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Distortion from speakers - amp?

Friends, I have a new amp (Halcro MC20) and preamp (Atma sphere R13) that I have mated to my beloved Newform Research speakers. My previous set up was a Pass Aleph 5 and Blue Circle 21 preamp. While the new configuration sounds wonderful, I am hearing very audible distortion, greater with one channel. With the ribbons, it is a buzzing sound, and in the bass drivers like a feedback hum. Again, when I change the channel cable connections between the pre and amp, the sound changes sides as well. It does not seem to be dependent on volume setting. Turning it up does not increase the distortion. The preamp is stone quite but the amp has a bit of a buzz when it is on. Ideas? Thanks much.
deliberate1

Showing 1 response by plato

plato
1,543 posts
 
If the distortion changes sides when you swap the cables between the preamp and amp then the problem lies before the amp... It could be in the preamp, but what kind of cables are you using? Are they shielded? If not, you could try using shielded cables. If so, maybe the shield of one cable is connected to the wrong side, in which case reversing the direction of the cable between the preamp and amp (on the distorted side) might solve the problem.

If trying shielded cables or reversing the distorted side cable does not solve the problem then the problem could be in one channel of the preamp. Also make sure that the interconnects are not lying on top of any AC cords.
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