Got Noise?


OK Guys, need your help with this one. Recently I've noticed a fairly high degree of background noise (sounds like a "ffffsss" coming through my system at idle. The noise is only audible when the amp is turned on, not any of the other components. The amp has been tested by the manufacturer and he reports no issues. (Amp is a Modwright KWA150 and I asked Dan to check this for me when he did the "SE" upgrade a month or so ago). The level of noise is audible when I am playing music only at very low volumes, which has been the case over the past 4 months since we now have a baby on board. In fact, it is possible that nothing has changed but the simple fact that before the baby I was listening at higher volumes and did not notice the background noise. On the other hand, it is somewhat intrusive and if there is something going on elsewhere then I'd like to address it. FYI I have a 20 amp dedicated line to my system and have an Environmental Potentials 2050 surge suppressor/noise cancelling device installed on the panel, which I had my electrician confirm has been correctly hooked up. Is it possible that something is happening at the pole where I have a transformer shared by two other neighbors? I can't decide whether this is a new problem that has developed or simply an old problem that I did not know was there until I started listening at much lower levels in the past few months. Tell me, when your system is at idle how much noise do you hear when you put your ear to the drivers? Or from your listening position?
dodgealum

Showing 2 responses by mofimadness

Mark, have you tried unhooking everything from the amp except the AC power cable and speaker cables. That would eliminate all but the amp and the AC power into it.

I have heard that the KWA150's can be a little noisy, but from the transformers as a mechanical hum/buzz, not from the speakers.
Mark,

It could also be something coming into the preamp. I would unhook everything from the preamp except the AC power cord and the output cables to the amp. This would be like starting from square one.

If you hear any noise, it is either the cables from the preamp to amp or the preamp itself, (probably a tube).

If you do not hear any noise, start plugging your components back in to the preamp ONE AT A TIME and listen for the noise. One of these will be the culpruit. Which, now you will need to determine if it's the unit itself or the cables from it to the preamp.

Sorry, but you'll need to troubleshoot this thing from the very beginning. I just helped a friend do the same thing. Noises/hums/buzzes are a pain in the ass to find. Starting from square one and working one at a time is the only way to find it.