Can you believe this????!!! Neve 1073 DPA problem

Marrone · 22nd February 2009

Can you believe this??!!! I have a 1073 DPA unit for a while now. When i bought it and i received it from neve the transformers on the inside where all loose. See my topic on this at the time Help with Neve 1073 DPA!

I then sent it back and i got a new one. Now 7 months later i was doing a recording session and suddenly the 2 clip lights lit up and do not go off any more. Very strange. Signal is not clipping nor distorting but light won't go off.

It gets even stranger. I powered the neve unit without anything attached to it no signal, not even cables. I turn it on, wait a while and suddely the clipping lights go on and it does not matter what i do they stay on. Only by switching off unit it goes away. I did nothing with the rack it has been in my studio rack all the time.

I am really dissappointed since i expect a great product from a great and legendary name like neve and you also pay a steep price, but it is already my second unit and problems again. What is going on with neve and quality control???!!

Does anyone have had this problem or knows what is going on?

Appreciate your help.

Cheers

Marrone

Marrone · 22nd February 2009

Anyone?

Marrone · 22nd February 2009

Anybody with knowledge about Neve guts and/or knowledge about electrics?

Space Station · 22nd February 2009

Well you have some kind of internal component failure by the sound of it. If it's only 7 months old you should be phoning Neve or the dealer that sold it to you and getting a new one, not attempting to fix it yourself.

Marrone · 22nd February 2009

I am not planning in repairing it myself, but i thought that this maybe is a small problem and easily fixed. I hoped somebody could confirm that this is a problem that cannot be fixed easily. I hate to be sending this back again to the dealer.

Geoff_T · 22nd February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marrone

Can you believe this??!!! I have a 1073 DPA unit for a while now. When i bought it and i received it from neve the transformers on the inside where all loose. See my topic on this at the time Help with Neve 1073 DPA!

I then sent it back and i got a new one. Now 7 months later i was doing a recording session and suddenly the 2 clip lights lit up and do not go off any more. Very strange. Signal is not clipping nor distorting but light won't go off.

It gets even stranger. I powered the neve unit without anything attached to it no signal, not even cables. I turn it on, wait a while and suddely the clipping lights go on and it does not matter what i do they stay on. Only by switching off unit it goes away. I did nothing with the rack it has been in my studio rack all the time.

I am really dissappointed since i expect a great product from a great and legendary name like neve and you also pay a steep price, but it is already my second unit and problems again. What is going on with neve and quality control???!!

Does anyone have had this problem or knows what is going on?

Appreciate your help.

Cheers

Marrone

Hi

It is obviously malfunctioning and I can't see what any circuit advice here can help you. Just contact who you bought it from and get them to sort out the problem or send you a new one.

Marrone · 22nd February 2009

Dear Geoff,

Thank your very much for your answer and expertise. I will send it to my dealer tomorrow.

Cheers,

Marrone

Space Station · 22nd February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marrone

I am not planning in repairing it myself, but i thought that this maybe is a small problem and easily fixed. I hoped somebody could confirm that this is a problem that cannot be fixed easily. I hate to be sending this back again to the dealer.

Well even a small problem...if you open it up it usually voids the warranty.

Geoff_T · 22nd February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marrone

I am not planning in repairing it myself, but i thought that this maybe is a small problem and easily fixed. I hoped somebody could confirm that this is a problem that cannot be fixed easily. I hate to be sending this back again to the dealer.

Hi

Not being acquanted with the unit, my guess is that the LED is driven by a comparitor.... there's either a big dc offset from a leaky capacitor on the sample side, or the reference has shorted to 0v so that any signal, including noise, would turn on the LED.

Either way, it's way past user fixing...

Marrone · 23rd February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

Hi

Not being acquanted with the unit, my guess is that the LED is driven by a comparitor.... there's either a big dc offset from a leaky capacitor on the sample side, or the reference has shorted to 0v so that any signal, including noise, would turn on the LED.

Either way, it's way past user fixing...

Thanks again Geoff! You really know your stuff!!

Flynman · 23rd February 2009

I have the Neve 1073 also and after about 6 months I started to get a hissing sound when phanthom power was used. Tried all different mics and settings and still same problem. I send the unit back and they sent a new one. I have had the new unit for 4 months and that one has developed a problem with the gain control. I am knd of disappointed in this purchase so far. I thought the Neve quality was a little better.

Jim Williams · 23rd February 2009

Neve is just a corporate brand name. It has nothing to do with the original owner.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

jumpnyc · 23rd February 2009

unfortunately - I heard so many horror stories of the poor service, I went with a different manufacturer with whom I had only amazing experiences. Sorry to hear of your troubles. It is unacceptable in my opinion, especially when you pay so much for that name and that gear and you look at all the other audio companies giving such amazing service.

thenewyear · 23rd February 2009

1073DPD channel failure

zoro · 28th May 2011

Hi there

What was the problem? I am experiencing the same error..

/ Z

salomonander · 28th May 2011

just call up AMS Neve or your dealer. its that simple...

zoro · 29th May 2011

Hi

The thing is i got the unit used, it's 3 years old and therfore no Warranty

i know a really good tech that i thing can fix it,
but i would just be great to know what to look for.

thanks

/Z

The Amplighter · 29th May 2011

Quote:

just call up AMS Neve or your dealer. its that simple...

it's not that simple, the authorized repair tech may be unwilling to fix the unit in a reasonable amount of time. thus baiting you to sell, and he'll be waiting for you on ebay my friend.

I strongly suggest to all - do not buy any AMS neve gear you'll regret the day when it fails, this company will not take responsibility for their poor design.

8816 owners - there a serious heat issue in the input section, have an electrician install a heat sink (there's two vulnerable transistors, when they fail the input section fries.)

salomonander · 31st May 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Amplighter

it's not that simple, the authorized repair tech may be unwilling to fix the unit in a reasonable amount of time. thus baiting you to sell, and he'll be waiting for you on ebay my friend.

I strongly suggest to all - do not buy any AMS neve gear you'll regret the day when it fails, this company will not take responsibility for their poor design.

8816 owners - there a serious heat issue in the input section, have an electrician install a heat sink (there's two vulnerable transistors, when they fail the input section fries.)

what a whole bunch of nonsense. get sober my friend.. i wouldnt say that ams does the best gear out there. but thats just personal taste. i prefer a different sound. but the units i have used are build very well and never failed me (i had my 1073 on the road for around three years. no prolems whatsoever...and that was very heavy and reckless usage). you may have had a bad experience with a certain unit. and i dont know about the 8816 prolem you are pointing out. but your post is a bit akward. its actually really stupid when re-reading your first two pragraphs.

The Amplighter · 31st May 2011

Quote:

actually really stupid

My 8816 went down in the middle of a very serious album project, it took AMS Neve 1 week to forward the RMA number to the authorized repair center and the center refused to contact me.

after 30 days i listed the unit for sale on ebay (under my sir name) and the high bidder was from the same city in MO. as the a.r. center (i do realize this is just speculation here.) there's currently only 1 a.r.center in the u.s. (which tells you the electricians aren't going to play the ams neve rma game, once again speculation.)

I still suffer flashbacks whilst turning on this unit. (i guess the fix is owning 2 units)

As shocking as this may sound, it is true.
(i'm not associated in any way whatsoever with any electronic manufacturers.)
best.

zoro · 31st May 2011

Anyone know if it is possible to get a scematic for the DPA ?
/Z

salomonander · 31st May 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Amplighter

My 8816 went down in the middle of a very serious album project, it took AMS Neve 1 week to forward the RMA number to the authorized repair center and the center refused to contact me.

after 30 days i listed the unit for sale on ebay (under my sir name) and the high bidder was from the same city in MO. as the a.r. center (i do realize this is just speculation here.) there's currently only 1 a.r.center in the u.s. (which tells you the electricians aren't going to play the ams neve rma game, once again speculation.)

I still suffer flashbacks whilst turning on this unit. (i guess the fix is owning 2 units)

As shocking as this may sound, it is true.
(i'm not associated in any way whatsoever with any electronic manufacturers.)
best.

im really sorry to hear this. please understand my post though. as i said. i had great experience with them. your post just seemed a but over generalizing. which is why may have used a bit too strong words. apologies if that was the case.

NUVMUSIC · 22nd January 2012

Quote:

Can you believe this??!!! I have a 1073 DPA unit for a while now. When i bought it and i received it from neve the transformers on the inside where all loose. See my topic on this at the time http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-...-1073-dpa.html

I know this thread but old, but I wanted to add that I too have experienced the "loose transformer" issue when I purchased a 2254/R. Whn the unit arrived and I unpacked it, I could hear something knocking around inside the case. I opened it up and was surprised to see the Carnhill transformer block loose. In fact all pins were bent out of shape. With a full sweat on I got the pin pliers and knife out to straighten them bad boys out. Had to source a screw to bolt the block back on the board.
Shocking stuff!

oscilloscope · 23rd January 2012

old thread, i know, but here's some info for future reference...

I have a 1073 DPA, I was worried when i always powered on my 1073 that I would hear a series or 4-5 clicks along with 4-5 series of LED flashes.
I contacted Chris @ neve, he said that the internal power supply is very sensitive to insufficiant power. The 1073 essentially calibrates itself power wise to what juice you are driving into it. So, It may click (reset) 1-2 times or 4-5 times as it did for me while it "set in". I have it plugged into a Furman AR1215 Regulator and get no issues now, so perhaps the source you are plugging it into is way out of range for the 1073 to handle.

I also get the feeling that many other problems users have with the 1073dpa as well as the 8816 are based on power supply problems.

22nd February 2009	#1
Marrone Gear maniac Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Amsterdamn! Posts: 260 Thread Starter	Neve 1073 DPA problem. Please Help Can you believe this??!!! I have a 1073 DPA unit for a while now. When i bought it and i received it from neve the transformers on the inside where all loose. See my topic on this at the time Help with Neve 1073 DPA! I then sent it back and i got a new one. Now 7 months later i was doing a recording session and suddenly the 2 clip lights lit up and do not go off any more. Very strange. Signal is not clipping nor distorting but light won't go off. It gets even stranger. I powered the neve unit without anything attached to it no signal, not even cables. I turn it on, wait a while and suddely the clipping lights go on and it does not matter what i do they stay on. Only by switching off unit it goes away. I did nothing with the rack it has been in my studio rack all the time. I am really dissappointed since i expect a great product from a great and legendary name like neve and you also pay a steep price, but it is already my second unit and problems again. What is going on with neve and quality control???!! Does anyone have had this problem or knows what is going on? Appreciate your help. Cheers Marrone

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22nd February 2009	#4
Space Station Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Chichester UK Posts: 3,022	Well you have some kind of internal component failure by the sound of it. If it's only 7 months old you should be phoning Neve or the dealer that sold it to you and getting a new one, not attempting to fix it yourself.

23rd February 2009	#11
Flynman Gear interested Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	I have the Neve 1073 also and after about 6 months I started to get a hissing sound when phanthom power was used. Tried all different mics and settings and still same problem. I send the unit back and they sent a new one. I have had the new unit for 4 months and that one has developed a problem with the gain control. I am knd of disappointed in this purchase so far. I thought the Neve quality was a little better.

23rd February 2009	#12
Jim Williams Voiding warranties Joined: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 10,068	Neve is just a corporate brand name. It has nothing to do with the original owner. Jim Williams Audio Upgrades

23rd February 2009	#13
jumpnyc Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 876	unfortunately - I heard so many horror stories of the poor service, I went with a different manufacturer with whom I had only amazing experiences. Sorry to hear of your troubles. It is unacceptable in my opinion, especially when you pay so much for that name and that gear and you look at all the other audio companies giving such amazing service.

23rd February 2009	#14
thenewyear Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 676 1 Review written	1073DPD channel failure

28th May 2011	#15
zoro Gear Head Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 70	Hi there What was the problem? I am experiencing the same error.. / Z

28th May 2011	#16
salomonander Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,462	just call up AMS Neve or your dealer. its that simple...

29th May 2011	#17
zoro Gear Head Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 70	Hi The thing is i got the unit used, it's 3 years old and therfore no Warranty i know a really good tech that i thing can fix it, but i would just be great to know what to look for. thanks /Z

31st May 2011	#21
zoro Gear Head Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 70	Anyone know if it is possible to get a scematic for the DPA ? /Z

23rd January 2012	#24
oscilloscope Gear Head Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 54	old thread, i know, but here's some info for future reference... I have a 1073 DPA, I was worried when i always powered on my 1073 that I would hear a series or 4-5 clicks along with 4-5 series of LED flashes. I contacted Chris @ neve, he said that the internal power supply is very sensitive to insufficiant power. The 1073 essentially calibrates itself power wise to what juice you are driving into it. So, It may click (reset) 1-2 times or 4-5 times as it did for me while it "set in". I have it plugged into a Furman AR1215 Regulator and get no issues now, so perhaps the source you are plugging it into is way out of range for the 1073 to handle. I also get the feeling that many other problems users have with the 1073dpa as well as the 8816 are based on power supply problems.