L2A Troubleshooting

Most L2A issues come down to the transformer, the cabling, or expectations around what a passive, unity-gain box is supposed to do. The sections below are ordered by likelihood, so work down from the top.

General resources

• L2A Assembly Guide
• General Troubleshooting Tips
• Checking Your Audio Setup is worth ruling out first if the signal seems weak or noisy, since cabling accounts for a lot of L2A issues.

Weak, thin, or no output

1. Confirm that the cable going to the input of the L2A is balanced.
2. Check that your volume pot is turned all the way up.
3. Remember the L2A is a passive, unity-gain device. At max volume, it does not boost the signal at all. Compare the output level of the L2A to the output level of your interface without the L2A before concluding the L2A is the problem.

Buzz, hum, or ground noise

1. Try the ground-lift switch in both positions. If the noise changes or worsens in either position, the issue is most likely with your cabling or another device in the chain, not the L2A.
2. If the noise is equally bad in both switch positions, double check all your solder joints. See Cleaning Up Solder Joints for more on how to identify and fix cold solder joints.

Request Troubleshooting Support

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