Appendix A: Service Information - Mackie CR-X Series Owner's Manual

Appendix A: Service Information

If you think your CR-X Multimedia Monitors
have a problem, please check out the following
troubleshooting tips and do your best to confirm
the problem. Visit the Support section of our website
(www.mackie.com/support) where you will find lots
of useful information such as FAQs and other
documentation. You may find the answer
to the problem without having to part with your monitors.
Troubleshooting
No power
• Make sure the power cord is plugged all the way into
the AC outlet.
• Our favorite question: Is it plugged in? Make sure
the AC outlet is live [check with a tester or lamp].
• Our next favorite question: Is the power switch on?
If not, try turning it on.
• Is the front panel volume control "clicked" on?
The power is on only when the rear panel power
switch is on and the front panel volume control
is not fully counter-clockwise.
• Is the power LED on the front panel illuminated?
If not, make sure the AC outlet is live. If so, refer
to "No sound" below.
• The internal AC line fuse may be blown. This is not
a user serviceable part. If you suspect the AC line
fuse is blown, please see the "Repair" section next.
No sound
• Is the level knob for the input source turned all the way
down? Verify that all the volume controls in the system
are properly adjusted.
• Is the signal source turned up? Make sure the signal
level from the computer, mixer, MP3 player, phone
(or whatever device immediately precedes
the multimedia monitors) is high enough to produce
sound.
• If it's a stereo pair, try switching them around.
For example, if a left output is presumed dead,
switch the left and right cords at the monitor end.
If the problem switches sides, it's not the monitor.
It could be a bad cable, or no signal from the source.
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CR-X Multimedia Monitors
Poor sound
• Is it loud and distorted? Make sure that you're not
overdriving a stage in the signal chain. Verify that
all level controls are set properly.
• Are the input connectors plugged completely into
the jacks? Be sure all connections are secure.
• If possible, listen to the signal source with headphones
plugged into the preamp stage. If it sounds bad there,
it's not the monitor.
• Too much bass or not enough bass? Move around
the room and see if the bass response changes.
It's possible your listening position coincides
with a room mode where the low frequencies either
become exaggerated or nulled. If so, try moving
the monitors to a different position, or moving your
listening position.
Noise / Hum / Buzz
• Check the signal cable between the computer/mixer/
MP3 player/phone and the reference monitor. Make
sure all connections are secure. These problems
usually produce crackling noises, hum, or buzz.
• If connecting an unbalanced output to the CR-X Series
reference monitor's balanced input, make sure
the shield is connected to the unbalanced ground
of the source.
• Make sure the signal cable is not routed near AC
cables, power transformers, or other EMI sources
(including wall warts and line lumps!). These sources
usually produce hum.
• Is there a light dimmer or other triac-based device
on the same AC circuit as the monitor? Dimmers
cause buzzing noises. Use an AC line filter or plug
the monitor into a different AC circuit.
• Excessive hiss is an indication of an incorrect gain
setting somewhere before the speaker.
• If possible, listen to the signal source with headphones
plugged in. If it sounds noisy there, it's not the monitor.