F1-X pops when switching off

[maarten⊙]

Hi all,


When I switch off my F1-X while the poweramp (digital ICE-power) is still on, it pops so loud that I think it can damage the speakers. Most of the time I switch off the  poweramp first so there's no problem. But sometimes I forget it, or some helpful person causes the big bang.


Adding a switch that turns off de power simultaneously doesn't help.


What can I do to prevent this popping?


Thanks,
Maarten

[StephenR]

You should always make sure that the power amp gain controls are turned to zero output before turning off your pre-amp/shutting down your rig.

[JimmyJ]

Hey Maarten,

As Stephen suggests you simply need to get in the habit of the best power-up and power-down sequences.  You wouldn't turn your amp on, plug a guitar cable into channel 1, turn it up to 8, and then plug in the guitar.  If you did you'd expect a huge noise as you plug in that 1/4" connector.

Preamps, EQ, and many outboard pieces of gear can send transients down the audio line when powered on or off.  Even our Series instruments will make a huge THUMP if you plug in the 5-pin cable with the pickup switch in the on position.  And the reason a single power switch for your whole rig doesn't work is because power amps have big capacitors which keep the amp running for a few seconds - long enough to amplify the preamp's transient to pop.

So the best practice is either to get in the habit of turning your power amp's volume controls down before startup or shutdown, or simple make sure the power amp is the last piece you turn on and the first piece you turn off (with a few seconds delay)...

Jimmy J

[lbpesq]

The same rule applies to PA equipment.  Always turn your power amp/powered speakers on last and off first.  As Jimmy J. suggests, it's a good habit to get into.

Bill, tgo

[maarten⊙]

Thanks a lot, Stephen, Jimmy and Bill,

What you say is already my habit, but sometimes an error occurs...  It's good to understand how its works exactly and that there is no technical trick to solve this. So I  always have to pay attention and keep jokers off my equipement (I mean: now I can explain how it works, so they don't make the same mistake).

Thans again,
Maarten