popping noise when switching channels with footswitch

[barneyc4]

I just got my Mark V and it's making a popping noise when switching channels only with the footswitch.

The weird thing is that It happens after I stay on one channel for a while. I can switch to all channels and get no pop if I do it without spending too much time in each one.

• All channels in 10 watt mode
  No FX loop
  No pedals in front
  Clean power (with voltage regulator and power conditioner)

I already tried cycling through the channels on stand by.

listen to this recording

switching from channel 1 to channel 3 both in 10 watt

after staying on a given channel for a while, the pop will still be there on the next switch.

http://files.me.com/bchamorro/xom8xq.mp3

 

[boogieman60]

Normal. In 10 watt mode you are operating in class A power. prone to pops. If you put it in 90 watt mode it will hopefully be much less noticable. Also if you mix power modes between chans. it will pop.

 

[barneyc4]

weird!

still pops in 90 and 45 (all channels).

this is really dumb, I don't want to have pops in my recordings.

Are you sure these pops are normal?

 

[SteveO]

Mine doesn't pop, but my Roadster sure did.

 

[satch4u3]

From my expereince, when I have for example one channel in 10 Watts and another is in 45 or 90 Watts, I get pops. I beleive this is due to the extra tubes associated with 45 watt and 90 watt mode that come into play when coming from the 10 Watt mode.

 

[barneyc4]

Disappointed with Mesa Boogie once again. This might just be my last Mesa amp until they fix the stupid popping issue.

By the way, this is not my first Mesa that popped, I used to own a Roadster head that popped, then went to the store and exchanged it for another one and that one also popped. Annoying as hell.

See ya later Mark V, until I find one that doesn't pop.

 

[jb's 52]

Disappointed with Mesa Boogie once again. This might just be my last Mesa amp until they fix the stupid popping issue.

By the way, this is not my first Mesa that popped, I used to own a Roadster head that popped, then went to the store and exchanged it for another one and that one also popped. Annoying as hell.

See ya later Mark V, until I find one that doesn't pop.

Definitely weird,

My doesn't pop at all. If you have had three different amps pop for you, maybe they're all
connected to the same plug or circuit and that could be the issue?

 

[JLBoogie]

Mine pops especially in the 10 watt setting. Asked Mesa about it and the response was that they knew they popped but did tests on all the amps sold and only rejected the ones that the popping could be heard while playing and switching channels. They also said lots of things cause the popping like using different wattages on channels, modes, and in what position the switches on the back are set (pentode,triode). It still really bugs me though since I don't want to hear it even if i am not playing at the moment.

 

[domct203]

I must be lucky, neither my Roadster or MKV pops at band volume. My Roadster will pop when the output is very, very low, but I never really play the amp that way.

When I first got the Roadster it would pop loudly during channel changes. I immediatly started to cycle through all the channels while in standby and that along with 3 years of band volumes and the pop is gone at normal levels.

Dom

 

[screamingdaisy]

Mine pops a bit, but it's not something I hear while playing.

 

[MBJunkie]

Mine only "pops" when switching between channels with one of them in 10W mode while switching to any other channel set to either 45 or 90W (The manual mentions to expect this when footswitching between 10W to 45 or 90W between channels).

My experiences are that when all 3 channels are in 10W mode....no popping when footswitching at all.

Also, when I have my channels set to any combination of 45 or 90W.....I do not experience any "popping" at all when footswitching between the channels.

 

[mesaboogie6L6]

I have a DC-5B that pops when I change channels, replaced the choke. Whether I use the footswitch or the manual onboard switch, still annoying as hell, someone (not on this board) mentioned a power transformer, not too sure though, my next step is to ship it to Mesa and make it their problem for a while. Makes a spitting, sputtering noise too, just retubed. Called Mesa and they gave me the run around, acted like sending me a choke was a part for the space shuttle. All they want me to do is send it to them, and that's what they will get then.

 

[surfryhder]

I have a roadster that pops on when switching channels or even muting for tuning. It is very annoying...

 

[J-mo]

Does anyone read the manual? It specifically states in the manual that you will get an audible pop if you switch from one channel in 45/90 watt mode to another channel in 10 watt mode. The manual also states that this will in no way damage the amp.

 

[MBJunkie]

J-mo, I agree with what you are saying, except that the OP is saying they are experiencing "popping" when footswitching between channels with ALL of them set to 10W.

Personally, I have never experienced any "popping" when footswitching between all channels set to 10W or any combination of channels set to either 45 or 90W......just as it says in the manual.

I will also say that I rarely set any of the channel preamp gain, tone, presence, master volume knobs or graphic EQ / Preset EQ knobs to extremes. Some people like to "max the channel volume knob" and set the gain of that channel accordingly. I am NOT saying this is the problem....I am only saying that I don't set my channels in this way. I find some of the sweetest sounds of the V in all modes of all channels to be a nice combination of channel volume to master volume control.

OP...How do you have your channel gain, tone, presence knobs set in each channel when footswitching between all channels set to 10W? This could be a factor....I dunno just a thought!

 

[ixoye777]

My old Roadster popped and my V pops as well. It is annoying and clearly an issue that Mesa should have/needs to deal with. It is not the electrical where I play either as none of my other amps have this issue. While we can make excuses for Mesa all day the bottom line is a $2000+ amp should not be popping when switching channels. I love everything about my V and will likely own it for life but this is clearly something Mesa needs to fix.

 

[Rkorn]

Mine also pops... and i don't care.
It pops with ch on 45 or 90 or 10... it always pops!
One thing i keep reading... how do you guys use the ch master to max and then use the overall volume to low things down?
Master beeing max or not, it's the same if you lower the overall master!!! isn't it?
I say this because if you're not with fx engaged than the overall will not work!

 

[screamingdaisy]

Mine also pops... and i don't care.
It pops with ch on 45 or 90 or 10... it always pops!
One thing i keep reading... how do you guys use the ch master to max and then use the overall volume to low things down?
Master beeing max or not, it's the same if you lower the overall master!!! isn't it?
I say this because if you're not with fx engaged than the overall will not work!

I use it with channel 3's master set around 9:00, and the other two masters dialled in so that the volume's balance out. From there I use the overall master to set the final volume for the whole amp.

Turning the channel masters too loud just overdrives the effects loop.

 

[LPJunky]

I made a note to check last nigth and I think the popping between 45/90w to 10w is not as bad using an RJM MiniGizmo. I remember that is was really annoying and now I that I switched to the MiniGizmo it clicks a little bit but nowhere near the loud pop that everybody know and hates. Am I imagining? Does the long cable+footswitch partly to blame? I don't know why ...

 

[bradg]

Mine doesn't pop when the wattages are set the same. I can hear the relays switch but no popping.