I see your still having trouble. At least you are consistent. Pity when all the help you needed was already been spelled out for you way back.
How are you connecting the new amp? Is the new amp Class-D? What Class are the old amps?
How are you connecting the new amp? Is the new amp Class-D? What Class are the old amps?
From online search for images of Crown XLS 602, that amp appears to have balanced input only. if that is the case, that your Crown XLS 602 does have balanced input only, assuming your lap top audio output is unbalanced, it may help the helping members if you could describe how the interconnection is done. It would take using a digital multimeter to identify the connectivity on the interconnect cable. For example, if the laptop end of the interconnect cable has a 3.5mm TRS plug, that's three and three only contact points, on the amplifier end of the cable there are two XLR connectors totaling six contact points. It may help if you could measure and tell what contact on the TRS goes where on the XLR connectors. Next up, a connectivity test or ohm-test to the XLR connectors on the amp to identify the pins that are in direct connection with the chassis metal work.
Great. Was this done with the power supply still connected to the wall outlet or was it completely disconnected? If the noise went away when you simply unplugged the power supply from the laptop but left it connected to the wall outlet, the noise is conducted through the protective earth.
But if you unplugged the power supply completely, please try a test where you plug in the power cord for the power supply but do not connect it to the laptop. This may sound odd, but it is possible for noise to be radiated by the power supply and picked up by amp. This test would eliminate or confirm that cause. That's what the information at the top of Post #11 was getting at.
If the noise is conducted through the protective earth ("ground") your best option is to run an optical link from the laptop to the DAC. If you have to use USB or similar wired connection, see if you can dust up a USB isolator. Alternatively you may be able to find a better power supply. Mean Well and XP Power are both good options.
Tom
Thanks Tom. Yes, either way, disconnecting from the wall/AC outlet or from laptop = dead quiet. No optical link on my laptop, USB to a DAC to preamp and amp.
Nattawa, the amp input supports only XLR so I’m using an XLR/RCA for the interconnects.
Maybe you haven't seen the tips (kicking in an open door) but what about PE?
1. Does the laptop PSU have a PE 3 pin plug? Answer yes/no. When "yes" go to 2 otherwise go to 3.
2. Is the laptop PSU connected to a 3 pin PE wall socket? Answer yes/no.
3. The amplifier does have a 3 pin IEC inlet but is it also connected with a 3 pin IEC cable to a 3 pin PE wall socket? Answer yes/no.
So a few simple answers to help others to solve YOUR issue. Of course it would help if the make and type of laptop also would be mentioned to avoid the "Car for sale. Color red" syndrome.
It may seem that we like to loose much time to help out others but maybe just maybe the asker can help us a little? Just 1 minute of his valuable time perhaps? There's 19 posts that have cost let's say 5 minutes per post so that is already 1.5 hours and counting.
1. Does the laptop PSU have a PE 3 pin plug? Answer yes/no. When "yes" go to 2 otherwise go to 3.
2. Is the laptop PSU connected to a 3 pin PE wall socket? Answer yes/no.
3. The amplifier does have a 3 pin IEC inlet but is it also connected with a 3 pin IEC cable to a 3 pin PE wall socket? Answer yes/no.
So a few simple answers to help others to solve YOUR issue. Of course it would help if the make and type of laptop also would be mentioned to avoid the "Car for sale. Color red" syndrome.
It may seem that we like to loose much time to help out others but maybe just maybe the asker can help us a little? Just 1 minute of his valuable time perhaps? There's 19 posts that have cost let's say 5 minutes per post so that is already 1.5 hours and counting.
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Thank you for your input, highly appreciated. To make it short, yes, 3 pins on all and all connected to 3 pins. I didn’t think the make and model of the laptop would be relevant but here it goes, a very old Toshiba C655 that has been used without any problems to stream music. Has been fine for years and it is still fine with the exception of the amp mentioned. As far as answering questions, I don’t mind, after all that is what I came here for, to get help but it is getting to a point where I keep answering the same questions repeatedly which tends me to think, though everyone wants to help, many are not reading a lot of the details I have already mentioned.
Exactly the point I mentioned above. My original post mentions the use of different DAC’s
I was thinking more specifically about the preamp, but if you say so... Good luck getting help without providing information XD
Indeed. Askers and necessary information seem enemies. The pattern is often the same like mentioning all was/is good while having an issue.
Issues can be in the combination of things and fast thinkers need all that to be able to solve riddles.
Logic would be that the asker fills in the gaps so for instance to add PE information on DAC and preamp as there is a neon sign flashing “ground loop”.
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Thats funny. You yourself have ignored key problem solving questions while not posting basic system info.
You are new here and it looks like your main problem isnt actually with your gear. Try rereading the first page.
j
Not having another PS for this laptop (testing purposes) kind of made me wanted to post and it was puzzling the fact that it would only happen with the one particular amp. Talk about feeling like a fool... my wife just a little while back saw me messing around in an unusual way with wiring, power cables etc, when she asked, "what are you doing?" I explained and she replied, "why don't you try out the PS from my older work laptop I have in the attic"? Talk about feeling foolish... same plug, same voltage and ZERO noise!!
I wish this could have ended a different way but, as we say, it is what it is AND thank you and thanks to everyone for all the replies.
jean-paul: Askers and giving information does not bother me, after all that is why I'm here. I have answered just about every question trying to solve this and I don't see anyone here as an enemy. I humble and make a fool out of myself sometimes for posting certain issues that seem very simple and small to others that might seem like a huge problem to me. All of us here know the real helpers and the ones that can't wait to lash out and or make someone feel below them, I think every forum has one or two. A while back here I was simply told "I had no experience" when I presented a problem I had with another amp, XLS-1000 which by the way, I finally took care of and working fine but not after I was put down.
Not having another PS for this laptop (testing purposes) kind of made me wanted to post and it was puzzling the fact that it would only happen with the one particular amp. Talk about feeling like a fool... my wife just a little while back saw me messing around in an unusual way with wiring, power cables etc, when she asked, "what are you doing?" I explained and she replied, "why don't you try out the PS from my older work laptop I have in the attic"? Talk about feeling foolish... same plug, same voltage and ZERO noise!!
I wish this could have ended a different way but, as we say, it is what it is AND thank you and thanks to everyone for all the replies.
Dude: USB isolator or some other kind of galvanic isolator between the laptop and the DAC is your friend.
Tom
Tom
Hey Tom thanks. Problems has been resolved with a different PS. I however had already ordered a ground loop eliminator that connects between usb and DAC.
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No you haven’t replied to all questions and you probably don’t understand how troubleshooters work. If we would have had all information no questions would be asked anymore. Simple. I suggest to reread posts and try to understand what the helpers really wanted and if you really answered their questions. Then maybe you will see why some react irritated too.
The issue is solved the laymens way and it works out OK so all is good.
The issue is solved the laymens way and it works out OK so all is good.
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Here’s one advice that cost me $60 that didn’t work with the faulty psu…
https://www.amazon.com/iFi-iDefender-External-Ground-Eliminator/dp/B0849J33T9
I spent more time on this then I should have, I went back to using the faulty psu, tried for testing purpose a cheater plug (eliminating the ground plug) on both amp and power supply just to see if it would break the “ground loop” didn’t work either. Of course I can also go inside the amp and cut out pin 1 of the XLR connection or buy another extension that eliminates pin 1 or just keep dumping more cash on band aids or simply get to the root of the problem. The questions didn’t bother me and it was those that helped out that made me realize more and more as I followed their instructions it wasn’t so much a ground loop issue but a psu issue. If that’s a layman’s way, so be it.
https://www.amazon.com/iFi-iDefender-External-Ground-Eliminator/dp/B0849J33T9
I spent more time on this then I should have, I went back to using the faulty psu, tried for testing purpose a cheater plug (eliminating the ground plug) on both amp and power supply just to see if it would break the “ground loop” didn’t work either. Of course I can also go inside the amp and cut out pin 1 of the XLR connection or buy another extension that eliminates pin 1 or just keep dumping more cash on band aids or simply get to the root of the problem. The questions didn’t bother me and it was those that helped out that made me realize more and more as I followed their instructions it wasn’t so much a ground loop issue but a psu issue. If that’s a layman’s way, so be it.
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