PG 215ix help

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:30 pm

First and foremost: a hello from me, stumbled across this place on google. And now to rack your brains.

I bought a PG EQ off ebay, delivered ok, and I installed it this morning. Everything works ok, but there is a terrible amount of interference coming through the outputs, 100hz and lower. Ive played with the settings, but to no avail.

Ive tried different amps, RCA leads, a different power supply, and it still persists even with the headunit disconnected from it

So my conclusion is that the EQ is boogered (unless anyone has any other ideas) So does anyone one here know what the solution to this could be? is it s DIY job? I will press for a refund off him, but he reckons it was fine when he had it so im not too sure

Thanks in advance!

Joe.

Post by **Wakeup** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:34 pm

Welcome joe to the phorums!

I am sure there will be a few people on here who can help you. I am just an enthusiast, and love the products...but dont know how to fix etc. 1moreamp can probably help as well as some others!

Again welcome!

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:40 pm

Im quite new into the world of PG products, ive listened to a bit of their old skool gear and am impressed with what ive heard, my current setup consists of:

-JVC exad HU.
-Powerbass 150 rms x 2 amp for the mids.
Diamond mids.
-JL audio 70rms x 2 amp for the tweets.
ADS tweeters.
-Alpine 350rms amp for subs (soon to be 1kw DLS)
2x JBL gt4-12 subs 2.75 cuft ported to 31hz (Soon to be RE SX15)

And of course the dodgy EQ.

Joe.

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:45 pm

By interference do you mean crackling or constant noise, like say, alternator/power noise?

I know some of the older PG EQs had long term issues where the solder joints at the RCAs would get dry and start to break loose. There could be some shorting going on there, even with the RCAs disconnected...

Also, have you used a crossover (even if it's just amp internal) to determine that the issue is below 100Hz or so? This is only happening on the bass amp I assume?

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:49 pm

Its not alt whine, more like a low pitched bubbling/thumpy noise,

And ive come to the conclusion that the noise is 100hz and below as the EQ's crossover is set to 80hz (ish) and the noise is present through the sub amp, and can be heard through the mids of a low pitch as well.

Cheers for the quick replies

So the joints are worth a check then?

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:09 pm

joe_g wrote: Cheers for the quick replies So the joints are worth a check then?

All misbehaving PG gear is worth busting open and having a look at

Wait for 1moreamp to reply before you make any rash decision, he's a god who repairs amps for a living and based on all his decades of experience, likes PG the best

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:14 pm

I'll have a look tomorrow inside her, I just hope its nothing too in depth, i'll happily get jiggy with the soldering iron for some re-attachment therapy! But i'll leave anything too serious to the experts.

And could this have happened whilst being delivered? It did arrive in a jiffy bag stuffed with bubble wrap

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:15 pm

Does the noise cause the level leds to flash on the output ?

It sounds like either a bad op-amp or a bad cap, or a bad slider somewhere, is it just on the sub out or the high pass also ?

its fixable I assure you < I fix these and other things > but until I get more info or its on my bench for a SQ check I will be guesstimating what the cause is.

Your issue is not normal, My 2 EQ232's are dead silent, and I don't know what I would do without them. Unfortunately E-bay is a dumping ground for the less scrupulous people out there.

PG has flat rates if you want them to fix it, they will. I have fixed a few over the years. Bad op-amps and blown power supplies as i remember correctly.

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:19 pm

They do flash sometimes when there is a loud thud.

Its on the high pass as well as the low pass, but still on low frequency.

Anything you need to know, i'll do my best to answer.

And Ive got a guy who should be able to sort it for me, im just hoping its something less complex that I can sort myself, I know bits about electronics,

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:26 pm

Hey man; welcome to the forum.
This is a gathering of people who know a lot about PG-stuff, and share it, along with some of their daily problems, jokes, etc.,etc. [

]
You've had the two best advices already IMO;
The rca-pins could be loose from the board [re-soldered all my eq's]
And if that doesn't solve the problem; just call; CECIL!!!!!!! HELP ME!!!!!

If HE, THE C-MAN can't fix it; you might as well use the EQ as a paper-weight...
Good luck!
nico

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:39 pm

joe_g wrote:They do flash sometimes when there is a loud thud.

Its on the high pass as well as the low pass, but still on low frequency.

Anything you need to know, i'll do my best to answer.

And Ive got a guy who should be able to sort it for me, im just hoping its something less complex that I can sort myself, I know bits about electronics,

Well your issues is up front in the EQ and possibly in the EQ band board. Is the noise still there if you defeat the EQ ? If so then its definitely up front in the input stages.
I would look for bad solder on the RCAs and burnt traces on the board < both sides please> and then.

I would start tracking back the issue by defeating the band board and checking the signal without the band board in the circuit. Its all a matter of back tracking to find the affected area. I would use a scope as the signal will most definitely show itself.

It sounds like a either bad solder, burnt traces on the internal ground or possibly a bad op-amp on the input section.

But don't rule out the power supply make sure it up to snuff also... C

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:43 pm

The power supply is fine, ive gone straight to the battery with the ground, as well as the amps ground dist block, and same with the +ve. And have tried a seperate battery to power the EQ up with.

The noise is still there when defeat is pressed.

I'll have a looky tomorrow, and if it looks too complex for myself, then i'll take it to my amp guy next week (dropping off a dls lump for him to fix) and let him have a go.

paintguy · Post by **paintguy** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:59 pm

Hi Joe

As I've said over on TA, you're welcome to do a swap with mine just to confirm the EQ is at fault, although it almost certainly is from what you've said.

No idea how you can fix it, but you're certainly in the right place to receive the best help.

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:04 pm

Cheers for the offer mate

You might possibly be hearing from me about your offer at some point in the next week or so. It will be tested on the bench come monday if I cant get the thing to perform tomorrow.

Another Q: When were these units produced (year-wise) and also what did they retail for at the time? I paid 45 for this one, and ive heard they were quite pricey in there day?

Thanks again for all the help

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:14 pm

joe_g wrote: Another Q: When were these units produced (year-wise) and also what did they retail for at the time? I paid 45 for this one, and ive heard they were quite pricey in there day?

Year depends on what "theme" the EQ is, I believe. I think the first ones were white to match MS/M amps but don't quote me on that, there may have been earlier models. There's also Tantrum-styled, Ti-styled and a bunch of others included ones including ones to match some of the limited production amps.

We're talking early-mid 90s but I don't know enough to pin it down to specific years.

Also, I think your EQ retailed for around $400 when new, in it's hay-day.

soth · Post by **soth** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:16 pm

joe_g wrote:Cheers for the offer mate

You might possibly be hearing from me about your offer at some point in the next week or so. It will be tested on the bench come monday if I cant get the thing to perform tomorrow.

Another Q: When were these units produced (year-wise) and also what did they retail for at the time? I paid 45 for this one, and ive heard they were quite pricey in there day?

Thanks again for all the help

How long ago did you buy this from ebay? The ones i've been watching lately has went for 100+ I did see the older 215x a month or so I think go for around that price, but i'm not quite sure though.

They were probably around 93-95 and costed around 400 or somewhere around there. They are really good units or at least i'm a big fan of the series along with MS, MPS, ZPA

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:19 pm

Yeah, its one of the white jobbies.

It went for so little (only I bid on it) as he got the model number wrong

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :RTQ:UK:11

So I put in a bid, not even thinking I would win it, and no one else bid!

Nice to know I got a good price on it even if it does throw fits at me.

And I forgot to mention before hand, that the noise sometimes stops, especially after a couple of minutes of play, but will come back in again after a short while.

rolandk · Post by **rolandk** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:39 pm

Its most likely a scratchy crossover frequency pot. It might clear up by turning it up and down a bunch of times. If that dosen't work spray it with contact cleaner. If that dosen't work then it needs to be replaced.

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:32 am

Well I took the thing apart, gave me a good chance to clean the casing fully. Re-seated the RCA inputs, plus a couple of points on the gain pots.

Then I dribbled some contact cleaner onto the sliders, gave them all a good wiggle, and did the same with the pots, which loosened them up as they were really tight before.

I put it back in my motor, just on the subs amp lowpass at the full 600hz, with a input from the headunit. And... Nothing! No noise whatsoever with the HU turned to '0'

So I tried it a few more times, even leaving the EQ on for 2 hours without a signal going in/out of it, then trying again, and still total silence!

So a big thanks to everyone on here

All have a virtual beer on me

marko · Post by **marko** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:37 am

glad you go it fixed, i have a similar issue with my 215x so will do the same

Post by **Wakeup** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:49 am

Grats...glad you got it worked out!

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:03 am

first problem you posted here; solved already!
Good show.
I'm glad for you man

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:27 am

All thanks to you guys!

Id still be here now arguing with the seller, who by the way refused to give me a refund last night, but as im keeping it: some negative feedback? and to rub salt in the wounds, remind him that he could have doubled his money on it if he had got the item description right

He reckons the postie must have dropped it

marko · Post by **marko** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:27 pm

any idea how much he wants for the route66? i emailed him a long time ago about it but never got an answer

joe_g · Post by **joe_g** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:28 pm

Not the foggiest, try emailing him again, I know he will be on there soon when I reply to his last message