I find the opposite Tim! My Goodmans 201's (in open baffles) have no hiss with any of the class-T amps that I have listened to. Neither do I ahve hiss with the IPL A2's that have a similar sensitivity to Nordic's Audio Nirvana.
I simply do not accept that he must have hiss and note that he has some hiss with other amps that he has tried. 😉
I have some SI's and 3 AMP1-B's, they all have hiss independent of the supply, source, or speaker choice. The AMP1-B's hiss is about twice as loud as the SI's, but the SI's have almost twice as much gain 😕. I can't hear the hiss from any of them at my listening position with my inefficient 3-ways, but I'm building some 107db/w OB Arrays and on the test array I built it is very audible. Its too bad, I really like the sound of both amps.
Nuuk said:
I'm also finding it hard to accept. But to be honest I've always thought that was how integrated amps worked 🙁 Please excuse my ignorance. I've had numerous speakers and amps and have as long as I can remember had some kind of hiss from the treble. But with the t-amp and the fullrange it is extreme. I just find it hard to understand why the t-amp should be faulty since I can't seem to find any bad solderings or other stuff. The speakers have no visible faults neither... And no matter what combination I put together I have some kind of hissing. That makes me wonder if it something completely different that's gone wrong.
Would a mains filter be a solution ?
Grounding ?
Cables ?
Or is it simply the characteristics of the equipment used ?
GOSH ! I would like to try an amp and a set of speakers which were proven to have no hiss whatsoever. Then all would be easier 🙂
/Mirland
Nuuk.
It would seem you are the lucky one🙂
Mirland.
You still haven't really given us any idea of how loud 'very loud' is. Also, could it be that you have a particular sensitivity to hiss, from what you have said this might make some sense?
....and this is purely from my own experience so please disregard anything which may not be applicable in your situation. Many full-range paper cones have a ragged response in the treble. There may be a peak in the response in that region which, on top of an already sensitive speaker, could make the hiss more noticeable still. Moreover, due to the uneven response in this area the subjective nature of the hiss could be more disagreable than usual, all of this being cumulative!
Tim.
It would seem you are the lucky one🙂
Mirland.
You still haven't really given us any idea of how loud 'very loud' is. Also, could it be that you have a particular sensitivity to hiss, from what you have said this might make some sense?
....and this is purely from my own experience so please disregard anything which may not be applicable in your situation. Many full-range paper cones have a ragged response in the treble. There may be a peak in the response in that region which, on top of an already sensitive speaker, could make the hiss more noticeable still. Moreover, due to the uneven response in this area the subjective nature of the hiss could be more disagreable than usual, all of this being cumulative!
Tim.
TimA said:
Haha ! I know it might seem so and eventhough I am touchy it was actually my wife who noticed it first since she sat in the couch listening while I was elsewhere in the house. And no, she is not audiophile nor has premium AAA hearing 😉
Back to point: I don't how to describe it to you ? I haven't got any medium for measuring it. It is clearly audible when you sit in the couch app. 1.8 m from the speakers.
/Mirland
Only as a result of clean living! 🙄
But seriously, this shouldn't be down to luck! Or are my ears oblivious to hiss? I wouldn't think so as I can clearly hear what's going on between stations when I tune in a radio.
There msut be a reason why some have hiss and some don't. At least, we are waiting for others with the Autocostruire amp to tell us whether they have hiss or not! Where ar eyou guys?
Finished testing !
Right ! Got home this afternoon and started the obligatory unplugging and plugging. Having now tested with Naim Nait 1, Pioneer dvd player, Rega Planet, T-amp, Royd Speakers and my fullrange speakers I think I have come to a kind of conclusion - or rather two of them:
1. I really really really need to find a solution for grounding fast. I tried making a simple ground connection using a wire from cabinet to my heating radiator's (is that the right word ?) waterpipe. Immediate change: The hum and hiss was lowered very audibly from my Naim Nait/Royd Saphire. There was still too much noise for my taste in the fullrange speakers though. Using the t-amp with either Rega or Pioneer gave the same results. But ! When I touch the cabinet of the t-amp it hums VERY loud in the speakers - no matter which.
2. I am certain that the fullrange speakers either are too efficient. Something I thought would never be a problem. They are too efficient for the mains in my house however. I doubt I can totally eliminate the noise. And I seriously doubt I can do it satisfactory with regards to the fullrange speakers. Which is a damn shame. They sound really really good !
Would it be an idea to use a mains conditioner besides installing an earth spear for dedicated grounding for my setup ?
/Mirland
Right ! Got home this afternoon and started the obligatory unplugging and plugging. Having now tested with Naim Nait 1, Pioneer dvd player, Rega Planet, T-amp, Royd Speakers and my fullrange speakers I think I have come to a kind of conclusion - or rather two of them:
1. I really really really need to find a solution for grounding fast. I tried making a simple ground connection using a wire from cabinet to my heating radiator's (is that the right word ?) waterpipe. Immediate change: The hum and hiss was lowered very audibly from my Naim Nait/Royd Saphire. There was still too much noise for my taste in the fullrange speakers though. Using the t-amp with either Rega or Pioneer gave the same results. But ! When I touch the cabinet of the t-amp it hums VERY loud in the speakers - no matter which.
2. I am certain that the fullrange speakers either are too efficient. Something I thought would never be a problem. They are too efficient for the mains in my house however. I doubt I can totally eliminate the noise. And I seriously doubt I can do it satisfactory with regards to the fullrange speakers. Which is a damn shame. They sound really really good !
Would it be an idea to use a mains conditioner besides installing an earth spear for dedicated grounding for my setup ?
/Mirland
I would certainly do the mains earth first and then listen again.
I may be wrong, but I don't think that a mains conditioner will reduce the hiss. Also, some people find that connecting all their hi-fi through a mains conditioner sort of 'compresses' the sound, ie it is detrimental!
I may be wrong, but I don't think that a mains conditioner will reduce the hiss. Also, some people find that connecting all their hi-fi through a mains conditioner sort of 'compresses' the sound, ie it is detrimental!
Nuuk said:
There msut be a reason why some have hiss and some don't. At least, we are waiting for others with the Autocostruire amp to tell us whether they have hiss or not! Where ar eyou guys?
Hi,
I have an autocostruire amp and do near field listening. I can't hear any noise from my listening position. If I go very close to the woofer and tweeter, I do hear some noise. My amp is still a prototype with no case and the power supply (switching) is very close with no cover on it. So, no bad hiss on my side.
I just ordered Charlize and look forward to comapre the two amp
🙂
Make sure that you ground ALL metal cases, the amp, the PSU (if separate) and the source. I have the case of my PSU connected to mains earth, and the connector cable to the amp has three wires, +12V, 0V and ground. The ground wire directly connects the cases of the amp and the PSU (and hence the amp case is also connected to mains earth this way). This connection is important. The background noise is considerably reduced and touching the case does not lead to any hum. Before I had this connection I could hear a rather loud hum when I touched the case of the amp.
My source has a plastic case (Sony playstation) so there is no need for grounding 😉
Mick
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