I should have labeled it Speakers?


My system..... Vandersteen 5A, all Ayre preamp, amp, CD player     I thought someone might have a suggestion for noise in my system....sounds like a resonance in the upper mid/highs from the left. Noise remains if CD or Vinyl.  I tapped around the room with a big spoon to hear if anything was vibrating...none.  Changed the left/right cables..remained in the left.  I use a separate headphone amp with earphones...don't hear the noise.  Took out the tweeter and mid of left speaker and sent them to Vandersteen...good.  I sent the amp back to Ayre (150 lbs) ....fine. I checked that the cones under the speakers are tight. Richard Vandersteen, and Dealer Audio Connection took lots of time with me ....couldn't suggest anything I hadn't tried.  Anytime I listen to the system I listen for the noise and when the frequencies are "right" I hear it...very annoying.
128x128stringreen

Showing 2 responses by douglas_schroeder

Swapping speakers is a good idea,  but to hear the correct sound of the anomaly you would have to break them and the wires in again for at least 200 hours.  
Heheheh...    ;)
Looking at your room, my first reaction is that the phenomenon is perhaps associated with the open area to the left of the speaker. My guess is that you are hearing the sound of the driver without the first reflected wave off the side wall, and that it becomes noticeable/irritating at certain frequencies. I presume the phenomenon is there independent of listening level. 

If you are desperate to find out, you could perhaps rig a blanket or two over the opening to see if the annoying sound is ameliorated.

Try doing a frequency sweep and see if the annoyance is still there in one channel. If not, then it’s not the gear.