Hello everyone ..... HELP!

I was under the impression that I could attach both balanced and single ended cables to my amplifier, an Anthem Statement A5, as long as only one source was live (either/or), at a time.

Given my lack of total satisfaction with the 990’s, two channel analogue mode, a friend encouraged me to use my Zana Deux, tube, headphone/pre-amp:

http://www.eddiecurrent.com/Zanadeux.html

as my two channel, analogue, music listening source. So, I connected it also to my Anthem Statement A5

http://statement.anthemav.com/HTML/Products/A_Series/A_Series.html

via a pair of single ended cables and listened to a cd. I must admit, I was totally blown away, literally, by the performance of my speakers, my DQ 10’s, as I’ve never listened to and/or heard them before. I had a busy afternoon and, so, despite my desire to continue the listening experience, had to leave. Unfortunately, I forgot the kill sequence and turned off the ZD, the pre-amp first and in doing so, heard an unexpected “POP.” Having heard this sound from my old system, I didn’t think much of it, thought it was because it was single ended, not balanced, without the ground. Later that day, I turned on my TV, via my sat box, 990 and Anthem amp. I immediately noticed that it was much quieter, but it took a while to realize that only my center channel was playing and not my main speakers (oh’oh). I tried to change the format within the 990’s menu, but it wouldn’t allow me to. I shut everything down and checked the circuit breakers in the amp (they were ok) and then the fuses in the speakers. Sure enough, the fuses fried. Fortunately, I had an old pair and reinstalled these. I turned on the cd player, first, then the ZD, and finally the amp; I was happy to discover that everything worked as it should, flawlessly. However, when turning off the amp, first (this time), expecting no pop, it did, in fact, make the popping noise again, only this time, not as loud. I checked the fuses and they were all still OK.

Next, I tried my 990 pre/pro and again, no sound from the main speakers. I have an external tuner, attached via Aux and again, no two-channel sound. Now I really started to worry. I clicked the ZD’s source switch around, but it made no difference. Then, I pulled the single ended cables, from the ZD, out of the back of the Anthem amplifier and tried again. This time, the 990 played as it did before, through the main speakers, also.

From what I understand, the ZD should not be making a popping sound and, via headphones, when turned off, it does not. The Anthem amp, without the use of the ZD, does not make any noise when turned off. So, I guess, my main question is: why has all this unfolded as it has? I’m a mechanical guy that loves music, my understanding of electronics is limited to a senior high school level; but, somehow my guess is that I’m not going to be able to marry the two systems together, the 990 and ZD? Am I correct in this assumption and if so, why?

Any and all information very much appreciated. You can’t imagine the panic scenario!

Thanks,

John