Problems bi-amping F5s

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Recently I set up a bi-amped system, using two F5s. The Crossover used is a Behringer DCX2496.

One F5 is driving a pair of Altec 416A 15" woofers in a Onken cabinet and the other is driving a pair of Altec 808HF drivers mounted to 811B sectoral horn assemblies.

The DCX2496 is in turn being fed from pre-outs of my vintage Yamaha DSP-A1 receiver, which has an excellent preamp stage with Phono input as well and has remote input and volume selection. I used the same preamp earlier to drive my F5 paired with Fostex fullrangers.

The problem I am facing is the moment is, when I connect the input signals from the preamp to the Behringer, I start getting small hum/oscillation in the speakers connected to F5s. Not loud enough to intrude when listening, but annoying enough to know that it exists. When I disconnect the inputs, there is no hum/oscillation. The reason I am not sure that it is just hum, is because there is a little bit of HF content, produced through the horns. May be it is oscillation....

One their own the F5s and the speakers are dead quite. Even when I connect the outputs of DCX2496 to the amps, the set up is free from hum, barring slight hiss, which DCX2496 is known for.

How do I eliminate this hum emanating from the input connections. I tried rerouting, replace cables etc. No luck.

Need some suggestions/help.

Cheers.
 
Official Court Jester
Joined 2003
Paid Member
you need to rearrange connection between audio gnd and safety gnd on one F5

instead of NTC use either pair of anti-parallel connected diodes , or include switch in-line with NTC

that last solution use with care - only when amp is connected with other equipment , which already have that safety link

observe existence of "ground lift" switch on many professional gadgets ; same reason
 
Wakoo question?

Why not cut the ground (screen) on the imput cables (F5) side.

Maybe you got 4 and you only need 1 as the rest should be grounded with the safety hearth cable going to the mains.

Just chop the signal returns and listen recon 1 and listen recon 1 other chanel and listen ...

Cost noting and easy peasy to do and same times it works.

PS. do not ever cut or mess about with the safety earth cable as that is the most important cable there is
 
you need to rearrange connection between audio gnd and safety gnd on one F5

instead of NTC use either pair of anti-parallel connected diodes , or include switch in-line with NTC

that last solution use with care - only when amp is connected with other equipment , which already have that safety link

observe existence of "ground lift" switch on many professional gadgets ; same reason

Wakoo question?

Why not cut the ground (screen) on the imput cables (F5) side.

Maybe you got 4 and you only need 1 as the rest should be grounded with the safety hearth cable going to the mains.

Just chop the signal returns and listen recon 1 and listen recon 1 other chanel and listen ...

Cost noting and easy peasy to do and same times it works.

PS. do not ever cut or mess about with the safety earth cable as that is the most important cable there is

Ok. Though I do not understand this completely, I get the gist. We are basically trying to eliminate multiple loops of earth from source tom the amp i guess.

Will try what you guys are suggesting and report back, though I hate to open a completed & tested F5 and mess around. May be I should add the earth lift switch.

Cheers.
 
you need to rearrange connection between audio gnd and safety gnd on one F5

instead of NTC use either pair of anti-parallel connected diodes , or include switch in-line with NTC

that last solution use with care - only when amp is connected with other equipment , which already have that safety link

observe existence of "ground lift" switch on many professional gadgets ; same reason
The ground lifting switch will be safer located in parallel with the Disconnecting Network.
Closing the "lifting" switch shorts out the Disconnecting Network and directly connects Safety Earth to Audio Ground with just a few milli-ohms of cable and switch resistance. Able to pass Fault Current.

Opening the "lifting" switch puts the Disconnecting Network in circuit and now Fault Current must pass the inverse parallel diodes. I have proved to my self and reported that this can be done safely.

When there is no Fault Current the Disconnecting Network has a choice of 10r // 10nF // lifting switch // inverse parallel diodes // Thermistor for parasitic currents to pass to Safety Earth.

I cannot recommend and will actively champion against ever fitting a lifting switch in series with the Safety Earth to Audio Ground connection.
This wiring option is potentially FATAL
 
Ex-Moderator
Joined 2002
Safety earth should ALWAYS be bonded directly to any exposed conductive parts of an enclosure, this is not an option. Technical earth from circuits or cables can be isolated from safety earth via various decoupling networks if required, but if these have the potential to go live with high voltage, such as from a valve amp or powerful power amp, they must also be isolated from touch, using something like a Speakon connector where exposed to the outside world.
 
Official Court Jester
Joined 2003
Paid Member
This relabeling does not make your wiring suggestion any safer.
It is still dangerous to break the connection between Audio Ground and Safety Earth.

books and praxis aren't the same ;

praxis have side-notes/references as conditio sine qua non .

open 10 pro amps and see how they're wired , all of them having all needed standards passed .
 
Official Court Jester
Joined 2003
Paid Member
I don't care what your PA or other style of amplifiers have done.

What you propose is dangerous.

.....
that last solution use with care - only when amp is connected with other equipment , which already have that safety link.......

manipulation with pro equipment is for ppl with brain and responsibility ;

same apply for brave enough to make own equipment ;

danger from messing with mains conductors and circuits , while building , is far more greater than tiny possibility ( but still present one ) of mains voltage protruding in audio circuit side , during operation of gadget .

so , whatever we are talking , we agree that understanding of building process is most important thing .
 
The one and only
Joined 2001
Paid Member
instead of NTC use either pair of anti-parallel connected diodes , or include switch in-line with NTC

If you use parallel diodes, you will want to make sure they can handle a lot
of current. I use 35 amp bridge rectifiers for this. You attach the + and -
terminals together to Earth, and you get two isolated attachments, one off
each AC terminal of the bridge.

:cool:
 
Official Court Jester
Joined 2003
Paid Member
for instance - Bryston ( almost properly) made GND lift switch

it's on left side ; on right side is DC blocker circ , implemented in amp
 

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