
4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301
®Troubleshooting
©2006 PS Audio International Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference P-200 Preamplifier C-100 Control Amplifier
If no sound comes out of the Trio there are several areas to check. Either you are not getting an audio
signal into the Trio, in the case of the P-200 you may not be properly connected to a power amplifier
and, in the case of the C-100, you may not be properly connected to the loudspeakers so the audio
can get out of the amplifier, or there is no power from the AC socket.
Check to make sure the Trio’s rear mounted AC switch is in the on position. For the P-200, first check
to see if the connected power amplifier is operational. You can do this by removing the amplifier’s
interconnect if it is an RCA type and while the amplifier is on, touch your finger to the RCA interconnect’s
center pin and see if you hear a buzz through the speakers. If not, you have a problem with your
amplifier. An alternate method would be to or plug the audio output of your CD player or DVD player
directly into the power amplifier’s inputs. Be careful to choose a CD or DVD with relatively soft music
because this will play very loudly if it is working. If you determine the power amplifier is working, shut
off the power amplifier, reconnect the inputs of the amp to the P-200’s outputs and check the Trio’s
inputs. Make sure the Trio’s gain control is up, you have selected the correct input, etc.
For the C-100, you should first determine if the Control power amplifier is working. To do this, one
method is to turn the C-100 on, turn the gain control up about half way, then place your ear near
the tweeter of your loudspeaker and listen for a very slight hiss. If you hear one, chances are good
the amp is working fine, connected properly at the speakers and you have an input problem. If you
suspect an input problem, replace the interconnects between the source and your C-100. At last
resort, if you suspect an input problem, try another source.
If there is no sound and you are convinced the Trio has power and its front panel light is lit, contact
your dealer, distributor or PS Audio for further assistance.
If there is an excessive amount of hiss or noise from the loudspeaker with either Trio, it is probably
not from the Trio as these products have extremely low self noise. To test, turn the amp your P-200
is feeding off, or in the case of the C-100 Control Amp, turn it off. Remove the interconnect cables
between the source and the Trio and then turn the amplifier back on. Listen once again to see if the
noise has been diminished. If it has, chances are good you either need to replace your source or
power amplifier with a quieter one or you may need to experiment with better shielded interconnect
cables.
If you experience a hum through the speakers this can be caused by several things. The first is the
source. If there is an excessive amount of buzz or noise from the loudspeaker, it may be caused by a
ground loop, a light dimmer in the home, poor AC power, or any number of causes. The quickest way
to determine where to start your search is to simply turn the preamp or Control amp off, disconnect
the cables feeding its input, and see if the hum goes away when you turn it back on. If it does, it’s
most likely a ground loop or buzz from a dimmer.
The easiest way to figure out where ground loop problems lie is by the process of elimination. You
need to determine where the hum or buzz is coming from within your system.
No sound comes
out of the Trio
Check the inputs
on the P-200
If there is a lot
of hiss in your
speaker
For the C-100
Try another
source
If you have hum
or buzz