Elf help needed

[David Houck]

I just picked up a used Elf M2 and a couple of Elf subs.  The Elf powers up; there are two lights on, Elf Intergrator and Stereo High Pass.  There is signal going to the Elf; but nothing comes out.  I have one line going in which is plugged into the Left In/Mono In.  And I have two lines going out.  One is from the Elf Sum Out/Elf Out.  The other I've tried from both the Right High Out/High Out and the Left High Out/Mid Out.  I'm not getting anything from any of the outputs.  When I bypass the M2 and go straight to the power amp, sound does come out as normal.  I've tried different cables going in and out.  Adjusting the front panel controls does not help.
 
Any ideas??

[bassman10096]

Hey Dave:  Sorry, but I don't have any insights on how to get some output going.  However, this may help:  I had a few problems when I first got my ELF outfit (so to speak). The first big shock is when you learn there is no tech guide, product manual or any customary reference documentation for the M2 integrator.  However, after I recovered from that unwelcome news, things got much better:  BagEnd has a great tech/customer service function and a willingness to help even the used equipment buyer that reminded me of Alembic.
 
I spoke with:
Dan Saraceno
Technical Support
Bag End Loudspeakers
(847)382-4550
ds@bagend.com
 
He was endlessly patient and helpful.  Ironically, the most substantial written materials on the integrators are an article by Ron W. (small world, huh?) that BagEnd will send you (or it may be on their site).  Dan works on these units, so he is extremely knowlegable.  
 
I'd be interested in knowing how things turn out for you.  I love my ELF 18.  I generally use it paired with a 212 and find it gives me a huge, but balanced and quite accurate sound.  However, if someone deserves a serious a**-whuppin', that rig joins up really nicely with 2 115s (one with a JBL and another with an Eminence Delta LF).
 
Good luck.
Bill

[bob]

Sounds like you're busted to me, sorry.
 
Have you tried running the output from right or left high/mid out, to the amp, to a non-elf cabinet? That would eliminate the subs and be pretty convincing evidence you have a problem in the M2, assuming you don't have the front panel controls way out of whack.
 
I'm not sure what's on your M2, but if you have something like gain and threshold both set at zero, that should be a perfectly good starting point. If you don't go nuts with volume, you could also briefly try running the summed elf output to another cabinet.
 
I'll second Bill's comment that tech support can be pretty helpful. I got a very timely response to an email (no problems here, was just asking about break-in time and some other odd stuff).
 
Hope it works out, you'll love it. And what subs did you get?
-Bob

[David Houck]

Bill and Bob; thanks for the responses!
 
I did download the Elf Guide from the Bag End site, but it was no help.
 
I got two S18E-C subs.  I've been working with one in trying to get set up; and I did run signal to it when I bypassed the Elf and it did produce sound.  So that did eliminate the subs as the problem.
 
The front panel controls were set at -1 for gain and +5 for threshold.  Eventually I tried moving both gain and threshold through their ranges, but to no avail.
 
I've emailed the seller about the problem and he emailed back asking for the info on the adaptor he sent.  The one spec that was out of line was that the M2's specs called for operating current of less than 100 mA, while the adaptor is rated at 200 mA.  I sent this information to the seller and he emailed back that he's pretty sure that it is the adaptor that he has always used with the unit, that he pulled it out of his rack when he listed it for sale, and that it was indeed working when he did so.  He said the he would check his warehouse on Monday, to make sure there is not another adaptor; and if there is not, he said I should send the M2 back to him and he will get it repaired.
 
So that's where I stand now.  I figured that when the two of you saw my post, you would be able to spot anything I might have done incorrectly; and the seller said that my email indicated I had it setup correctly.  I don't want to try any more experimenting at the moment, just in case the adaptor is mismatched.  I guess I'm going to wait to see if the seller finds anything on Monday, and then I'll probably be sending the M2 back to him for repair.

[kmh364]

Dave:
 
Try sending an email to Alembic Club Member Barry Kravitz a.k.a. bkbass. He's an ELF/Bag End expert of sorts. He may be able to help you out. Good luck.
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

[David Houck]

Thanks Kevin; I just dashed an email off to Barry as you suggested, but it bounced.  I guess he's changed his email address from the one in his profile.
 
(Message edited by davehouck on May 16, 2005)