Anthem STR won’t power up

[highfigh]

Usually starting circuits seldom fail, but this one is complex. So the trigger, or on/off button has to start a sequence. The first amp will start to fire up, probably by destabilizing something like a tailed Darlington pair or equivalent, this has to work through some type of ramping circuit, which is primarily to stop blowing the 20 amp breaker at the panel. At the same time an LM timer circuit must be enabled, to time the start of the voltage ramp to the second power amp. Now there comes the part that I don't know how they figure out, as this starting circuit has to get out of the way, otherwise the ramping circuits will current limit the amp. This is where I have a concern that the power is transferred to the closed 12 volt relay operated by the 12 volt trigger voltage. This is not unlikely as the absence of the 12 volt trigger has to shut the amp down.

I don't know of a 12 volt relay that will handle that amount of power without potentially being a point of failure. It is a great pity that the trigger voltage is not 24 volts rather than 12. The OPs amp has 16 power output transistors in each channel!

In my in wall system I turn on the two Quad 909 power amps with the twelve volt trigger via a relay. I have had issues, so far capping the relay contacts has solved the problem, I hope. But I fear the system is marginal. That is a compact system, and I don't really have the space for a 24 volt system. Since my wife is the primary user of this system, I would like to keep it so the AVP and the two amps start from the remote on button.

I'm always curious, and looking for potential points of failure, and avoiding them.

I found this in about 5 seconds-

https://components.omron.com/us-en/datasheet_pdf/J186-E1.pdf

if a manufacturer needs something specific, they can easily find it. Also, relays aren't needed for switching. Your amplifiers are older and remote turn on systems have changed- as I posted, most of the new equipment 12V trigger outputs are rated for 150mA because it saves money in production but that output WILL latch a relay so if multiple devices need to be turned on via one output, add a relay and power source- it's very easy to do by choosing a wall wart that's rated for >1A and a Bosch-style relay that's most often found in cars and as it turns out, requires roughly 150 mA to latch. That is, if the spike from the relay won't cause problems in something else- this is a good case for using FETs or something similar. For sequencing the turn on, timer circuits are easy to find or build (often using a 555 timer IC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC

 

[TLS Guy]

I found this in about 5 seconds-

https://components.omron.com/us-en/datasheet_pdf/J186-E1.pdf

if a manufacturer needs something specific, they can easily find it. Also, relays aren't needed for switching. Your amplifiers are older and remote turn on systems have changed- as I posted, most of the new equipment 12V trigger outputs are rated for 150mA because it saves money in production but that output WILL latch a relay so if multiple devices need to be turned on via one output, add a relay and power source- it's very easy to do by choosing a wall wart that's rated for >1A and a Bosch-style relay that's most often found in cars and as it turns out, requires roughly 150 mA to latch. That is, if the spike from the relay won't cause problems in something else- this is a good case for using FETs or something similar. For sequencing the turn on, timer circuits are easy to find or build (often using a 555 timer IC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC

Yes, all of my Quad 909 amps are all between 20 and 25 years old. They were bought at various times. The three Quad 405-II amps will be 35 to 40 years old.

All I have to say about starting circuits, is that Anthem has failed in 18 months. My system, although the sequencing is manual, has now worked for 17 years, including a change in location. So I'm not in a mind to change the design. It is pretty easy to flip the four illuminated 24 volt rocker switches to the relays in succession. One turns on the three 909s for the right and left speaker, one the 909 for the center speaker, one for the 909 for the surrounds, and the two 405-2s for the Atmos ceiling speakers, and one for the two 909 amps for the rear backs.

So I'm not in a mood, to look for something troublesome. As I stated in another post, I buy and design for the long term, and only occasionally make purchases when there are sound reasons for doing so. That is the most economical approach in my opinion.

 

[Cos]

Agreed, the funny thing is, so far I have only read about failing of their high end amps, the P series and now the STR on audioholics. I do not recall reports of failures about the MCA series other than minor ones.

As a former MCA Amp owner, nope, never had problems. That being said, we sometimes forget this is not high end medical equipment saving lives, it's audio gear, shiznit happens. I am sure they will take care of it, and you won't have issues. If it was their 1st GEN AVRs, then maybe not LOL.

 

[PENG]

As a former MCA Amp owner, nope, never had problems. That being said, we sometimes forget this is not high end medical equipment saving lives, it's audio gear, shiznit happens. I am sure they will take care of it, and you won't have issues. If it was their 1st GEN AVRs, then maybe not LOL.

Actually my MCA amp is of an older generation, the MCA20 and has been operating for almost 12 years. The only minor issue was the auto on but the triggers are fine so no loss there. I think those MCA amps are great values.

 

[Foxchapeliron]

Have you read the owner's manual yet? It could just be blown fuse(s).

View attachment 59263

Got the STR back, full power supply replacement. Been putting it through it’s paces, seems back to speed but remote trigger now won’t work. Using auto sense instead as I’m not shipping this back to canada again. 62lbs cost me 100 after paying 6k. They did full warranty except not checking all functions as trigger worked fine when I sent it out

 

[binlove]

Got the STR back, full power supply replacement. Been putting it through it’s paces, seems back to speed but remote trigger now won’t work. Using auto sense instead as I’m not shipping this back to canada again. 62lbs cost me 100 after paying 6k. They did full warranty except not checking all functions as trigger worked fine when I sent it out

As someone who works in consumer electronics service (corporate engineering side), they ought to cover the shipping to fix that trigger since they induced the fault and failed to catch it in post repair checks.

(Edit: or that part was a victim of whatever caused your power failure. Either way it is an incomplete repair that they ought to assume responsibility for.)

I can understand if you don’t want to bother though. Glad you got it working again!


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[jaybirdius]

Got the STR back, full power supply replacement. Been putting it through it’s paces, seems back to speed but remote trigger now won’t work. Using auto sense instead as I’m not shipping this back to canada again. 62lbs cost me 100 after paying 6k. They did full warranty except not checking all functions as trigger worked fine when I sent it out

This thread is really disappointing to me. I'm in the market for a high end power and preamp combo, and the Anthem STR was at the top of my list. It's a shame to read threads like this. I guess they've been infected with the same lowered quality standards as most other western companies.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

…I’m not shipping this back to canada again. 62lbs cost me 100 after paying 6k. They did full warranty except not checking all functions as trigger worked fine when I sent it out…

…they ought to cover the shipping to fix that trigger since they induced the fault and failed to catch it in post repair checks…

This thread is really disappointing to me. I'm in the market for a high end power and preamp combo, and the Anthem STR was at the top of my list. It's a shame to read threads like this. I guess they've been infected with the same lowered quality standards as most other western companies.

I’ve brought up the point of manufactures not paying for shipping both ways for warranty repairs, especially on components costing $2K or more. There’s not much we can do about it, except to vent so we might feel a little better.

But it goes back to the determining factors for buying new products- what is the salient factors when buying an AVR, Amp, AVP, Preamp?

Is product reliability, warranty, support, repair service (free shipping both ways, being taken care of to your satisfaction, etc.) the salient factor ONLY after we FELT like we’ve been screwed?

I think you can tell the mood/tone of someone who has been through this

When you pay $6,000 for a new product under warranty and still have to pay $100 to ship, the $100 itself doesn’t seem much compared to the $6,000 cost, but it’s like adding salt to wound.

And then after you pay the $100 for warranty repair (and lose how much time?), they screw something else up like the 12V trigger and you have to “live with that” after paying $6,100 for a new amp, which is adding even more salt to your wound.

Is Yamaha the ONLY company in the world who pays for your shipping both ways on their components, even on their “inexpensive” Avantage AV Receivers for the 5 YR warranty repair? Is it because Yamaha is the BIGGEST sound company in the world ($3 billion net annual revenue) ? Offering 5YR warranty plus pay for shipping both ways?

Will smaller companies like Anthem go bankrupt if they were to provide free shipping both ways? Thus, is it unfair of us to expect free shipping both ways?

 

[TLS Guy]

Got the STR back, full power supply replacement. Been putting it through it’s paces, seems back to speed but remote trigger now won’t work. Using auto sense instead as I’m not shipping this back to canada again. 62lbs cost me 100 after paying 6k. They did full warranty except not checking all functions as trigger worked fine when I sent it out

That sounds strange that the trigger worked when the amp would not power up. Are you sure about that? I suppose it is just possible they they disconnected the trigger on purpose. They may know something we don't, such as that circuit being involved in the failure, having seen this before. That is a reason manufacturers should always make circuits available.

 

[PENG]

Got the STR back, full power supply replacement. Been putting it through it’s paces, seems back to speed but remote trigger now won’t work. Using auto sense instead as I’m not shipping this back to canada again. 62lbs cost me 100 after paying 6k. They did full warranty except not checking all functions as trigger worked fine when I sent it out

Thank you for the feedback, what's the total turn around time for the repair and return trip?
Did the unit run hot, or on the warm side prior? Just wondering if you should use a quiet external fan to help longevity going forward.

 

[highfigh]

How many times have we seen comments and threads about Anthem units dying? It seems high, considering the fact that they aren't a huge company. IMO, something which costs this much should be almost indestructible. Granted, lightning is a wild card, but if surges are a problem, they could include suppression in their design or require some unit that has been tested and approved. Leaving the trigger inoperable- I don't think that's an adequate solution if the circuit is faulty. I have seen very few 12V trigger failures in almost 50 years- I don't see a reason for this to be a problem for one brand and many circuits are just copied from circuit books since there's no reason to reinvent the wheel.

 

[binlove]

…Leaving the trigger inoperable- I don't think that's an adequate solution if the circuit is faulty. I have seen very few 12V trigger failures in almost 50 years- I don't see a reason for this to be a problem for one brand and many circuits are just copied from circuit books since there's no reason to reinvent the wheel.

Of course you are correct, but to my mind it is even simpler. A repair should return the product to within its operating specifications. Since the operating specifications when you buy it include a working 12V trigger, disabling it due to a design flaw and calling it a fix should be unacceptable - they’d have de-featured the product. That’s the kind of thing that leads to payouts or even class action cases if users figure it out.

I would assume positive intent but sloppiness. Maybe they broke it during repair, but most likely it was a either improperly installed or a victim to whatever caused the original power fault (either external cause or when the failed part died it took the trigger mechanism with it) and they simply didn’t test it after resolving the power issue.

Now that I’ve written it down, THAT actually would give me concern. People can screw up and forget a step or a test, but this implies that they’ve either got an intentionally incomplete outgoing test process or no process controls (meaning a human or procedurally controlled process). Who knows what other parameters might not be tested - maybe even some of them impact sonic performance?

So it is sloppy. Intentionally or not, definitely sloppy work. They should own it.


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[highfigh]

Of course you are correct, but to my mind it is even simpler. A repair should return the product to within its operating specifications. Since the operating specifications when you buy it include a working 12V trigger, disabling it due to a design flaw and calling it a fix should be unacceptable - they’d have de-featured the product. That’s the kind of thing that leads to payouts or even class action cases if users figure it out.

I would assume positive intent but sloppiness. Maybe they broke it during repair, but most likely it was a either improperly installed or a victim to whatever caused the original power fault (either external cause or when the failed part died it took the trigger mechanism with it) and they simply didn’t test it after resolving the power issue.

Now that I’ve written it down, THAT actually would give me concern. People can screw up and forget a step or a test, but this implies that they’ve either got an intentionally incomplete outgoing test process or no process controls (meaning a human or procedurally controlled process). Who knows what other parameters might not be tested - maybe even some of them impact sonic performance?

So it is sloppy. Intentionally or not, definitely sloppy work. They should own it.


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I would contact Anthem and explain that the 12V trigger isn't working. If they tell you that it's no longer used, demand a refund of some amount- you paid a lot for this and it's not 'as advertised', as-built or an acceptable repair. Don't yell or scream, that's an easy way to hear them end the call.