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Post subject: Passport PD-150 pn 069-2005 type PR483 worth fixing???
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:57 pm
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I recently aquired a PD-150 which exhibits the following problems: With both speakers plugged in: power light will not illuminate, no fan, and a repeatable pulse click sound comes out of the right speaker. With the right speaker unplugged at the PD-150 ... the power light will illuminate, the fan comes on, and I can get limitied microphone response (if I talk softly the PD and speaker reproduce my voice. But when I talk louder or sing the signal cuts off.) Waiting for about 5 seconds yields a "reset on" sound thru the speaker and I can once again talk softly into mic. This cut-off is repeatable every time.

Reading forum posts and other internet posts leads me to believe that the PD-150 is discontinued, parts are hard to find or no longer available, and that service for it is all but discontinued. Was interested in hearing opinions from those who know more about the product line as to if this unit is worth trying to fix or not.


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Post subject: Re: Passport PD-150 pn 069-2005 type PR483 worth fixing???
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:09 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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In my unprofessional opinion, based on your description, I'd think that unit is pretty much shot. It may have more than one problem and require extensive troubleshooting.
As an example, you might try swapping just the speaker cables and see if the problem follows the cable or remains with the right speaker. If the problem doesn't follow the cable, try swapping the speakers to see if the problem follows the speaker, or remains with the right channel.

In general, troubleshooting begins with isolation. Isolate the problem in order to understand the scope of the problem.

By now, you should know if you have a bad cable, a bad speaker, or a bad amplifier. A 150 watt PA system is actually two 75 watt amps -- one for the left speaker and one for the right speaker.

Another thing to consider is the "Voice Input Priority" feature of the amp. If you don't have a Users Manual for this unit, check out:

http://support.fender.com/manuals/pro_a ... manual.pdf

Fender makes it available online. Check out page 6, item B. It is possible to create all manner of havoc by not having this feature adjusted appropriately. You might just bypass the whole feature by using Channel 2 instead of Channel 1.

Also, be aware that this unit handles "stereo" very differently than the rest of the Passport line. Other Passports receive mono and send it mono, or receive stereo and send stereo (as received). But on the PD version, there's a "stereo/mono" switch that can basically reconfigure what many of the knobs on this unit are actually adjusting. Try it out in both mono and stereo mode before you give up on it. You can read about that in the manual as well.

Basically, this unit has a very versatile and complex design, unlike the non-PD versions of the Passports, which have fewer "modes" of operation and are simpler to use. If you get used to the quirks, the PD can be quite useful, but even if it is fully functional, you need to understand it in order to make it work. Yours might be busted, or just badly adjusted.

If it's busted, I'd recommend putting it out to pasture and consider getting one of the newer, simpler-to-operate units with fewer "special" features.


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Post subject: Re: Passport PD-150 pn 069-2005 type PR483 worth fixing???
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 2:25 pm
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Thanks for your reply. I did execute the typical swap out tests - speaker for speaker, cable for cable. I even hook each speaker up to a seperate amp ... they each operated prperly. So the problem is with the amp itself.

I do appreciate your opinion. Thank you very much.


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Post subject: Re: Passport PD-150 pn 069-2005 type PR483 worth fixing???
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:25 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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So, did you look at the manual at the URL I posted and check out the mono/stereo switch and the VIP (Voice Input Priority) control? Did it make any difference?


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Post subject: Re: Passport PD-150 pn 069-2005 type PR483 worth fixing???
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:38 am
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Yes. I had read about that problem on another site and tested before posting here. I adjusted knobs to turn off (full down) line 1. Then tried all of the other 3 mic inputs. They all behave with the same symptoms. Again, thanks for your thoughts. Im thinking that at least the speakers are usable. Could probably make use of them as monitors for another amp.


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Post subject: Re: Passport PD-150 pn 069-2005 type PR483 worth fixing???
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:26 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
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You probably already know this, but keep in mind the difference between "Active" and "Passive" speakers (a.k.a. "powered" and "unpowered" speakers). The Passport speakers are "unpowered" or "passive" speakers because the amp is in the mixer. Many mixers expect "active" or "powered" speakers (the amp is in the speaker) and have a port labeled "Monitor" that is line level rather than speaker level output.

Also, keep in mind that these are 75 watt speakers. They'll probably work great, so long as you don't overdrive them with a more powerful amp cranked too high.


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Post subject: Re: Passport PD-150 pn 069-2005 type PR483 worth fixing???
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:47 am
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I actually did not think about the "active" feature. I don't have a mixer board and will be just plugging the speaker into a "Speaker" output on the back of an a Roland amp. It states max output is 80W at 8ohms. Speaker is rated at 75W so I will be OK if dont go to the "11" setting on the master volume switch. But I am inspired that folks here on the forum are thinking ahead and offer advice of this nature. Thank you once again.


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