NAD: Marshall DSL100HR

I’ve had a 100H for 8 years. Makes for a kick ass power amp using the Return and has Presence and Depth controls that work in that scenario. OD1 (Volume 3, Gain 6) with a SD-1 is :chef.

Hope you get it sorted.
 
mbenigni said:
GOOD NEWS: The amp just arrived!

BAD (HOPEFULLY NOT CATASTROPHIC) NEWS: My wife watched the driver (GAMANDA? Possibly incensed because I'd already left a bad review?) pull in, open the rear gate halfway, and literally kick the amp out of the truck onto our driveway. (Sounds like it landed on its end before falling over and winding up upside-down.) Then he/she drove off the side of the driveway and left a nice crater in our lawn, but whatever.

Inspecting and testing now. Didn't hear anything rattling around when I carried the amp down the stairs, so maybe I'll get lucky. No thanks to FedEx. :hmm
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Id open it to check if the transformers are straight on their feet.
 
SillyOctpuss said:
So how is it @mbenigni? Is this one working or has the fall damaged it? Do we need our pitchforks?
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The jury is still out, which is annoying in and of itself. I really want this sewn up and put to bed. (Am I mixing metaphors?)

This one is cosmetically perfect (yay) despite FedEx having trashed the box a bit, and it doesn’t have that high pitched whine (YAY). Unfortunately it has a lower pitch buzz, also emanating directly from the head, not the speaker. 90% certain this is another janky transformer. Marshall clearly used a lower cost part here to hit the target price.

At this point I don’t know whether to send it back and look behind door number three, or whether to accept it as is, or whether to get my money and start looking at other amps.

I don’t have much experience with Marshalls and I don’t know whether I’m just being too fussy here. Worse, I don’t know whether to attribute this to the design, sloppy tolerances (ie this particular amp), or FedEx rough treatment yesterday (which adds an extra element of suck.)

Im trying to research other people with the same problem but people are REALLY bad about distinguishing between noise from speaker and electro-mechanical noise emanating directly from the head. Conversations meander between the two mid-thread and nobody calls anybody on the confusion. I’m kind of lost here.

Heading out of town and this is just going to be hanging over my head. Again, annoying. Less of the excitement I had testing the last time; more of a bad taste in my mouth. :/
 
P.S. That last post was a lot more negative than intended. :D The amp still sounds amazing and feels like quite a bargain for about $650. I just need to know that this PT isn’t going to crap out on me or annoy the shit out of me long term.
 
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The solution is to get a DSL100H. It’s the better built model.

When you hear the whine and buzz, how close are you standing to the head? All of my Marshalls go bananas when i stand right up on them.
 
HomespunEffects said:
The solution is to get a DSL100H. It’s the better built model.

When you hear the whine and buzz, how close are you standing to the head? All of my Marshalls go bananas when i stand right up on them.
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I hear ya, but… My experience with the older 40C makes me a little leary of the 100H. I’d have to hear one in person, of course, but I’m guessing the HR is a little more modern/ “American” (Mesa) sounding, especially in absence of an OD pedal. Plus the price of a used 100H, with all the attendant risks, is about the same as a new HR.

Thanks for the data point on what comprises “acceptable” noise - that’s exactly what I need. Unfortunately I can hear this buzz from across the room. It’s directional, so if you kneel down in front of the cab it’s pretty quiet (close mic’ing might be fine?) but it’s loud enough to bounce off walls and fill the room. Not obnoxious, but noticeable.
 
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mbenigni said:
P.S. That last post was a lot more negative than intended. :D The amp still sounds amazing and feels like quite a bargain for about $650. I just need to know that this PT isn’t going to crap out on me or annoy the shit out of me long term.
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Are there any music stores that would have a floor model within driving distance? Just to see if it makes a similar noise to yours?
 
mbenigni said:
I hear ya, but… My experience with the older 40C makes me a little leary of the 100H. …
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The biggest problem with the 40C is the speaker. Plugged into an external, closed-back cabinet makes all the difference. My DSL40C no longer has a speaker installed. I’m eventually going to build a head case for it.
 
HomespunEffects said:
The biggest problem with the 40C is the speaker. Plugged into an external, closed-back cabinet makes all the difference. My DSL40C no longer has a speaker installed. I’m eventually going to build a head case for it.
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I’m planning on hitting Atomic Music in DC (or thereabouts?) in a couple of days. Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to hear a 100H for myself.

@SillyOctopuss - I guess this makes me a liar. Driving distance in this case just happens to be about 6 hours LOL.
 
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