Summit Audio TLA-100 support.

[stellar]

you could start by swapping cables, sources, etc. then opening up and just seeing if anything came loose.

sucks that tech support seems weak I love my tla-100a

I think they use custom op amps so you probably will have to send it to them?? If not, if you find a hardy or something, you might just try swapping that

[Jimbo]

You should try contacting (via telephone) Summit again for support. I have always had great customer support from them.

If you don't want to go that route then try taking it to a good electronics repair shop. They should be able to, at least, diagnose where the problem lies. You might get lucky and find out it's just a loose wire.

Good luck!

[Matt Syson]

Hi
On the couple of occasions I have requested help from Summit I got a prompt email reply direct from the USA. Suggest you try again or possibly telephone to 'back up' your email.
Wires don't tend to 'fall off' but fuses can blow due to 'old age' so check them and if necessary replace WITH THE CORRECT STATED VALUE. Fused USUALLY blow for a reason so replace it once or if necessary twice but no more as it is telling you something more is wrong. Fitting a bigger fuse stands a good chance of making what is a small problem bigger.
Matt S

[Mike Terry]

G-spot, it sounds like you have one or two bad 990 op amps. that is usually the problem associated with that symptom.

Unfortunately Summits operations seized in mid October of this year. Everyone was laid off, or rather just let go with little to no warning... With no pay. It was great I was the senior product manager.

24 volt Jensen 990's will work in there and can still be found, or try to find a tech that has worked on these in the past to help you figure out which one is the bad one.

[Matt Syson]

Hi Mike
Sad to hear of your predicament. Was it just poor sales or was there more to the sudden closure?
As an possibility for repair as you have more than one unit you could fit an op amp from the faulty unit into the working one however it carries some risk so it would be better to go to someone who could fault find properly.
I am sure there is sufficient resources here but I suspect you probably don't want to get into it that much. You should start off by some multimeter measurements of power rails but if this sounds too much don't start.
Matt S

[John Hardy]

You can get the 990C from the John Hardy Company:

http://www.johnhardyco.com/pdf/990-2007.pdf

I am not familiar with the internal workings of the Summit products, but they use 990 op-amps that they manufacture. The 990C that the Hardy Company makes should work fine wherever Summit uses a 990. Same package size, pin locations, etc.

Someone will have to do basic troubleshooting to see where the signal stops. Swapping the tube and swapping 990 op-amps is one way. There could be a bad connection somewhere, an intermittent switch, etc.

Best of luck.

John Hardy
The John Hardy co.
The John Hardy Co. Home

[G-Spot]

Hey guys,
many thanks for the input! I had lost hope on getting replies but I was just checking the thread...

Mike, sorry to hear that. What a bad way of ending a (un)professional relationship... (by the way... are you the same Mike Terry who did "In your Honour" - FF?)

I actually like to do (and did) some repairs but now I only have a welding/soldering iron and a Multimeter... I usually do small stuff like recapping stuff, installing bias circuit in valve amps (Peavey 5150), or DIY small stomp boxes, so I feel confident to do other stuff as long as it is clear what I have to do...

So, how can I know when a (or which) opamp is damaged? Matt... I'm replacing the Valve but I'm not really keen into going to the working TLA and move the Opamps to see if they are damaged... I'm afraid of ending with two bad units! So any other ideas?

Mike, do you know by chance which opamp does what?

John, thanks for the input. What's the cheapest way of getting two 990c Opamps in "mi casa"?

By the way... when I switch the VU reading selector from "Output" to "Reduction" the VU needle does not move to Zero (stays at -20). The VU itself is working (I connect it to the other unit and its working)

[Matt Syson]

Hi
Your last comment about the meter suggests a supply issue and not necessarily the 990 opamps so careful measurements with the multimeter should get you on the way. You could pull the 990s out while you make some power supply tests as they are probably the most difficult parts to source and there is a good chance they are actually OK.
The data sheets for op amps and the 990 are 'out there' in internet land and at the moment you are looking for a 'no supply' issue rather than subtle failures.
Ordinary op amps will have about 15 Volts on their power pins and up to 24 Volts on the 990 power pins (well, at least 15 Volts).
With top and bottom off, look for 'sensible' voltages on power supply caps etc.
Matt S

[John Hardy]

John, thanks for the input. What's the cheapest way of getting two 990c Opamps in "mi casa"?

$49.95 each, plus $10 shipping for Air Mail. Contact me privately for details. Thanks.

John Hardy

[Mike Terry]

G-Spot, yes, I'm same Mike Terry.
A quick very non- scientific way to determine a bad 990 is this: remove top cover of TLA, check the two fuses on the main board, one or both is probably blown. Replace the blown fuse. put a finger on the top of each 990, and power the unit up. before the internal fuse blows again, one of 990's will probably get overly hot, then the fuse will go. That will indicate that is probably a bad 990. Again, very unscientific, and may or may not do as I stated, but is fairly easy first step. Make sure not to touch anything else while its on, as there are high voltages in there.
John Hardy 990's will absolutely work and fit without a problem, excellent price too.

[Mr. Wilson]

The demise of Summit is distressing to hear. I have a 2ba/TLA50 chain that is a go to basse DI for me, along with always being compared and often used for other things in my Lunchbox and rack. Then I searched GS for more news and found this:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/old-n...-partners.html

Now I am not anti Plugins, I use a UAD2 with a decent assortment, and McDSP, Stillwell, IKM etc. But for guys who like a decent front end option for tracking, it is sad to see another hardware company bite the dust, esp with the affordability of the 2ba and TLA50.

[Matt Syson]

Hi
If doing Mike's 'quick and dirty' test you must use the correct value and type of fuses otherwise there is a chance of damaging other parts. Although unlikely it would be a shame to trash a mains transformer as these will now be even more difficult to source. Using the correct value of fuse should not run this risk.
Matt S

[basskase]

Damn. I should've looked here before calling summit and waiting for answers the last coupla weeks... Hope Mike Terry is on to new and successful ventures.

I just bought a used DCL-200 and noted that the tubes are mismatched. Suggestions for good replacements?

thx

[FossilTooth]

Hi Mike, sorry to hear about the closedown. You did an excellent job with Summit. That was a great product: well-marketed, well-built and well-supported. Sounded great, too.

Sounds like you've got some excellent credentials whenever you're ready to take on the next gig. Your initiative and dedication here just goes to prove that further; Owners searching for troubleshooting help will discover this thread for a long time to come.

I'm wondering if you're familiar with a similar issue I'm having: Unlike the OP, my unit shows gain reduction on the meters, but doesn't show or deliver output. It passes signal just fine in bypass or when powered down. Any ideas? Does that sound like a op-amp or tube issue to you?

In any event, I'll crack this open and try your 'unscientific' test tomorrow.

[G-Spot]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

I'm wondering if you're familiar with a similar issue I'm having: Unlike the OP, my unit shows gain reduction on the meters, but doesn't show or deliver output. It passes signal just fine in bypass or when powered down. Any ideas? Does that sound like a op-amp or tube issue to you?

In any event, I'll crack this open and try your 'unscientific' test tomorrow.

I have followed the suggestions given above and even replaced a relay (rly 1 on the PCB) but no results... at the moment I have no time (an knowledge? ) to repair it, so I'm sending it to PMS electronics in Minden (Germany). They already helped me with an Avalon 737 and repaired a broken TC FireworX. When I get it back I'll post what is/was wrong with it.

[Avast!]

So, OP, what did turn out to be the problem with your Summit TLA?