millenia TD-1 problem....

funkaholic · #1 02-04-2009, 04:54 PM

Just bought a second hand TD-1 and regardless of the impedance selection, my passive basses sound extremely dull, anybody has had a similar problem or any idea why this might be?

Thanks!

Nick Kay · #2 02-04-2009, 05:44 PM

Troubleshoot, piece by piece. I'm going to go from left to right, for simplicity.

1) Set the input impedance high. Dull passives are usually due to a low input impedance - you're going to want 2M or 10M here.

2) Phantom power, ground lift, phase flip and speaker soak off. The speaker soak has a low-pass filter built-in, if my memory serves me correctly.

3) Gain up 'til you get the OL light to blink on really hard hits. Some preamps sound dull when you've got the gain anywhere below "about to hit the rails." I don't remember the TD-1 exhibiting this behaviour, but you never know.

4) Skip the EQ for now - just turn it all off from the switch on the far right.

5) Try the SS input circuitry to start - the tube might be dying, as unlikely as that is, and that would have a detrimental effect on the tone.

6) You've got the last switches on the front panel set to Instrument and pad out, of course.

7) Back panel, use the balanced line out. The XFMR Out puts out mic-level signals, if I remember correctly. Also, make sure you're not plugged out of the Reamp Outs. Hey, you never know.

Good luck!

funkaholic · #3 02-04-2009, 08:29 PM

Thanks for the input, the funny thing is the impedance switch doesn't make a difference, I did all you said pretty much and no luck. I don't have the same dullness when I plug in an active bass. I might have to send it to Millenia.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

Troubleshoot, piece by piece. I'm going to go from left to right, for simplicity.

1) Set the input impedance high. Dull passives are usually due to a low input impedance - you're going to want 2M or 10M here.

2) Phantom power, ground lift, phase flip and speaker soak off. The speaker soak has a low-pass filter built-in, if my memory serves me correctly.

3) Gain up 'til you get the OL light to blink on really hard hits. Some preamps sound dull when you've got the gain anywhere below "about to hit the rails." I don't remember the TD-1 exhibiting this behaviour, but you never know.

4) Skip the EQ for now - just turn it all off from the switch on the far right.

5) Try the SS input circuitry to start - the tube might be dying, as unlikely as that is, and that would have a detrimental effect on the tone.

6) You've got the last switches on the front panel set to Instrument and pad out, of course.

7) Back panel, use the balanced line out. The XFMR Out puts out mic-level signals, if I remember correctly. Also, make sure you're not plugged out of the Reamp Outs. Hey, you never know.

Good luck!

Nick Kay · #4 02-04-2009, 08:41 PM

Definitely sounds like the impedance is stuck on a low setting, or there's a flaky connection in relation to the impedance switches. Both of them do nothing? That's really odd. Service time!

funkaholic · #5 02-04-2009, 09:04 PM

So you think it's stuck at 470 K, would it sound that dull at that, and if so do I need to send it to Millenia or would that be something simple that could be serviced locally in TO?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

Definitely sounds like the impedance is stuck on a low setting, or there's a flaky connection in relation to the impedance switches. Both of them do nothing? That's really odd. Service time!

Nick Kay · #6 02-04-2009, 09:53 PM

The input impedance on instrument amps ranges from 500K to 1M, for the most part. 470K should not sound THAT dull. It's on the lower side of the spectrum, but it shouldn't be a noticeable difference. Perhaps something else is afoot. I can't think of what else could cause the anomaly to disappear on active instruments, though. The fact that the impedance switches don't affect the sound at all is a tip off, though.

A local engineer might be able to fix it - it's probably a simple job. He might have trouble getting schematics from Millennia, though. They're not very liberal with their schematics and they prefer to do their repairs in house. Possibly to maintain their reputation for quality worksmanship? In either case, get a quote from a local engineer, but don't bench it unless he's got the schematic in hand and you trust the guy.

funkaholic · #7 02-04-2009, 10:27 PM

Cool, thanks Nick.
I just tried a passive Jazz bass with and without an Emma Discombobulator pedal (with the effect off), again it sounds great with the pedal, and really honky without it. I guess the pedal works as a buffer????
Millenia has a flat rate, which is 120USD plus shipping to them, which I guess is not that bad, but it's something really simple, that's still a big chunk of change