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Midrange Noise

I have a Rega P3 turntable hooked up to an Aesthetix Rhea phono preamp to a Unison Research Unico 100 Integrated Amp to a pair of Sonus Faber Futura speakers. After half a year I started hearing a humming/buzzing noise out of my midrange. It is affected with the volume knob. Also when I switch the phono preamp to mute it also goes away with the volume knob up. When I select the input knob to CD, it also goes away. So I assume it is not the speakers. What could it be in the Aesthetix phono preamp to cause the noise in the midrange driver?
timyamasaki
7 responses Add your response
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,701 posts
 
Is the noise on both speakers? Have you tried replacing any of the tubes in the Rhea?
pragmasi
212 posts
 
Hum / buzz is usually down to a dodgy ground connection somewhere. I’d start by checking the contacts on the ground wire from TT to preamp, if it’s not that check the interconnects aren’t the culprit (less likely if hum is on both channels). If that doesn’t work there are a few more things to try.
timyamasaki OP
10 posts
 
It is just on one of the speakers. It's more like a lower frequency static-type of noise that quickly goes in and out sporadically.

The Rega P3 does not have a ground wire to the phono preamp. I have yet to replace the tubes, but I was wondering why it only affected the midrange. Perhaps the impedance at the midrange frequency between the phono preamp and integrated amp is a causing this problem.

I will also check the interconnects and also change between left and right channels to verify electronics vs. speaker.

Thanx for the replies.
jwaudio
5 posts
 
Please contact us at info@aesthetix.net, or call us at (805) 529-9901 for help in troubleshooting your Rhea.
Jim WhiteAesthetix

jond's avatar
jond
5,845 posts
 
It's likely just a bad tube and nice to see Jim White posting here that's good customer service.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,821 posts
 
Seconded. That's pretty impressive @jwaudio .
timyamasaki OP
10 posts
 
I finally got to replacing the right speaker with the one that I used before, an Opera Quinta. There is still the same buzz/hum in this speaker as long as the phono preamp is powered and unmuted and the integrated amplifier volume is up (one-fifth of a turn). Just like before.

I will give Jim White a call at Aesthetix.
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