's server kept hanging up.

Joseph should make sure the speaker is disconnected from his amp for the measurements.

 

[unacat]

O.K., speakers disconnected and readings are:

Left Mid Woofer 3.6
Tweeter 0.L

Right Mid Woofer 3.6
Tweeter 0.L

These readings are with the meter set as described by TLS Guy rotary dial second setting anticlockwise to ohm / cap and LCD screen mode m (omega).

 

[TLS Guy]

O.K., speakers disconnected and readings are:

Left Mid Woofer 3.6
Tweeter 0.L

Right Mid Woofer 3.6
Tweeter 0.L

These readings are with the meter set as described by TLS Guy rotary dial second setting anticlockwise to ohm / cap and LCD screen mode m (omega).

These readings are what they should be.

So, your speakers are not the cause of your NAD going into protection.

I have no idea why you had to turn the balance of two different amps so heavily in favor of the right speaker.

Now hook up your old Anthem and switch the speakers around and see if the quiet speaker moves with the speaker or not.

 

[unacat]

Will do, TLS Guy. Thank you. Any idea on why the REL developed a hum as soon as it was connected to the NAD but never had this issue with the Anthem. Also, the REL does not hum when disconnected from the NAD and powered on. I regret adding more questions but that is a very curious circumstance and due to the fact that the Totem's are reading properly perhaps the REL has a problem. Regards....Joseph

 

[unacat]

p.s. What is the significance of the tweeter reading of 0.L? Is that a zero or the character 'O'? Thx...Jos

 

[TLS Guy]

p.s. What is the significance of the tweeter reading of 0.L? Is that a zero or the character 'O'? Thx...Jos

It is actually showing infinite resistance, because there is a cap in series with it, which will not pass DC. To test the tweeter you would have to remove it.

The REL issue, is likely a ground loop and we will go into that later. One thing at a time!

 

[unacat]

Thanks, TLS Guy. I didn't mean to overlap issues, at least with my fairly nonexistent skill level in this arena I have finally provided some useful information. With a great deal of patient and knowledgeable guidance, of course! Be well....Joseph

...will swap out amps a.s.a.p. Jos.......

 

[unacat]

Hi folks, again excuse my absence but I have had no opportunity to take the time necessary to troubleshoot and I hope once again that you can excuse my failure to follow through on troubleshooting. I reinstalled the Anthem and reversed the speaker leads and still have to adjust the balance (to the left now for the right speaker) to achieve a balanced stereo level. I played the same disc and track through both my Ultech UDC-100 CD player and the OPPO BDP-103 universal player and found the same balance adjustment necessary. In fact at times the right positioned speaker that requires the use of the balance control will sound a bit like static and drop even lower until it barely plays at all and then will come up again. This happens when I stand between the speakers and adjust full left and right balance to and monitor the sound coming from each of the Totem's. the Anthem does not, however, go into any protection mode and shut down. I have the two players connected to different inputs on the Anthem so that I can A / B the sound switching back and forth. I do not know if this provides any useful information or if this just adds to the conundrum. Thank you again for your patience and assistance. Joseph

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi folks, again excuse my absence but I have had no opportunity to take the time necessary to troubleshoot and I hope once again that you can excuse my failure to follow through on troubleshooting. I reinstalled the Anthem and reversed the speaker leads and still have to adjust the balance (to the left now for the right speaker) to achieve a balanced stereo level. I played the same disc and track through both my Ultech UDC-100 CD player and the OPPO BDP-103 universal player and found the same balance adjustment necessary. In fact at times the right positioned speaker that requires the use of the balance control will sound a bit like static and drop even lower until it barely plays at all and then will come up again. This happens when I stand between the speakers and adjust full left and right balance to and monitor the sound coming from each of the Totem's. the Anthem does not, however, go into any protection mode and shut down. I have the two players connected to different inputs on the Anthem so that I can A / B the sound switching back and forth. I do not know if this provides any useful information or if this just adds to the conundrum. Thank you again for your patience and assistance. Joseph

So you have proved there is a problem with that right speaker.

This is very unusual.

I think the cap in the low pass filter has failed. The drivers and crossover need removal for trouble shooting.

You will need to return it to Totem or find a competent repair shop.

Where do you live. Since you seem a nice fellow, I would be prepared to sort this for you, if you send me those speakers. If a cap has failed then those crossovers need recapping.

 

[unacat]

Why, thank you Mark. You are a true gentleman and after all of the able assistance that you have given me over the past weeks your kind offer means a great deal to me. How does one gain access to the inner components f these speakers? There is not a screw or fastener in sight and they are as solid as a brick! As is typical I am full of questions such as what could cause the speaker to fail if not just circumstance and could the failure that you describe cause all of the odd difficulties that I have been experiencing? I do appreciate your willingness to correct the issue with my Totem's as Central Florida is a black hole for audio sales and service so returning the speakers to Totem would be my only other option. I did lose my original packing material during the three hurricanes we had in 2004, they were is a shed attached to the side of my home and although the shed remained standing there was much water damage. I would be very happy to send you my speakers and would of course provide any compensation to have the speakers returned to their former glory. It gives me a sense of ease and relief that they will be in the hands of someone such as yourself who has both a passion for audio components as well as for sharing your knowledge and abilities with those wholly challenged in that regard. In all of my years of pursuing audio as a hobby I have never had a bit of difficulty with my gear, but I typically have not kept a system for the length of time that I have enjoyed my current rig so I guess this is not unusual. I thank you, Mark, and when you are able to correct the issues with my Totem's please let me know. It really does my heart good to occasionally become acquainted with someone like yourself who has such regard for someone they have met in such a casual and almost anonymous manner. I mentioned to you in a light sort of way that I was seeking the America I knew as a child and, lo and behold, it has come to pass. Please be well......Joseph

 

[TLS Guy]

Why, thank you Mark. You are a true gentleman and after all of the able assistance that you have given me over the past weeks your kind offer means a great deal to me. How does one gain access to the inner components f these speakers? There is not a screw or fastener in sight and they are as solid as a brick! As is typical I am full of questions such as what could cause the speaker to fail if not just circumstance and could the failure that you describe cause all of the odd difficulties that I have been experiencing? I do appreciate your willingness to correct the issue with my Totem's as Central Florida is a black hole for audio sales and service so returning the speakers to Totem would be my only other option. I did lose my original packing material during the three hurricanes we had in 2004, they were is a shed attached to the side of my home and although the shed remained standing there was much water damage. I would be very happy to send you my speakers and would of course provide any compensation to have the speakers returned to their former glory. It gives me a sense of ease and relief that they will be in the hands of someone such as yourself who has both a passion for audio components as well as for sharing your knowledge and abilities with those wholly challenged in that regard. In all of my years of pursuing audio as a hobby I have never had a bit of difficulty with my gear, but I typically have not kept a system for the length of time that I have enjoyed my current rig so I guess this is not unusual. I thank you, Mark, and when you are able to correct the issues with my Totem's please let me know. It really does my heart good to occasionally become acquainted with someone like yourself who has such regard for someone they have met in such a casual and almost anonymous manner. I mentioned to you in a light sort of way that I was seeking the America I knew as a child and, lo and behold, it has come to pass. Please be well......Joseph

The only problem with your theory is that I'm from England originally.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, bit these look like screws holding your drivers in.

Removing the drivers will give me access to the crossovers.

I do keep pretty respectable test gear.

I will PM you later with my contact details.

You will need to pack both speakers carefully. I'm doing a trip to England Oct 10, back on Oct 25 most likely. I would like to try and get this sorted for you before than if possible. So the sooner you ship them the better.