TROUBLESHOOTING
While we hoped it wouldn’t come to this, it’s possible that your SHA2 didn’t work as soon as you applied power. The main thing to remember in a situation like this is . . . don’t panic! It’s usually something simple and since you built the kit, you know the kit and you’ll find it if you look carefully. Just follow a logical approach when troubleshooting.
The first thing to check is always your component placement, especially ICs, diodes, and electrolytic capacitors. Make sure that the resistors with similar color bands haven’t been switched. Then flip the board over and make sure that all the solder connections look good, that none have been missed, and that there are no bridged connections that don’t belong. 90% of the problems we see on kits that have been sent in for repair are construction errors of one kind or another so this really is the place to start.
Check your headphones on a different source to be sure they aren’t the problem. This is also a good thing to do if the SHA2 seems noisy because it’s probably not the kit but may well be a poor connection inside the headphones.
The next step may seem obvious but we’ll state it anyway. Be sure you have a good 9 volt battery or a good power source if you’re using a wall transformer. A multimeter is helpful here. Also be sure that the tip of the adapter is positive, especially if you didn’t get it from Ramsey. A meter isn’t the best way to test a battery but it will tell you if a 9 volt is beyond hope. A battery tester will put the battery or cell under a load and give you a better indication of its condition. If the input power from your regulated supply or wall transformer is good you can check your regulator to see what’s coming in and if you have a good 10 volts going out. (This does not apply if you’re using a 9 volt battery; the kit runs directly from the battery and bypasses the regulator.) If the output of the regulator is good then you can take a look at the schematic and note the power input pins on the ICs, then check them to be sure they’re being supplied with the correct voltages.
Beyond these checks you’ll need some test equipment such as an oscilloscope to follow your line level source through until you see the signal stop. You can read the warranty instructions on the inside back cover of this manual and send the kit in for repair If you get in over your head. All the information for returning a kit to Ramsey for repair is on that page.
If you need help you can call Tech Support at
