Transformer in Cambridge Audio Diskmagic BUZZING !!!

Shoog · 23rd November 2005, 05:10 PM

Hi there,
I own a Cambridge Audio DiskMagic 1, which I use in conjuction with my Isomagic Dac.
Just recently it has started buzzing audably. I have tracked this down to the larger of the two transformers. Apart from this everything seems to be working just fine.
However if a transformer starts to physically buzz it suggests that something in the DiskMagic is drawing excessive current and is straining the transformers. These transformers have always seemed to run quite hot, can anyone tell me if this is common with this transport. Anyone have any experience of this kind of problem ? Can anyone suggests where I should start looking for a solution.
I really don't want the Diskmagic to fail on me as I went to a lot of trouble to get my hands on one, and they are not that easy to get hold of.

Any help is appreciated.

Shoog

JohnW · 23rd November 2005, 06:43 PM

Unfortunately its common to find buzzing transformers in the DiscMagic, - I guess that the buzzing gets worst during periods when the mains supply is heavily loaded - such as around "Dinner Time" and "DC" appears on the lines...

I have a spare (used) transformer if yours fails (which I don’t believe it will).

How does the IsoMagic sound when "Clock-Locked" with the DiscMagic?

I will have a new range of electronics launched next year; there will be a CD transport that will support "Clock Locking" with the IsoMagic.

When you use clock-lock - also use "optical" for the Digital input (SPDIF).

John

dnsey · 23rd November 2005, 07:03 PM

In the 'good old days', it was common for DIYers to warnish or wax impregnate their own transformers. Not as good as vacuum impregnation, of course, but dunking it in molten wax for half an hour may well silence it.

Shoog · 23rd November 2005, 09:56 PM

hi there,
The buzz doesn't seem to always be there so you could be right about the DC on the line. As I said it seems to work just fine otherwise. Can you tell me the transformers spec such that if neccissary I could replace it with a beefier transformer. I suppose this item was built to a tight budget so transformers were the obvious choice for cost cutting.

I use it in the clock locked mode, with both the clock and the spdif on optical.
I think there is a generally improvement in depth and detail with the clock lock, though I would have to say it would be slight. The one issue I have found with the Diskmagic is that it tends to jump at the end of long CD's. Seems like the servo mechanism is wigging out.

Still overall I am very happy with the combination. The only better CD players I have heard are my brothers original Rega Planet, and possably the Musical Fidelity CDT (with tube output stages).

Shoog

jives11 · 24th November 2005, 10:59 AM

I have buzzing from my Discmagic for the first 15 seconds which I had assumed was a safety relay which was starting to fail. I had a similar experience with a quad44 which took a while for the relay to switch and made the same buzzing.

Shoog · 24th November 2005, 05:32 PM

Mine does the same buzz on switch on, but its not the buzz I was talking about.
I assumed that the switch on buzz was the Diskmagic trying to sync with the Isomagic. Can't be certain though. I am not concerned about this buzz at all.

Shoog

Shoog · 7th October 2008, 07:46 PM

Oh dear Oh dear.
My Diskmagic seems to have died. It no longer buzzes on switch on, so the output shorting relay isn't working properly. Also when on one of the channels is breaking up. Sounds Ok on quieter passages, but on louder bits its saturating and sounding very grainy.
Took the lid off and had a look to see if there was anything obvious like a blown cap or resistor. Seems that there's nothing obvious.
Don't much fancy fault finding on a piece of kit which always had reliability issues (and tracking issues). The thing is I really like what it does with the clock lock to my S700 DACMAGIC. John said he was working on a new transport with the clock lock facility - did anything ever come of this ??

Shoog

kevinkr · 8th October 2008, 05:20 PM

Could be power supply issues. Have any of the supply capacitors in the disc magic ever been replaced? I would start by investigating what supply voltages are present and which aren't. Perhaps John can provide you with some trouble shooting tips.

The new products are still not released, afaik..

Shoog · 9th October 2008, 07:55 AM

I went at it with a are right in assuming it was a power supply issue. Previously I had upgraded the power supply with seperate rails for the digital and audio circuits. I had been running this for two years without issue. Suddenly though a dry joint had developed which was killing one of the rails. Tracked this back and fixed the joint.
Everything is working just great and no damage seems to have been done.

Great news.

Shoog

kevinkr · 9th October 2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shoog
I went at it with a are right in assuming it was a power supply issue. Previously I had upgraded the power supply with seperate rails for the digital and audio circuits. I had been running this for two years without issue. Suddenly though a dry joint had developed which was killing one of the rails. Tracked this back and fixed the joint.
Everything is working just great and no damage seems to have been done.

Great news.

Shoog

That is good news!

23rd November 2005, 05:10 PM	#1
Shoog diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eire	Transformer in Cambridge Audio Diskmagic BUZZING !!! Hi there, I own a Cambridge Audio DiskMagic 1, which I use in conjuction with my Isomagic Dac. Just recently it has started buzzing audably. I have tracked this down to the larger of the two transformers. Apart from this everything seems to be working just fine. However if a transformer starts to physically buzz it suggests that something in the DiskMagic is drawing excessive current and is straining the transformers. These transformers have always seemed to run quite hot, can anyone tell me if this is common with this transport. Anyone have any experience of this kind of problem ? Can anyone suggests where I should start looking for a solution. I really don't want the Diskmagic to fail on me as I went to a lot of trouble to get my hands on one, and they are not that easy to get hold of. Any help is appreciated. Shoog

23rd November 2005, 06:43 PM	#2
JohnW diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Discovery Bay, Prague, Paris...	Unfortunately its common to find buzzing transformers in the DiscMagic, - I guess that the buzzing gets worst during periods when the mains supply is heavily loaded - such as around "Dinner Time" and "DC" appears on the lines... I have a spare (used) transformer if yours fails (which I don’t believe it will). How does the IsoMagic sound when "Clock-Locked" with the DiscMagic? I will have a new range of electronics launched next year; there will be a CD transport that will support "Clock Locking" with the IsoMagic. When you use clock-lock - also use "optical" for the Digital input (SPDIF). John __________________ Life shouldn’t be take it too seriously, you will not come out alive anyway…

8th October 2008, 05:20 PM	#8
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	Could be power supply issues. Have any of the supply capacitors in the disc magic ever been replaced? I would start by investigating what supply voltages are present and which aren't. Perhaps John can provide you with some trouble shooting tips. The new products are still not released, afaik.. __________________ www.kta-hifi.net

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23rd November 2005, 07:03 PM	#3
dnsey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Shropshire, England	In the 'good old days', it was common for DIYers to warnish or wax impregnate their own transformers. Not as good as vacuum impregnation, of course, but dunking it in molten wax for half an hour may well silence it.

23rd November 2005, 09:56 PM	#4
Shoog diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eire	hi there, The buzz doesn't seem to always be there so you could be right about the DC on the line. As I said it seems to work just fine otherwise. Can you tell me the transformers spec such that if neccissary I could replace it with a beefier transformer. I suppose this item was built to a tight budget so transformers were the obvious choice for cost cutting. I use it in the clock locked mode, with both the clock and the spdif on optical. I think there is a generally improvement in depth and detail with the clock lock, though I would have to say it would be slight. The one issue I have found with the Diskmagic is that it tends to jump at the end of long CD's. Seems like the servo mechanism is wigging out. Still overall I am very happy with the combination. The only better CD players I have heard are my brothers original Rega Planet, and possably the Musical Fidelity CDT (with tube output stages). Shoog

24th November 2005, 10:59 AM	#5
jives11 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hampshire	I have buzzing from my Discmagic for the first 15 seconds which I had assumed was a safety relay which was starting to fail. I had a similar experience with a quad44 which took a while for the relay to switch and made the same buzzing.

24th November 2005, 05:32 PM	#6
Shoog diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eire	Mine does the same buzz on switch on, but its not the buzz I was talking about. I assumed that the switch on buzz was the Diskmagic trying to sync with the Isomagic. Can't be certain though. I am not concerned about this buzz at all. Shoog

7th October 2008, 07:46 PM	#7
Shoog diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eire	Oh dear Oh dear. My Diskmagic seems to have died. It no longer buzzes on switch on, so the output shorting relay isn't working properly. Also when on one of the channels is breaking up. Sounds Ok on quieter passages, but on louder bits its saturating and sounding very grainy. Took the lid off and had a look to see if there was anything obvious like a blown cap or resistor. Seems that there's nothing obvious. Don't much fancy fault finding on a piece of kit which always had reliability issues (and tracking issues). The thing is I really like what it does with the clock lock to my S700 DACMAGIC. John said he was working on a new transport with the clock lock facility - did anything ever come of this ?? Shoog

9th October 2008, 07:55 AM	#9
Shoog diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eire	I went at it with a are right in assuming it was a power supply issue. Previously I had upgraded the power supply with seperate rails for the digital and audio circuits. I had been running this for two years without issue. Suddenly though a dry joint had developed which was killing one of the rails. Tracked this back and fixed the joint. Everything is working just great and no damage seems to have been done. Great news. Shoog

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