I have bought a Hifiman Prelude amplifier to connect to my Hifiman Serenade DAC and there is no sound.

[jcasasrda]

Hi, I have connected the XLR output of the Serenade to the XLR input of the Prelude and I have also tried with RCA cables.

And I have it set up like this: DAC output from the Serenade to XLR (or RCA) input on the Prelude and H-AMP output on the Prelude.

To rule out that the Serenade DAC output was not working, I tried with another DAC ( iFi Zen DAC Signature) and the Prelude amplifier does not produce any sound.

I have also tried the different headphone outputs on the Prelude amp (4.4 and 6.35) and still get no sound.

I think it's a problem with the Prelude amp, but I just bought it and it seems weird. Can you help me? Thank you very much.

 

[Jimbob54]

So in the serenade pic there is nothing currently playing, correct?

Have you used any other of the serenade input connections?

Out of interest, does the serenade get sound when you plug headphones into it using the same source?

Have you tried different xkr /cables between the DACs and the amp? Ensured properly pushed in (if you've tried both rca and xkr connections it's unlikely you have 2 sets of dodgy or improperly connected cables but worth a shot

 

[Jimbob54]

Also, assume both devices are correct voltage for your mains (lights on so I guess so) and you're in a 220-240v country?

 

[jcasasrda]

Thank you for your reply. The Serenade was not playing anything at the time I took the photo, but the Serenade works perfectly with headphones and I have also used Bluetooth as a sound source. The problem is that the Prelude turns on but does not output any sound. The XLR cables are new and of excellent quality (SVS SoundPath Balanced XLR) and the RCA cables are iFi cables that I had not yet used.

 

[jcasasrda]

Also, assume both devices are correct voltage for your mains (lights on so I guess so) and you're in a 220-240v country?

Yes, the voltage is correct and I am in Spain, which uses 220-240v

 

[Jimbob54]

And do you have a second amp you can feed from the back of the prelude, just to check if it's not just the headphone outputs?

 

[Jimbob54]

Because unless another member can think of something obvious, you're going to have to deal with Hifiman support.

 

[Jimbob54]

And one final thing, have you tried all permutations of inputs and output selections on the prelude just to make sure somehow the displayed input /output is actually incorrect (eg selecting rca in button actually connects xkr for example). You can tell I'm clutching at straws now. Sorry

 

[jcasasrda]

And do you have a second amp you can feed from the back of the prelude, just to check if it's not just the headphone outputs?

Do you mean connecting a second amp from the Prelude output to the input of the new amp? Yes I could try that.

 

[jcasasrda]

And one final thing, have you tried all permutations of inputs and output selections on the prelude just to make sure somehow the displayed input /output is actually incorrect (eg selecting rca in button actually connects xkr for example). You can tell I'm clutching at straws now. Sorry

Yes, I have tried every permutation. The Prelude is very simple, there is a selector with two options XLR or RCA as input

 

[Jimbob54]

Do you mean connecting a second amp from the Prelude output to the input of the new amp? Yes I could try that.

Yes. I suspect the device is a dud full stop but try everything. Did you buy from an EU based seller?

 

[jcasasrda]

Because unless another member can think of something obvious, you're going to have to deal with Hifiman support.

I will probably return it to the dealer, but I want to make sure I'm doing things right first.

 

[Jimbob54]

Yes, I have tried every permutation. The Prelude is very simple, there is a selector with two options XLR or RCA as input

Yeah, and try selecting pre out as well as h out

 

[jcasasrda]

Yes. I suspect the device is a dud full stop but try everything. Did you buy from an EU based seller?

Yes, I bought it from a seller in Spain

 

[AdamG]

Might consider looking online for any firmware updates and a reset/restart procedure that I would give one last attempt to get these devices to actually pass and amplify the intended music data. Just a suggestion and you may have already done this effort beforehand. Best luck to you Sir.

 

[jcasasrda]

Yeah, and try selecting pre out as well as h out

I've tried that too

Might consider looking online for any firmware updates and a reset/restart procedure that I would give one last attempt to get these devices to actually pass and amplify the intended music data. Just a suggestion and you may have already done this effort beforehand. Best luck to you Sir.

Thank you, but there is no firmware available for this device

 

[jcasasrda]

And do you have a second amp you can feed from the back of the prelude, just to check if it's not just the headphone outputs?

I just connected another amp to the Prelude and it still doesn't work, so the problem isn't just with the headphones output. I also took the opportunity to connect the new amp to the DAC (to rule out the problem being with the Serenade) and the Serenade works perfectly with the new amp. The Prelude they sold me definitely doesn't work. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[Jimbob54]

I just connected another amp to the Prelude and it still doesn't work, so the problem isn't just with the headphones output. I also took the opportunity to connect the new amp to the DAC (to rule out the problem being with the Serenade) and the Serenade works perfectly with the new amp. The Prelude they sold me definitely doesn't work. Thank you very much for your help.

Good luck. Hope it gets sorted. Please let us know the solution /resolution.