TOPIC:

My brand new HA-DSP exhibits a strange turn on failure. After leaving it turned off for more than a few minutes, the unit will refuse to turn on properly with the main knob. None of the 4 LEDs light up. Pressing and holding the control button with the main knob switched off also fails to light up any LEDs as battery level indicator. However, if I attach this HA-DSP to a PC USB port via the supplied USB cable (for as little as one second), the main knob will turn on the unit properly, and battery level indicator will light up all 4 LEDs! The unit exhibits normal function, but unplugging it from USB and leaving it switched off for several minutes will cause the turn on failure again. This behavior is very consistent.

Is this unit defective? Is there anything I can try to get it to turn on consistently?

It sounds like the battery is flat... maybe leave it connected to the charger (not the computer) while turned off for a few hours and see then?

I am seeing exactly the same thing as scan08269. Using Firmware 1.6 (I have tried both the regular software and the crossfeed beta). Batteries are fully charged, yet the unit needs to be connected to USB power in order to power on. Once it has been powered on, it runs for hours on battery power, no problem.

I left the unit switched off and plugged into the supplied charger for 5 hours. No change. Still won't turn on after being unplugged for a few minutes. One brief attach back to the charger or a PC USB port will "wake" the unit back to normal operation. This is not a case of the battery having gone flat.

I took the unit through "Factory Default" and "Upgrade DSP Programs" with the HA_DSP_CF plug-in, but these didn't help the turn-on issue either.

Sounds like it's ill

My unit has the same issue. and my unit has been returned to miniDSP last month. There is still no progress by now. maybe they are busy with new products developing.

I just got one of these and am having the exact same problem as well.

MINIDSP: Is there a planned fix to this problem?

It's been over a week since I contacted support requesting RA for my HA-DSP. I have not heard anything back.

For what it's worth, I also tried downgrading the firmware to v1.5a, but this didn't make any difference.

I sent in a couple of queries via support.minidsp.com and received automated responses.

Seems like we just need to be patient?

Dear All

Thanks for all your patience.

As some of you who've been contacting us via tech support learned, we finally tracked this issue to some missing component on some battery packs (very few units affected in last 4months). We've got a workaround and can easily organize a replacement for the battery for customers affected on these few units. Simply start a tech support ticket with our team (support.minidsp.com is our official portal for any contact with our support team), and we'll be able to help solve that issue for you.

Thanks again for your patience,

DevTeam

I installed the new battery today, and it seems to have fixed the problem.

The foam tape holding the original battery in place was firmly bonded into place, but I was able to safely remove it by pushing a wooden popsicle stick through the foam. Popsicle sticks can be very handy tools, and this is also a good excuse to buy popsicles.

Glad to hear that you're up and running again Jeff. Thanks a ton for your patience again.

I'm pleased to report that after a battery replacement, my HA-DSP can turn on normally now.

I concur with JeffS7444 that the foam tape holding the original battery should be carefully pushed or sliced BEFORE applying any force to the battery. The battery cells are quite soft and will deform if a lot of prying force is applied. I used an Xacto knife to slice apart some of the foam adhesive at both ends, and pushed in a thin metal ruler on the remaining part of the foam that the Xacto could not reach, and was able to free the battery without prying it upwards.

By all means follow miniDSP's advice to fully discharge the original battery before starting the replacement procedure.