Yeah, sounds like the amp just can't handle the really high volumes. But it's an easy and relatively cheap fix if you want a loud machine. Less than $40 all told.

Premium or LE

Pencil out? Sure the pro pencils out but if you want it all and it’s worth it for the intangibles that don’t pencil then it’s premium or LE

Vireland--good news-- you'll only have to post that amp link 500 more times, and not the original 666 times originally planned.

Fortunately it isn't posted every single time people ask the same question of why their sound "crackles" (clips) when they have the volume up super-high. I may just make a thread showing how to do the upgrade with connectors, etc so I never have to post it again.

While we're talkin about it; dumb question: does that one Pyle drive both speakers, or is it one amp per speaker? Thanks for finding this for everyone.

You hit the nail on the head homie. All of us hearing impaired guys that wanna jack it up to 55 would GREATLY appreciate a thread showing step-by-step installation of this/these amps. At your convenience, of course. Please and thank you.
-Snap, Crackle, and Pop

Drives both speakers in the head, Left and Right.

This used to happen to me consistently until I adjusted the switch at the entrance of the sarcophagus (right where the ball lands/exits the actual ball lock). I had to adjust the switch so that it stuck out higher above the surface. Now, the ball properly registers the majority of the time, but it's still not perfect... Out of the last ~15 games, I've only had one instance where mummy multiball would (wrongly) eject a 3rd ball into play at the start of the mode, causing the ball-count error that you described.

Anyway, let me know if this helps - you should be able to adjust this switch when the sarcophagus pointed at an upward angle (without having to pull the playfield out).

Yes, happens to me too. Definite bug in the code.

I agree. The additional features are very good and I couldn't picture not having them.. sure my ramp is broken and out of service already, but its a great feature and I expect it will work fine when I get my new assembly. But how cool is it? Also the sarcophagus motorized lock and trap door, I wouldn't not want that feature anymore! Such a fun machine.

Please do.

You’ve tried using an external amp and it solves the speaker cackling issue for certain?

I haven't done it myself because I don't turn any of the machines up that loud, but I'm reasonably sure it's clipping since the common thread is people playing the game LOUD.

However, in documenting this, I'll be upgrading the speakers on a Iron Maiden Pro to speakers better than the JBL Studio 500s in the factory LEs, and I'll be pairing them with the cheapie amplifier I linked to (that's still better than Stern's on-board amp). Speakers are already on the way and wiring from the Spike2 connector to RCA is already finished as of tonight. I'm taking pictures, so I'll write it all up when I'm done.

Yes. Happened to us tonight. I’m thinking it might be code related.

On mine the music is not clipping the speakers up to 50+, the fx and call outs are though. Not sure if that means anything nor do I care. Installing amp.

The only way I can see the CPU being the issue is if it's overburdened and not delivering the audio stream correctly under load, but if that were the case, you'd hear the crackling/digital noise at "normal" and "normal loud" volumes, too, which doesn't seem to be the case. All the ones I've seen complaining about it are playing it at 35 or higher volume, which is very loud and points toward an underpowered on-board amp clipping. Gomez DID say Spike and Spike2 power budgets were so tight just adding a single mod can screw up the machine, so I can see where overdriving an underpowered on-board amp on Spike/2 will cause problems. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

It doesn't help that Stern is so stingy with the technical details and schematics for their Spike/2 systems, either. Lots more trial and error by end users than should be necessary to fix their corner-cutting.

Even though the hardware is at such a tight tolerance
Amp low power and speakers very basic.
I believe Audio mixing levels may be incorrect.

I would not be in a hurry to upgrade replace hardware at this time
and expect the problem will be sorted out through code.

Hopefully there is an audio guru at Stern that will deliver incredible sound.

JJP had serious issues getting internal mixes and limits under control with Hobbit (especially), but I don't recall Stern having that issue on their machines, but you're right, that's another explanation for the cracking. I guess we'll soon find out if I convert this to use the line-level output to an external amp and then crank it up and get cracking.

Anyone notice if the crackling happens when callouts occur or just with music playing?

Looking forward to hearing if the external amp helps.

I pick up my LE today!

Ffs get that syrup outta yer ears man

Ha. I've said numerous times, the music is fine until you go over like, 50. Then it clips.
There is a cannon and certain effects that still remain even with speech attenuation at +60 (off) and THAT, plus the call outs, are what are clipping, even at volume 35.
Like RATT pointed out, i think it may be the audio mix.....not sure. Hoping this amp smoothes it out too. Thanks Vireland.
Congrats on yer LE bruh!

Anyone care to please post a pic of what the leaf switch should look like for the Mummy Captive ball? I've adjusted mine a little bit but within a couple games I started having the same problems of auto launches after draining.

I noticed on the Pro that the callouts were mixed really high/loud. If it's the pre-amp being overdriven adding an external amp won't help, except that it if it lets you lower the pre-amp volume and still have it loud, then it will.

Ive heard crackling music coming from the Pro cabinet bottom speaker while I was down there leveling, but since I've lowered the volume to 15 its gone.

However sometimes the female announcer's voice has an inconsistent delay/echo effect.

Seems like software is the culprit to me.

First, make sure the cup is centered underneath the captive ball's post exactly. The bracket can be bent slightly. If you don't have a leaf adjustment tool you eyeball the two contacts with the captive ball in the resting position and push the metal finger behind the bottom leaf switch past the contact point and release. Reevaluate the spacing and repeat if necessary. When you are finished you want a tiny amount of space between the contacts. To test, move the captive ball very slightly. The top leaf should move and the bottom leaf shouldn't. Any more and you should be able to see the bottom leaf move. This ensures you do not have it stuck on.

Not sure why I posted this here as I'm hoping this thread will die and people will just post in the owners thread.

My LE arrived yesterday with sarcaphogus not registering balls. Balls go in trap door in ramp but just sit at the exit gate door, ball just sits there until bal search and then does not register the shot made. Anyone know if there is a easy way to adjust switch 40 and 42? Seems like i have to remove the whole sliding door in front to get to one of them. Any pics of location would be helpful.

I would try and pull the playfield out all the way on its support rails and try to get at the switch from behind the backboard.

V0.98.0 - May 23, 2018
======================
- Can I Play with Madness - new mode added as one of the Pharaoh's Tomb Treasure awards
- Instant Info - Soul Shard, Tomb Awards, and Mystery Awards have been added
- Loop Jackpots - after second round of Loop Jackpots you must keep the upper left flipper down to increase the multiplier for each loop jackpot
- Eddie Letters - fixed an issue where you would be locked out from collecting Eddie letters when tilting.
- Eddie Cards - fixed an issue with cyborg eddie card collection, when you completed all the power features and drained before collecting the power jackpot
- Trooper Locks - right spinner lockout after drop target completion was changed to only drop target sweep
- Trooper Locks - right spinner lockout time reduced from 2s to 1.5s
- Mummy Letter Collect - sarcophagus will go back down to a flat position when you cannot collect mummy letters
- Mummy Multiball - Scepter Awards are now being multiplied by playfield multiplier
- Mummy Multiball - Jackpots / Double Jackpots / Quadruple Jackpots now being properly called out
- Mystery Award - allow mystery awards to award a 'Boost Power Jackpot' even if a power feature hasn't been started
- Power Jackpot - allow a power jackpot to be collected after reaching the minimum threshold even if a power feature hasn't been started
- Power Features - ORBITS and RAMPS completion bonus to the power jackpot changed from 1M to 3M
- Tomb Award - changed 'TOMB AWARD' text during award to 'Pharaoh's Tomb Treasure'
- Tomb Award - added 'Super Combos', awards 5x combos and deathblows for the rest of the ball
- Tomb Award - added 'Power Jackpot X+5', adds 5X to the current power jackpot multiplier
- Tomb Award - added some descriptive text for some of the tomb awards when they are awarded
- Flight of Icarus - changed the starting score from 500K to 1M
- Flight of Icarus - boost the combo time from 4s to 6s
- Hallowed be thy Name - orange arrow shots score changed from 500K to 3M
- Hallowed be thy Name - award shots increased from 3M, 5M, 7M to 5M, 10M, 15M
- Number of the Beast - starting attack value changed from 4M to 10M
- Tomb Lock Gate - diabling this device will change the mummy lock to happen at the bullseye (as the diverter and sarcophagus devices already do)
- RGB Beacon Light Shows - Mystery Orb light show added
- Light Shows - tomb flashes now when you have the Pharaoh's Tomb Treasure lit
- Attract Mode - now cycles through select background videos
- Attract Mode - idle flipper button speech added
- Shoot Again - added background animation and 'Shoot Again' text
- Replay - added replay animation
- High Score Tables - Obelisk scroll can now flip through pages with flipper buttons
- Improved stability
- Adjustment Changes:
- added 'FEAR OF THE DARK SECRET BG %' adjustment
- increased all REPLAY defaults by 25M - starting default is now 150M

V0.97.0 - May 9, 2018
=====================
- Number of the Beast - wizard mode is now complete
- Eddie Cards - after a Number of the Beast mode loss level 1 Eddie cards are un-lit, light all level 1 cards again to re-light Number of the Beast
- Eddie Cards - after a Number of the Beast mode loss level 2 Eddie cards stay lit, light all level 2 cards to re-light Number of the Beast
- Mummy Multiball - added scepter shots for add-a-ball / additional awards during the mode
- Mummy Multiball - sarcophagus lock improvements
- Aces High - added fighter ace super jackpot animation / sounds
- Rime of the Ancient Mariner - better scoop response when shots enter the scoop
- Rime Albatross Hurry Up - added a delay before the timer starts to give a chance at locking in the maximum value
- Flight of Icarus - shortened the length of the intro animation
- Soul Shard - replaced placeholder soul shard animation with new animation / sounds
- Cyborg Multiball - cyborg Eddie card collect - level 2 - changed from 3rd pyramid completion to 5th pyramid completion
- Cyborg Multiball - new intro / background loop / total animations / sounds
- Cyborg Multiball - cyborg jackpot animation updated
- Loop Award - mini loop scores 3x loop value and lights 2x loop
- Loop Jackpot - mini loop boosts loop jackpot value +500K and adds 3 seconds to loop jackpot timer
- Loop Jackpot - loop up post logic changed to only hold up for 2 seconds and then back down, also bring down immediately on mini-loop
- Loop Jackpot - improved big loop detection when a ball is being plunged
- Loop Jackpot - fix a bug when you drain with one loop left to light loop jackpots, it would not light jackpots when the next loop was hit after next ball was served
- Loop Jackpot - fix double loop award when the up post is blocking a big loop and you directly shoot a mini loop back into the post on the opposite side
- Loop Jackpot - score frame loop jackpot value is now visible when loop jackpots are active
- Tomb Award - change tomb award text from wrong: "2X Bonus Multiplier" to correct: "Collect 2X Bonus"
- Match - Iron Maiden themed match animations / sounds added
- RGB Beacon Light Shows - improvements to existing light shows and added additional light shows
- Revive - fixed problem with revive not saving the ball properly during grace periods
- Revive - added a new revive activated animation / sounds
- Sound - volume tweaks for many sounds
- Improved ball detection in top eject
- Ticket Dispenser Coil - enable testing in coil test
- Power Features - updating UI icons art
- Score Frame - better alignment of 'Ball' and 'Credits' text at the top of the screen
- All Modes - do not wait for grace period to expire to show mode totals
- High Score Tables - Obelisk scroll is now aligned with score groups better
- High Score Totals - fixed a bug with soul shard collected amount not getting included in the mode's high score total
- Adjustment Changes:
- 'LOOP VALUE TIMER' default changed from 10 to 5
- 'LOOP JACKPOT TIMER' default changed from 15 to 12
- 'LOOP JACKPOT UP POST LOOPS' default changed from 5 to 3
- '2 MINS/MIDNIGHT BALL SAVE TIME' default changed from 30 to 45
- 'EXTRA BALL/POWER SHOTS COMPLETE' default changed from 2 to 3
- increased all REPLAY defaults by 25M - starting default is now 125M

I don’t fully understand the rules of Mummy MB and sarcophagus locks. However, it seems to be very difficult to trigger a switch connected to the captive ball when a second ball is in the lock position behind it. It is basic conservation of momentum. The first ball doesn’t move. Perhaps not even enough to trigger a very sensitive switch. Just watch a Newton’s Cradle.

DD35C29A-DA65-4F98-AA50-8B5EBF7AD5E8 (resized).jpeg

Same here.

Had my best game ever after updating to this version, but also hit a bug I think. Had several of the MB's running (Trooper, ACES High, Mummy) got the add a ball somewhere in all of that, probably a couple stacked the same time.. Seemed like it lasted for 5-10 minutes, during all the frenzy, there were balls draining, reviving like mad.. Then the flippers died, and it totaled my bonus, with 3 balls still in play.. In any case, I doubt I'll recreate that again any time soon, but wondering if anyone had that happen with this or previous version.. Otherwise I like the few new things I noticed in this version, some font changes for high scores, new animations, call outs in attract mode..

Yes, this happened to me multiple times.

I thought you couldn't stack multiballs?

I think there's a switch behind the second ball in the sarcophagus that is supposed to register hits when the ball is knocked over it

It’s between the two balls if I remember right when we had issues with it registering the second ball was not sitting flush against the Newton ball so that switch wasn’t engaged.

It’s the furthest back switch in the captive trough

I had the same thing happen and I suggest that the ball is "Stuck" in the Sarcophagus due to it being "Too Level". Raise your back left leg just a little. I know balls can get a slight magnetic charge that provides enough resistance to hold it in place and keep from progressing thru to the proper place.

What number LE did you get? I am still shocked that they didn't make 666.

Oh and my ramp is now locked in the up position. My distributor and Stern have been great but nothing fixed yet. Spending more time on it today.

I certainly feel a little annoyed that both upgrade features from the pro are both big issues out of the box. Oh and Stern is dealing with a ton of calls on the sarcaphogus and i think your lucky if yours works right out of box.

Sort of wish I got the pro but no going back now.

Yep, my ramp is stuck in the up position as well. Coil is the issue I think.. not sure.

My distributor has already put in a request for a new motorized ramp assembly, but no word yet if it has shipped. Maybe they are seeing it is a bigger issue and others are having the same problem.

Also, if you find a fix for it please post it here for others. I have spent more time on it then I should have, completely disassembling it and putting it back together with no luck. It will work fine for a few games then get stuck again.

Finally had a ball hang up on the switch in the sarcophagus entrance just before it reaches the plastic head that holds it until its drops into the sarcophagus. Opened her up, poked it a few times, came out. No ball search was able to get it. Might have to adjust my switch after all....

First hang up in like 50 games though, not bad.

In ramp test, does it find the position?

I'll try it, but I have narrowed it down to the fact that the plunger/metal piston in the coil extends outwards too far and gets caught up and stuck. Because of this, the metal release that triggers the ramp to go down will not work as the coil plunger is stuck and wont move until you lift the playfield and literally push it back down.

Nope just does a little shimmy like it wants to go down and then sits there. Its down at the moment but after a few balls it will probably do it again. Assembly looks fine from underneath. Going to have a closer look at coils tomorrow.

Had the same issue on my TNA which I believe uses the same crappy switch design. I replaced them with the much more reliable Williams design roller switch which takes a feather touch to depress due to the microswitch.

I spray De-OX-ID contact cleaner on many pinball switches works wonders !! https://www.amazon.com/GC-Electronics-OX-ID-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B004SPJN9W

Would a " ground loop isolator " help ? I think I could install one .
Not quite sure how to install your best fix " Pyle PFA300 90-Watt Class T Hi-Fi Stereo Amplifier with Adapter" ?
Since you know your stuff maybe make a YouTube video