Yamaha AX 390 issues

[eddcunningham]

Hi all!

As you can tell, I'm new around here. I should probably also mention that I'm relatively new to the whole hi-fi game.

I've been donated an old amp from a family friend, that I wasn't expecting wonders from, but I was hoping it would tide me over until I could get myself a half-decent amp of my own.

It's a Yamaha AX 390 and I'm hoping someone can help me out a little bit an issue I'm having.

When using my turntable (Project Essential II), it sounds godawful, no matter what input is selected. Really low volume and massively distorted.

I'm using a cheapo BTech phono preamp I bought from Richer Sounds as a stop gap until I can get something better (sensing a theme here?) and that was fine with my previous set up, even though that was just my Digidesign interface.

I have tried it without the phono preamp into the phono input of the amp, but this again, was super low volume and distorted. I also tried the aux and CD input with the preamp with similar results.

I have tried this with both headphone and speakers, so I know it's nothing to do with the output stage.

If someone can give me help here, it'd be massively appreciated!

 

[RobinKidderminster]

In the absence of any useful advice I would suggest you try a different source which should narrow it down to tt/preamp or yamaha.

 

[eddcunningham]

Hi, thanks for the reply!

i've tried my iPod into both the CD input and the aux input with no issues whatsoever.

In the phono input however, it sounded just as bad, which should be expected.

What strikes me as odd is that set up was perfectly fine with the TT and preamp, but suddenly it all sounds terrible through this amp.

So it doesn't appear to be an amp or TT issue :/

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Only guessing but have you moved the TT? Loose connection/cartridge problem? Can u connect TT thru preamp into a PC/laptop.to check?