2. amps-preamps
  3. 1432666396

Pre-amp causing loud hiss from speakers

I have a BAT VK3i with Quicksilver Horn mono-blocks and Klipsch LaScala's. This setup is dead quiet, however when I recently hooked up Rogue Audio M-180 mono-blocks there was a loud hiss coming from the speakers well past the listening spot. This noise was constant even with the volume down to zero and occurred with either balanced or rca connectors.

When I took the BAT out of the equation there was now only a faint hiss coming from speakers but one had to put your ear to it to hear it. After disconnecting all components from the BAT and putting it back in - the noise returns. I tried a Conrad Johnson Classic and there was no noise.

So does anyone have any ideas as to why the BAK and Rogue Audios amps do not play nice together?

Thanks
Ag insider logo xs@2xdeadlift
Ag insider logo xs@2x
deadlift OP
18 posts
 
I will experiment more with the IC's and binding posts, but I fear as noted the gain architecture is way off - oh well part of the journey. I do wonder if it's not inappropriate here to ask what a set of Rogues would be worth with less than 30 minutes run time?

Thanks
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Ag insider logo xs@2x
deadlift OP
18 posts
 
I will give it a shot nothing to lose. Those attenuators are RCA would using balanced attenuators make any really difference?

thanks again
newbee
4,751 posts
 
I can't think of any reason that the balanced attenuators would sound better, or even different. What will make a difference though is the amount of attenuation that they will provide. 10db attenuators are common (and the ones that I have used) but that might not be enough. You can also get them in 20db and perhaps anything in between. FWIW Rothwell makes a nice in-line attenuator. If the hiss is really loud I'd try the 20db ones first.
czarivey
5,740 posts
 
can't you just proceed with unhappy return after half-hour of listening?
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