Help with PMC and Auralic set up for a helpless widow!

Ugg10

Page 17 of the Vega manual shows it has a balance control, worth checking that is set correctly.

The other thing to check is the balance setting on either your pc (usb input) or your tv (optical input) and make sure they are set ok.

Finally all three bits of kit have volume controls so may be worth seeing which are set to control the main volume for the speakers (ideally the m6i as you have it connected now).

Derek S-H

@Ljiebaby  - I've been thinking about this a bit more and there's two methods you can try:

1. Since everything is connected up and in place, using a pair of headphones to establish that you are receiving a stereo signal through the electronics would be the quickest and easiest thing to do. If you are, then it's just a question of connecting up your speakers to the electronics correctly so you can receive stereo through them.

2. You won't like this: if you test using your headphones and you aren't getting a stereo signal (and you've checked all the balance settings), then I would recommend that you unplug everything and start again. Systematically and methodically connect everything up as @Ugg10 has suggested making sure the right inputs go into the right outputs. Then test for a stereo signal using headphones.

I know electronics can be an intimidating jungle of cables back there, but there's usually a clear signal path to follow (In to Out or Out to In).

Connecting up speakers is much more straightforward: a pair of cables, usually already colour coded if using banana plugs, into each speaker from the amp. Looking at your picture in Post #4, it looks like your banana plugs have been cold welded, so it is highly unlikely that you have removed one and just have bare wire left.

Please keep us updated with how you get on and provide any photos if you continue to be stuck. And be patient, don't rush!

Jamjones

Morning. I've connected the headphones and I'm getting stereo in all its glory. I've traced everything, swapped over the cable to see if that was an issue and the only problem I can find is the output port isn't working. Its all connected properly, both cables work. That may explain why the sub doesn't work as soon as I plug it in. I'll flick through the manuals later and see if something seems weird. I've gone through the balance and it's all as it should be. It's connected to a TV using a toslink optical cable thing that is on the TV. I've had it plugged into a laptop to see if that changes it and its the same. One speaker does not work!! Can I bypass the mi6?

Also, another question for opinion sake, should I put the set up back with the PC and use the Monitor Audio (radius 225) 5.1 with the TV or will the 22s be OK with a TV. I'm trying to minimise cables but not having nice sound is starting to really irritate me, and I haven't even started on the office set up yet!

Ugg10

Nice bit of detective work, we are slowly getting there.

What happens if you switch the red and black cables to the right speakers from the m6i over with the left ones? If the working speaker swaps over it is an amp problem, if it stays the same it is a speaker problem.

For the system you have you need m6i to power the speakers.

You say you have 5.1 system as well, can you give any more details on that, there should be another receiver/amp somewhere to run the radius’.

Jamjones

I've swapped the cables, to each speaker, each port and I can get sound out of each of them using each cable but not using the left port. I've checked the other set ups in the house and I have to move each speak set up with the existing amp. I don't have anything in the house to replace the mi6. I could possibly buy something but with a funeral to pay for, money is tight! He would rather I bought an amp than a funeral but alas, I cannot!

Can I take the mi6 apart and have a look Inside?

Ugg10

Did your husband buy the m6i from a local shop or online. If it is within 2 years then you may still be under warranty, if you have a local hifi shop then you could get them to look it over. Unfortunately, opening it up will probably not tell you anything unless you have all of the diagnosis tools and will invalidate any warranty.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Musical Fidelity | Freqently Asked Questions                                                                                                        What speakers do you recommend?   Unfortunately, we are unable to recommend speakers to our customers. A lot of it is down to personal opinion. Whilst...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.musicalfidelity.com                                                                               
Musical fidelity have a service system so may be worth giving them a call to see how much it is but I suspect it will be around the £300 (don’t hold me to that but this is what other manufacturers tend to charge).

Ugg10

One other thought, the Vega has unbalanced rca/phono outputs, if you have a phono/rca cable then you could try removing the balanced cable (large three pin plugs) and putting in a phono cable from the Vega to the m6i, connecting it to the cd input. You will need to change the input on the m6i to cd but this would rule out the balanced circuit and those cables.

Just a thought.

Jamjones

@Ugg10 everything you just sent went over my head. I'm going to ring a local (ish) shop and see if they can have a look. It's not under warranty. He's had it for about 5 years I think. He's a member of this forum and I've looked through his old posts to get an insight and it was a few years ago he sampled the set up and then bought it all. We've got a spare Yamaha Amp he didn't want to get rid of that I may be able to use for the 225s just so I have something set up.
Thank you both for your amazing input and support.

gibbsy

Am I right in thinking that the moment the headphone amp is also acting as a pre-amp for the M6i via the balanced inputs. You could cut the pre-amp stage and wire in the headphone amp differently. Connect the headphone amp to the M6i's record output with RCA cutting out completely the pre-amp side of the headphone amp.

The wiring would then be source to the DAC. DAC to the M6i. M6i to the headphone amp via RCA. Just a thought.

Jamjones

I've contacted the Musical Fidelity distributor in Oxford and they're happy to trace the serial number and I will look into sending it off for a repair. Oxford isn't too far so could be worth a nice little day out. @gibbsy none of what you said many any sense, but thank you for your help. I've run out of brain power now!