KEF Q150 help needed!

[Grom]

Hello good people. I have just purchased Kef Q150 speakers to pair with the Sansui 777au amplifier and Audio Technica AT-LP60X turntable. The speakers don't project any sound after I've connected them with my amplifier. Please help!
Thank you for your time.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Grom! Welcome to ASR.

First things first:
Have you read the AU-777's User Manual thoroughly, to familiarize yourself with its switches, functions, and general operation?

Are you sure that you've selected the correct input and output?

 

[JSmith]

Sansui 777au amplifier and Audio Technica AT-LP60X turntable

Hello and welcome to ASR.

Let's check a few things here

The Audio Technica AT-LP60X has a switchable phono pre-amplifier for phono or line-level output.

Which have you selected?

Further though, what inputs have you plugged the RCA output into?

Your amp has 2 x AUX & 2 x Phono inputs.

If you have the turntable set to phono output, you will need to plug the RCA's into one of the phono inputs.

If you have the turntable set to line output, you will need to plug the RCA's into one of the AUX inputs.

Do you maybe have the turntable set to phono output, but have it plugged into the AUX? If so, you won't get much sound...

When the turntable is set to line output, it uses the built-in phono preamp to boost the signal to line-level.

When set to phono output, it does not use the preamp and the signal remains at "phono-level".


JSmith

 

[Grom]

Hi @Grom! Welcome to ASR.

First things first:
Have you read the AU-777's User Manual thoroughly, to familiarize yourself with its switches, functions, and general operation?

Are you sure that you've selected the correct input and output?

Hi! Yes, I have read the manual. I believe I hooked up everything correctly. I triple-checked everything. Actually, I have spent several hours trying to figure out why I don't hear any sound coming out from the speakers. The amplifier works when the switch is turned on. However, even though it's in mint condition it was not used for several years. I'm going crazy here!

BTW, I did research on compatibility between these three devices before buying the speakers and a turntable. They are a good match! The Sansui amplifier was a gift from a family member!

 

[staticV3]

Hi! Yes, I have read the manual. I believe I hooked up everything correctly. I triple-checked everything. Actually, I have spent several hours trying to figure out why I don't hear any sound coming out from the speakers. The amplifier works when the switch is turned on. However, even though it's in mint condition it was not used for several years. I'm going crazy here!

BTW, I did research on compatibility between these three devices before buying the speakers and a turntable. They are a good match! The Sansui amplifier was a gift from a family member!

I'm afraid we're still missing a lot of information to be able to help you.

The more you can tell us about what is connected to what, using what cables, and set to what switch position, the better.

 

[Grom]

Hello and welcome to ASR.

Let's check a few things here

The Audio Technica AT-LP60X has a switchable phono pre-amplifier for phono or line-level output.

Which have you selected?

Further though, what inputs have you plugged the RCA output into?

Your amp has 2 x AUX & 2 x Phono inputs.

If you have the turntable set to phono output, you will need to plug the RCA's into one of the phono inputs.

If you have the turntable set to line output, you will need to plug the RCA's into one of the AUX inputs.

Do you maybe have the turntable set to phono output, but have it plugged into the AUX? If so, you won't get much sound...

When the turntable is set to line output, it uses the built-in phono preamp to boost the signal to line-level.

When set to phono output, it does not use the preamp and the signal remains at "phono-level".


JSmith

Thank you kindly for your welcome.
I had plugged the turntable to phono 1 on the amplifier first while the turntable was set to phono. This didn't work, so I tried to plug the cable into AUX after adjusting the turntable to Line (at the back of the turntable) to check if this would work. It didn't! I switched the dial on the amplifier to match the connections, and nothing. The speakers I set to System A.

I have since also used the Sony strk870p receiver to see if that would fix the issue with speakers not producing sound. Again, nothing!

 

[Grom]

I'm afraid we're still missing a lot of information to be able to help you.

The more you can tell us about what is connected to what, using what cables, and set to what switch position, the better

I'm afraid we're still missing a lot of information to be able to help you.

The more you can tell us about what is connected to what, using what cables, and set to what switch position, the better.

I tried all the combinations possible with the turntable and amplifier using a wire with two RCA banana plugs. I matched the dial on the amplifier with the plugs I had chosen to connect with. I tried both phono 1, phono 2, and also Aux port. Nothing works.

 

[staticV3]

I tried all the combinations possible with the turntable and amplifier using a wire with two RCA banana plugs. I matched the dial on the amplifier with the plugs I had chosen to connect with. I tried both phono 1, phono 2, and also Aux port. Nothing works.

The best way to diagnose these sorts of issues is to try different component combinations to find common trends, so to say.

Since both the left and right speaker do not work, those are likely not the issue. The chances of both speakers being broken are slim.

That leaves either the turntable, or the Amp as the remaining culprits.

If you have another Line out source device, like a DAC or a CD player, try connecting those to the Sansui.

If you still can't get any sound out of it, then the Sansui may be broken (or misconfigured).

Alternatively, try plugging the turntable into another Amp or Receiver.

If you still can't get any sound, then the turntable may instead be at fault (or misconfigured).

 

[Grom]

The best way to diagnose these sorts of issues is to try different component combinations to find common trends, so to say.

Since both the left and right speaker do not work, those are likely not the issue. The chances of both speakers being broken are slim.

That leaves either the turntable, or the Amp as the remaining culprits.

If you have another Line out source device, like a DAC or a CD player, try connecting those to the Sansui.

If you still can't get any sound out of it, then the Sansui may be broken (or misconfigured).

Alternatively, try plugging the turntable into another Amp or Receiver.

If you still can't get any sound, then the turntable may instead be at fault (or misconfigured).

The turntable is brand new. I just bought it yesterday, the same as the speakers.
I have also ordered DAC but it will take some time to arrive, I ordered it so I can conect my computer and TV to the system. From the info I found online, thus is the easiest way to conect my computer to Sansui amp.

I mentioned in the earlier post that I had also tried to connect speakers and the turntable to the Sony strk870p receiver. That didn't work either. Unfortunately, I have no other devices that I could use to test the amplifier.

 

[JSmith]

The turntable is brand new. I just bought it yesterday

Maybe it's faulty and no signal is coming via the 3.5mm to RCA cable at all. That would be more likely than the speakers having a problem.

I mentioned in the earlier post that I had also tried to connect speakers and the turntable to the Sony strk870p receiver. That didn't work either.

Well if you tried it with another amp, probably the turntable is faulty and needs to be replaced or refunded to you.


JSmith

 

[Grom]

Maybe it's faulty and no signal is coming via the 3.5mm to RCA cable at all. That would be more likely than the speakers having a problem.

Well if you tried it with another amp, probably the turntable is faulty and needs to be replaced or refunded to you.


JSmith

Maybe it's the turntable. You might be right! I will have to send it back in this case and get the replacement since I tried it both with the amp and receiver today and it didn't work.

The amp was not used for a few years. I'm assuming it still works. After switching it on using the power switch, the light turns red showing that it's working. Maybe it needs maintenance.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

It's odd that there is absolutely no sound. Can you hear a faint hiss from the speakers when the amplifier is on and the turntable not plugged in (carefully turn the volume up on the amplifier to maximum if you hear no hiss at lower volumes)?

Is there a mute button?

Do you have headphones plugged in to the amplifier? If you have headphones, try listening with them rather than via the speakers.

Try this test very carefully. Plug an RCA cable into an aux port but leave it disconnected at the other end. Turn the volume up slightly then touch the inner connector of the RCA connector whilst touching nothing else, you should hear a slight buzz or hum.

 

[Grom]

It's odd that there is absolutely no sound. Can you hear a faint hiss from the speakers when the amplifier is on and the turntable not plugged in (carefully turn the volume up on the amplifier to maximum if you hear no hiss at lower volumes)?

Is there a mute button?

Do you have headphones plugged in to the amplifier? If you have headphones, try listening with them rather than via the speakers.

Try this test very carefully. Plug an RCA cable into an aux port but leave it disconnected at the other end. Turn the volume up slightly then touch the inner connector of the RCA connector whilst touching nothing else, you should hear a slight buzz or hum.

I did everything you suggested and I can hear a faint hum coming out of speakers which I would assume are not the problem.

There is no Mute button!

Unfortunately, I don't have headphones with a big banana plug to test.

 

[Astoneroad]

Unfortunately, I don't have headphones with a big banana plug to test.

Perhaps before you send back the turntable, you can get an inexpensive1/4 Male to 3.5mm 1/8 Female Stereo Headphone Adapter for your headphones to troubleshoot the problem and give you the ability to listen to your headphones, which currently it sounds like you can't? You can probably get one cheap and quick, depending upon your location, with the option to return it, if all else fails.

 

[Astoneroad]

There is no Mute button!

According to the manual, there is a Mute switch. https://www.hifiengine.info/sansui/sansui_au-777a.pdf This looks like a capable vintage amp. I bet @restorer-john has a few of these under a boulder somewhere.

 

[Grom]

According to the manual, there is a Mute switch. https://www.hifiengine.info/sansui/sansui_au-777a.pdf This looks like a capable vintage amp. I bet @restorer-john has a few of these under a boulder somewhere.

View attachment 411556

That Mute switch only lowers the volume a bit. Anyway, it was always switched up, so that was not the case. I believe that something is wrong with the amplifier itself. In my post below I will elaborate on why I think this is the case. Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[Grom]

So after lots of failed attempts, while trying all different hookup combinations and brainstorming on what might be causing the issue that both the amplifier and receiver are not producing any sound from the speakers once these are connected, I finally managed to make the speakers work.

This is how.
I'm not sure if this is the correct way and quite honestly it defeats all logic in my opinion (maybe somebody can explain why?), I had to connect one of the speakers to port A of the Sony receiver and the other speakers to port B. Then I chose the A+B option on the receiver to get the sound from both speakers. This is the only possible way for them both to work at the same time! ‍

The turntable works fine, which it should because it's new. I also connected my TV to a receiver using an optical cable to get the sound, but this is giving me sound from both the KEF speakers and TV speakers, which is not the most desirable. I will have to look more into this to figure out why I still hear TV speakers besides my preferred KEF option.

I'm not sure why both speakers wouldn't work when plugged either in Front A or Front B. Maybe somebody can explain this!?
The only way for both speakers to work was to connect them in this, to me, very odd way.

I am not getting any sound from the old Sansui amplifier when I connect the speakers, no matter what I do and which way I connect them. So I will have to get it serviced because I like the look of this amp. It's super solid and built to last a lifetime. And from what I hear around, people are saying that Sansui 777au is a unicorn, and if you get your hands on one of these boys, no matter the condition, you should try to restore it and keep it.

Thanks to all of you who tried to help!
Happy holidays and keep listening.

 

[Grom]

Oh, one other thing! Is it normal that I have to turn the volume to about 30% on my receiver before I can hear any sound?

 

[early rejecter]

One other thing to check on the Sansui: be sure that the Tape Monitor button isn’t depressed.

 

[Grom]

One other thing to check on the Sansui: be sure that the Tape Monitor button isn’t depressed.

It's not, I checked.