2. amps-preamps
  3. 1005432452

Help, Strange Static Sound Recurring

I am a newbie. I have a nice hand-me-down system (from my Dad), a Jeff Rowland Model 1 Amp, an Audio Research LS3 preamp, Thiel 3.6 speakers, and if it matters, a Theta Data Basic with a Theta DS Pro Basic III.

When I set it up, it was fine. After a few weeks, I awoke to hear loud white noise (static) coming from one channel. I had left the system powered up, but the amp was off and the static persisted. I could not turn the amp on. When I would push the power button, it would light up, but would not "catch" and stayed unlit.

I called Rowland, and sent the unit in to them. It checked out perfectly. I hooked it up again and it was fine, only to repeat the problem. The Rowland people were flummoxed. They had played it continuously for a long time with no problem. I sent it off again, but no problem found.

I talked with a local (Minneapolis) audio guy who speculated that it could be that the power coming into my house is weak or inconsistent. I then tried a computer UPS (uninterruptible power source), and I thought the problem was solved, but alas it recurred.

Someone at one point mentioned that perhaps the 3.6's were a bit much for the amp, but he wasn't saying that was the cause.

At times I have unhooked the speaker cords, swapped channels, changed fuses, etc. Sometimes, unhooking and then reconnecting the speakers seems to make it work, but then after a few weeks, here comes the static again.

Anyway, it is frustrating and the wife wants me to sell the whole system. I just bluebooked it at 5K. I might do so, but I'd love to solve the problem.

Any thoughts? Anybody wanna buy it?
hyoster
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
A computer UPS will not help and could makes matter worse. Computers have different power needs. You would need an audio power center. It could be the preamp causing the noise as well as the amp. If you switch the pre-outs left and right, does the sound then come out the other channel? If so, it is the preamp.
hyoster OP
6 posts
 
Thank you sugarbrie. Can you recommend an audio power center?

I tried swapping the pre-outs and the static still comes from the same channel. I also had the preamp totally checked out by the mfr during this process... no problem found.

Any other thoughts?
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
If its not the amp, but it is coming from the amp and not a source to the amp, then I am stumped. Maybe you have a bad interconnect cable?

If you have consistancy problems with the electric, it sounds like those power regenerators or voltage correctors from the likes of PS Audio and Exact Power would work, but they are expensive. If it is just a bad ground, most decent power conditioners will help, such as the Monster HTS 2000 or even better something from Chang Lightspeed. Has anyone like an electrician ever checked the AC outlet, or have you tried the amp on another circuit in another room??

alexanderj
139 posts
 
This seems a bit of a stretch but since you haven't isolated the source of the problem maybe try switching the speaker cables left side for right to see if somehow you have an intermitent short starting to develop in the speaker wiring or connecting cables and it's affecting a protection circuit in the amp. If the problem switches sides you have a start.

If not, obviously your goal is to isolate their source of the problem. If you have balanced interconnects throughout your system you may be able to carefully disconnect components starting at the Theta transport and working your way toward the speakers. If the noise goes away when you diconnect a component or a cable then you're making progress. Balanced interconnects can also be carefully switched left to right to see if you can get the noise to switch sides.

Hang in their! Remember your experiment is to make only one change at a time.
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