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Jay's Audio CDT2 MK3 hum

Hi all! Greetings from Poland. My first post here after years of reading the forum!

 

Recently I have purchased Jay’s Audio CDT2 MK3 (230V European version), actually following the comments and recommendations read at Audiogon. All is great with it except the hum it emits from its casing. I should say “hums”. The one that was occasionally audible from the left side (where transformers sit) I eliminated by using a DC-blocker. However, there is audible hum peaking at 300 Hz coming from the right side. Its level is dependent from line voltage which at my place sometimes reaches and exceeds 260 V (230 V is nominal voltage) for short periods during sunny days (lots of PV installations around and old power lines). I tried on-line UPS with selectable voltage output and there was no hum at 220 V, neglectable at 230V and audible from my listening position at 240V. At 250V and above it is really bad. Of course I can’t hear it while music plays but it is annoying when in standby. It is kind of fake standby as in fact the unit seems fully powered except for the display. It takes 12W playing and 9W in standby or turned on (not spinning) with display off.

 

Obviously, I tried it disconnected from my DAC, different lines in the house, turning off all the lines except the one feeding my audio. The hum from the right side of the unit is ONLY dependent on the voltage. My old Copland CSA14 and new CSA100 and old Roksan Kandy amps don’t hum. My Copland CDA266 and Roksan Kandy CDPs don’t hum. Does not matter how low or high the voltage is.

 

I contacted Beatechnik and they said it should not happen and advised to check it in their service in Slovenia. Paid, as I purchased it from a private importer, so it is not covered by their warranty. In the meantime I bought a voltage controller with servo motor which keeps the voltage right. Not really a correct hi fi approach I guess.

 

So, my question to Jay’s Audio CDT2 MK3 owners, preferably from the EU, can you hear any hum from your units, coming from the right side of the casing? Does it fluctuate depending on mains  voltage?

Thanks for reading and looking forward to read about your experience!

tomasz1964
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creativepart
154 posts
 

How about adding a power conditioner/regenerator?

My Jays CDT2 MK3 is dead silent but I"m in the US AND I power it via a PS Audio Stellar PowerPlant3. I'm not a big believer in "power cords" but I had an extra super thick power cord that came with some other product a while ago that was not being used - So, I have that in play also.

None of this may help or apply to your situation - but just wanted to add some options.

PS. I wasn't a believer in power conditioners/regenerators either... until I decided to "test" the PowerPlant3. But to my great surprise it made a noticeable improvement to everything.

knock1
237 posts
 

Tomasz, my Jay's is totally silent, I would think that such a high voltage might cause the hum.

@pennfootball71 

"Sell it get a Hegel Viking. The bit perfect DAC built into that is probably better than your DAC now so you can sell that too!"

How do you know what DAC OP has. What an asinine post🙄

tomasz1964 OP
3 posts
 

Thanks all for the comments.

@knock1 Thanks for confirming yours Jay's is totally silent. Are you from Europe? Have you measured your voltage? 

"I would think that such a high voltage might cause the hum": If this is normal situation with CDT2 MK3 EU version, it is quite disappointing. None of my other old and new EU made pieces seem sensitive to the voltage anomalies. ZERO hum even at 260V. The simplest test to see whether it is some design flaw or a problem specific to my unit, would be to borrow another Jay's and compare them side by side at my place. Not impossible.

@creativepart Thanks for confirming your Jay's is silent. I have my $80 power "regenerator" keeping my voltage at 228-232 V and it fixes the problem. Not the most elegant way, though.

@baylinor I don't want to break the seal on it to eventually lost warranty. Whatever it is worth... Would like to leave it to my importer but the problem is his voltage is stable and nothing buzzes at his place.

 

 

knock1
237 posts
 

@tomasz1964 

I am in the US and never seen my voltage exceeding 122V, but it seems that you have solved the problem with regenerator, congratulation. Now, stop worrying🙂

BTW, my name is Tomasz as well.

tomasz1964 OP
3 posts
 

@knock1 Hi Tomasz! So you must have Polish roots :)

Been traveling a bit but finally got the transport to the seller. He's borrowed an autotransformer to play with higher voltages than nominal and confirmed my observations. He's found that once the top lid is off there is no hum audible. He experimented a bit with the transformers, which don't produce any audible sound when the lid is off. With the lid on the screws needed loosening to silence the hum. So, the whole thing that bothered me whole summer is the transport housing resonance amplifying otherwise inaudible vibrations of the transformers. Hell knows why it is the strongest on the right side. I am relieved that it is only a mechanical "issue" and nothing wrong in the electronics. Although I fixed it by using a cheap voltage stabilizer, I might try to put some  anti-vibration insulators under the trafos, So there would be no rigid connection between the transformers and the transport housing. 

Again, thanks for all the comments.

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