On Thursday I had a power surge and I’m now thinking it may have caused issues in my main system where I now have buzz on every amp I try.
My original setup was - Gold Note Dac/streamer -> Academy Audio Volume control -> BBA3 front end preamp -> F4 monoblocks -> Magnepan LRS+ (fully balanced system)
I switched my system before I noticed the hum where I put an Aleph JZM right after the Academy Audio into some Zu speakers (fully balanced). I kept having buzzing on the left channel. I swapped the Aleph JZM for an F5 (using rca out from the Academy Audio) and same issue. I then tried an M2x with the same results but louder buzzing in both channels.
I tried removing the Academy Audio and went straight from my Gold Note as a preamp to the Aleph JZM but still have buzzing but in both channels.
I tried XLR and RCA shorting plugs on each amp and all of them are silent. I took the Aleph JZM and F5 into my office system and both of them were perfectly quiet there.
I also tried plugging in a different source to rule out the Gold Note and had the same noise.
The only way I am able to get a completely quiet system is to go
Gold Note Dac/streamer -> BBA3 front end preamp -> F4 monoblocks -> Zu Audio Unions (all balanced)
Adding the Academy Audio preamp back in caused buzzing and noise on just the left channel.
I unplugged my whole system hoping maybe it needs a reset. Going to try that after a few hours of rest.
Any other recommendations to check after a power surge?
My original setup was - Gold Note Dac/streamer -> Academy Audio Volume control -> BBA3 front end preamp -> F4 monoblocks -> Magnepan LRS+ (fully balanced system)
I switched my system before I noticed the hum where I put an Aleph JZM right after the Academy Audio into some Zu speakers (fully balanced). I kept having buzzing on the left channel. I swapped the Aleph JZM for an F5 (using rca out from the Academy Audio) and same issue. I then tried an M2x with the same results but louder buzzing in both channels.
I tried removing the Academy Audio and went straight from my Gold Note as a preamp to the Aleph JZM but still have buzzing but in both channels.
I tried XLR and RCA shorting plugs on each amp and all of them are silent. I took the Aleph JZM and F5 into my office system and both of them were perfectly quiet there.
I also tried plugging in a different source to rule out the Gold Note and had the same noise.
The only way I am able to get a completely quiet system is to go
Gold Note Dac/streamer -> BBA3 front end preamp -> F4 monoblocks -> Zu Audio Unions (all balanced)
Adding the Academy Audio preamp back in caused buzzing and noise on just the left channel.
I unplugged my whole system hoping maybe it needs a reset. Going to try that after a few hours of rest.
Any other recommendations to check after a power surge?
After some more trouble shooting today, I found out the issue is coming from the Academy Audio Preamp. I switched it out with my Zen Mod Iron Preamp and the hum went away. I need to try and determine why this preamp is suddenly humming. I sent an email to Lenny to see if he can provide some recommendations on things to check.
I added a CL-60 between Audio gnd and the chassis and I wired Pin #1 to the output instead of to chassis. Neither of these changes fixed the hum.
I added a CL-60 between Audio gnd and the chassis and I wired Pin #1 to the output instead of to chassis. Neither of these changes fixed the hum.