Hi all.
I own a Rotel RA-04 integrated amp which I bought new back in 2007. All was fine until recently and I’m having issues with the channels.
I’m only getting sound from the left speaker when hooked up to my CD deck, but weirdly I get stereo sound from an AUX to RCA through the amp.
I’ve tried all RCA inputs and the CD deck works fine as I’ve tried it on a spare amp I have.
I’ve also tried hooking up the speakers to Speakers B just in case it was those, but no dice.
Any ideas? It’s a great condition amp and I’d really like to get it working again.
I own a Rotel RA-04 integrated amp which I bought new back in 2007. All was fine until recently and I’m having issues with the channels.
I’m only getting sound from the left speaker when hooked up to my CD deck, but weirdly I get stereo sound from an AUX to RCA through the amp.
I’ve tried all RCA inputs and the CD deck works fine as I’ve tried it on a spare amp I have.
I’ve also tried hooking up the speakers to Speakers B just in case it was those, but no dice.
Any ideas? It’s a great condition amp and I’d really like to get it working again.
RA-04 service manual cannot be found but RA-06 is available at elektrotanya.
If these amps are not too different then the RCA input sockets of both CD and AUX connect straight to the input selector chip.
So if one channel of CD input s not working then the first suspect would be a cracked solder joint of the RCA socket.
Thanks for the advice. I also tried plugging the RCA from my CD deck into the Tape and AUX 2 ports at the back of the Rotel, but it was still left only speaker. I’m confused as to why my AUX 1 input is fine, but seemingly all others are not. TBH I haven’t tried the CD deck in AUX 1 yet, so that might have to be my next test.
Then your signal cable has to be faulty.
Swap the channel connectors (at amplifier end) and see which channel gets muted.
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I've tried it with 3 different RCA cables in all the port options and all have the same issue. Same cables and same CD deck into my very old amp (Rotel RA-921) and all seems fine - both channels working and stereo sound. Maybe the 3.5mm jack to RCA is fine because its sending a different type of signal? Going to open up the RA-04 today and see if there's anything out of sorts inside.
UPDATE: Okay, so I plugged the RCA from my CD player into the back of the RA-04 and I only have sound coming from one side - until - I plugged the RCA into the TAPE IN port on the back of my amp. Would seem this is currently the only port on my amp thats prepared to give me stereo sound.
Try the same test with reversed channels
(CD left to amp right and vice versa) to see if problem follows the amp or player.
(CD left to amp right and vice versa) to see if problem follows the amp or player.
Thanks. Just tried and still without sound to both speakers unless I'm switched from SOURCE to TAPE and RCA plugged into TAPE . If I plug my single 3.5mm-AUX-to-RCA in any port from my laptop headphone out, all inputs work fine and I get stereo sound.
THE CD player tested on another amp works fine on all inputs.
THE CD player tested on another amp works fine on all inputs.
If this uses the TC9163 input selector chip then past experience of these in other equipment suggests that may well be the issue.
Do I understand correctly, when laptop is used as source all inputs work properly. When CD is used as source than only Tape input works?
Iam guessing Here, but if so, it could be some DC offset voltage present on one of CD outputs, making input selector chip not working properly.
Tape-in wont be affected, beacuse it has separate selector further down the line.
Iam guessing Here, but if so, it could be some DC offset voltage present on one of CD outputs, making input selector chip not working properly.
Tape-in wont be affected, beacuse it has separate selector further down the line.
Thats exactly what happens, Davor D. I have a Playstation 1 with RCA outputs somewhere. Maybe I should try and plug that in to test.
Yes, try if you can.
If only CD player gives you trouble its possible that amp is ok.
Do you have a multimeter?
Try to measure if there is DC voltage present at CD player outputs.
If only CD player gives you trouble its possible that amp is ok.
Do you have a multimeter?
Try to measure if there is DC voltage present at CD player outputs.
Easy way to test would be to insert a capacitor into a cheap RCA cable signal path (the amp seems to be DC coupled).
Tried the Playstation 1 and same issue as my Technics CD deck. Only one side audio. I have a multimeter somewhere (we've recently moved house!), so I'll dig it out and see if there's any voltage at the outputs.
You have not yet clearly responded whether the problem changes channels when swapping the cable ends on amplifier input sockets or not.
Hi madis64. There is no change if I swap cable ends on the amplifier inout sockets. Problem remains.