#1
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K&K Trinity with Solstice problem: any suggestions?
Hi folks,
I recently installed a K&K Trinity Solo Mini in my Goodall and tried connecting it to a D-Tar Solstice that I have owned for several years. I have used the Solstice with a dual-source K&K/Sunrise without any issues. I used a TRS cable into channel 1 of the Solstice and enabled phantom power on Channel 1, which sends phantom power to the ring of the TRS cable per the Solstice manual. The K&K transducers sound fine, but the mic generates no audio signal. Instead, the 2nd channel of the Solstice generates a very loud hissing sound if I turn up the volume at all for the mic. The Trinity came pre-wired by K&K - I simply installed it as it came from their factory. Based on this behavior, does anyone have a suggestion as to where the problem might be? There are 3 possible culprits I can think of: 1) Bad wiring at the end-pin jack 2) Bad microphone 3) The Solstice has a problem If anyone has an idea for how to isolate the source of the problem or has seen anything like this before, I would be grateful. Thanks! -Brad |
#2
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You have to enable phantom power on channel 2, not channel 1.
The Solstice will automatically route the ring from your TRS cable to channel 2, so enabling phantom on channel 1 only sends phantom to the Pure Mini, not the mic. -Mike
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#3
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Thank you for the note, Mike. I had tried all combinations of the phantom switches before sending the original post, but went ahead and disabled phantom on channel 1 and enabled it on channel 2. With this configuration, channel 2 is completely silent. If I turn up the volume all the way I start to hear a faint hissing, but there is no mic audio coming through. The transducers continued to work just fine through channel 1.
I'm trying to decide whether to purchase the Trinity Preamp or a replacement mic to try to root cause the issue, but I have no idea if either will fix the problem. -Brad |
#4
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Hmm that is weird. If I were troubleshooting the next steps I take would be:
Plug the guitar into channel 2 with a regular TS cable (a normal, mono, guitar cable). This will just send the signal from the Pure Mini and ignore the mic. This will just verify that you have channel 2 set up correctly to pass audio, and that channel 2 is working ok. If you can hear the Pure Mini through both channels of the Solstice, it is unlikely that the preamp is the problem. At that point I would try a different TRS cable into channel 1, in case the cable is broken or wired wrong. -Mike
__________________
For sale: Mint Condition Guild D125-12 All Mahogany 12 string 2009 Martin 000-18 Golden Era 1937 |
#5
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Thanks again, Mike - I appreciate your help!
I tried swapping cables (same problem) and also using the 2nd channel of the Solstice with the Pure Mini (mini worked fine). This leads me to believe the problem is either with the wiring of the end-pin jack or the mic is faulty. I'll start by examining the jack wiring job to make sure K&K didn't make an obvious mistake. Then perhaps I'll have to purchase a replacement mic if that doesn't solve it. Quote:
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#6
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Bummer.
You should get in touch with K&K and ask their advice too. They will definitely take care of you if the pickup is faulty. -Mike
__________________
For sale: Mint Condition Guild D125-12 All Mahogany 12 string 2009 Martin 000-18 Golden Era 1937 |
#7
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Quote:
You could also test the Solstice's phantom power circuit with an Ohm meter by pluging in a TRS cable and testing the ring and ground contacts on the cable. Voltage should appear there if the Solstice is working properly. |
#8
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Not sure if this would work.but if you took a y cable
And plugged it into your guitar you could split the Signal and choose which channel on the solstice You wanted the mic to go to. Does the solstice supply phantom to a 1/4 inch jack? Or only to xlr?? Last edited by varmonter; 04-20-2017 at 07:21 AM. |
#9
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Thanks for the suggestions folks!
I did try a y cable and no combination of channels to cables allowed the mic to work. I should mention that phantom power works fine with an external mic connected via xlr. I'll try an Ohm meter before spending more money on a replacement mic, that's a great tip. |
#10
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I received confirmaton today that K&K has begun installing a protective device in the mic capsule of the Trinity to prevent non-K&K preamps from frying the mic.
So THAT is why it's not working (and also why the current Trinity Solo won't work with other non-K&K preamps).
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#11
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Quote:
If that's the case that means I won't be buying any more Trinity systems I guess. -Mike
__________________
For sale: Mint Condition Guild D125-12 All Mahogany 12 string 2009 Martin 000-18 Golden Era 1937 |
#12
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John, thanks so much for sharing this. It's very disappointing but also helps me stop spinning my wheels trying to debug the situation. I'm really surprised that K&K would do this.
I think I need to start a new forum thread now: K&K mic alternatives. All of the other mic options that I've researched are no longer manufactured. Quote:
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#13
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Now, that's the pits… |
#14
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For anyone that finds this thread, I thought I'd post an update:
I replaced the Trinity mic with a DPA 4061 that I found used on ebay and it works perfectly through my D-Tar Solstice. The soldering was a bit tricky due to the thin wire that the DPA comes with, but the sound is excellent. An unexpected, but pleasant end to this journey. Well, the quest for perfect amplified tone always continues, but this brings an end to this chapter at least. |
#15
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Quote:
Thanks for the update, and congratulations on the successful internal mic installation! |