Ibanez TSA15H is one of the most high-end amps out there with an all-tube tone and power tube drive. It promises mild breakup if pushed and has a dual operation design, promising better flexibility.
In addition, the dual operation allows the musicians to increase the headroom for playing in different environments and is suitable for large-scale and mid-scale venues. However, like other amps in the market, it also has problems that you need to know about!
More About Ibanez TSA15H Problems
- Getting Dirty
Since this amp is designed with a white leatherette cover, it is susceptible to catching and building up dust. In addition, the color of the leatherette fades off with time. The only solution is to clean the amp regularly to make sure dust doesn’t build up on the surface, and when it’s not in use, it’s recommended to keep it covered.
- Not Enough Power
Insufficient power is another common issue with this amp, which negatively impacts the output sound. The solution is to check all the connections and make sure the cables are tightly connected to the amp’s back as well as the power outlet. If the connections are loose, tighten them up.
On the other hand, the damaged cables have to be removed and replaced with new ones. Secondly, you must check the power outlet and make sure it’s working. For instance, you can connect the amp to another power outlet to see if you get enough output.
If connecting the amp to another power outlet fixes the voltage issue, you should get the previous power outlet checked to optimize the power connection. If these two steps don’t work, it’s recommended that you check the main power supply of the home to check the voltage you are getting from the electricity provider.
If the voltage is less than 220V, it’s recommended that you call the electricity provider to fix the voltage issues.
- Overheating
If your amp unit has become too hot to touch, it can negatively impact the music output. In most cases, overheating causes crackling sounds in the output. So, when the amp overheats, disconnect it from the power connection, so the amp’s tubes cool down and don’t damage the sound output.
Once the amp is cooled down, it’s better that you change its placement to an open area to make sure it has sufficient ventilation. Try to avoid the cabinets and enclosed spaces as they can restrict the airflow around the amp and also blocks its vents, which increases the chances of overheating.
Last but not least, you must not put the amp on carpet or pillows as they can lead to overheating (you can invest in a tripod or other stands for installing the amp).
- Distorted Sound
Distortion can negatively impact the soundtrack’s quality, and in most cases, the distortion is caused by clipping. Clipping occurs when there is an issue between the amp and power supply voltage.
In simpler words, it happens when you push the amp too hard and you try to force the amp to utilize more power as compared to its ability to generate. However, distortion also occurs when you play music at louder volumes.
For this reason, you should try to reduce the volume on the audio source and see if it resolves the distortion issue. However, if lowering the volume doesn’t work, you should take the amp to a professional music repair shop to get the internal components inspected and replaced/repaired.
- Humming
Humming is an extremely annoying issue that damages the sound quality. The first step is to move the audio source and amp to the same power outlet with the help of a surge protector. This is because plugging the equipment into the same power outlet will fix the humming.
However, if the humming is still there, you must check the cables and wires. These wires and cables must be securely connected to the back of the equipment and to the outlet. In case the cables are loose, disconnect them and plug them in again tightly.
The cables are susceptible to internal damage as well, particularly if your house has voltage fluctuation issues. For this reason, you must get the cables and wires checked with an ohmmeter to determine the continuity. If there is no continuity, you will have to replace the cables and wires to make sure the humming stops.
- Amp Is Turned On But It Doesn’t Produce Sound
In case the amp is operational but there is no sound coming out of the amp, there are various factors that you should check. First of all, you need to double-check all the wired connections to make sure everything is tightly connected to the power source.
In particular, you must check the ground wire to make sure it’s getting solid signals – you can utilize the ohmmeter to check the signal reception. On the contrary, if the ground wire is already working well, it’s likely that the power source doesn’t have sufficient voltage.
For this purpose, it’s recommended that you use a different power outlet or check the main power supply’s voltage (if your home’s electricity connection doesn’t have enough voltage, you have to contact the electricity provider). In addition to this, make sure that the RCA cables are connected to the respective ports and are working well.
- Surround Sound Feature Doesn’t Work
Ibanez TSA15H has been designed with the surround sound feature which improves the music output. However, if the surround sound feature stops working, the audio starts coming out of the wrong direction. In most cases, it’s caused by poor placement of speakers.
In addition, the problem happens when you connect one speaker’s wire to another speaker’s ports, which disturbs the connection. The solution is to check the speakers and make sure they are placed properly and the speakers’ wires are connected to the correct ports.
On the other hand, if the speaker placement and wire connections are already correct, it’s likely that the audio source is not compatible with the amp. You can check the amp’s manual to determine the compatible audio sources and make the changes accordingly.
Last but not least, you should always use HDMI cables for connecting the speakers because many people use coaxial cables, which damages the sound quality.
- Constantly Going Into The Protect Mode
When you are using the amp and it keeps going into the protect mode, you have to hire an electrician because it’s caused by damaged internal components. Inspecting the internal components requires expertise as there are small parts that need to be checked separately.
The damaged or non-working components should be replaced. Secondly, you must check the installation because improper amp setup can also put your amp in the protect mode. Last but not least, you must ensure that the amp has room temperature (it must not be overheated) and that all the wires are tightly connected.
It’s recommended that you check the ports and jacks that connect the wires to clean the grime and dust buildup.
- Insufficient Bass
The bass issues are usually caused by incorrect equalizer settings but you’ve to check the volume and speaker placement as well. First of all, you have to tweak the equalizer settings on the amp to make sure the sound is optimized.
However, if the equalizer settings are already correct, you should change the location of the amp, subwoofers, and speakers because it improves the audio input (the new location should be preferably bigger). Lastly, try to turn down the volume a bit because blasting music volume fails to create pronounced bass.
- The Volume Is Constantly Rising
If you are producing music and the amp keeps increasing the volume automatically, it’s usually caused by AVC. If the audio source has an automatic volume control feature, it’s recommended that you disable it as it automatically increases and reduces the volume according to the surroundings.