Hi, can anyone help.
Been getting a loud click through speakers which I thought was mains borne as volume didn’t change. Sounds every bit like an old fridge or old thermostat.
I have now tried filtered mains block, transformer based mains conditioning, turned amps 90deg and swapped XLR cables. Nothing has made any difference. I manually got cent heat to turn on/off but didn’t make a sound. Gonna unplug fridge next.
However, thought would ask the knowledgeable people on here what else I can do to track issue down and what I can do to get rid of the noise. Dog hates the noise so guess the click goes into his sensitive hearing frequencies so really need to fix.
Many thanks
John
Been getting a loud click through speakers which I thought was mains borne as volume didn’t change. Sounds every bit like an old fridge or old thermostat.
I have now tried filtered mains block, transformer based mains conditioning, turned amps 90deg and swapped XLR cables. Nothing has made any difference. I manually got cent heat to turn on/off but didn’t make a sound. Gonna unplug fridge next.
However, thought would ask the knowledgeable people on here what else I can do to track issue down and what I can do to get rid of the noise. Dog hates the noise so guess the click goes into his sensitive hearing frequencies so really need to fix.
Many thanks
John
Hi, you've put this in Solid State but you don't give us any info about your system.
Please let us know what amps, preamps and sources you have - and how they are connected.
Please let us know what amps, preamps and sources you have - and how they are connected.
Didn’t think amp make was too important as had same noises on diff amps but here goes, may as well be complete with info. Wasn’t a specific forum for this issue but suspect valve amps can see similar issues too.
Anyway meridian 502 pre, power amps were denon poa-6600 and recently serviced AC Magnum MF250 changed to balanced input by Colin Wonfor, current source slimdevices transporter.
Source, pre, power all connected with balanced XLR cables and have swapped cables to make sure no issues with them. Both power amps picked up the sound though volume of sound slightly different on both power amps.
Tried with tacima filtered mains strip at fridge and at hi-fi end and now tried a BT transformer based main conditioning unit so reckon it’s not coming through mains as zero change to sound of click
Anyway meridian 502 pre, power amps were denon poa-6600 and recently serviced AC Magnum MF250 changed to balanced input by Colin Wonfor, current source slimdevices transporter.
Source, pre, power all connected with balanced XLR cables and have swapped cables to make sure no issues with them. Both power amps picked up the sound though volume of sound slightly different on both power amps.
Tried with tacima filtered mains strip at fridge and at hi-fi end and now tried a BT transformer based main conditioning unit so reckon it’s not coming through mains as zero change to sound of click
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Proceed in an orderly and methodical manner: start by disconnecting the power amp from its source, with its input shorted; is the disturbance still present? Next, connect the grounds of the amp and preamp, but do not connect the signal wires, keep them shorted. Next, connect the preamp in its normal configuration, but with all its inputs disconnected and shorted, etc etc.
I think you can continue by yourself, until you find which link is catching the noise.
Once you have narrowed down the issue, come back and report if you are still unable to find the root cause
Like the electrical click ya often used to get from fridges turning on!!! But loud (but then amps are big which may help)
I guess turn off both fridge freezer and freezer and wait a wee while till they are both ready to run and turn one on at a time to see which if either it is?
Pretty sure it’s being picked up in power amps as denons have input level control and I can turn them down so no sound gets to it from pre at all and it still makes same sound at same volume. Also makes noise if pre totally turned off or turned to a non used input. I will however also disconnect pre as you suggest.
Oh and not regular or anything just once in a while.
Pretty sure it’s being picked up in power amps as denons have input level control and I can turn them down so no sound gets to it from pre at all and it still makes same sound at same volume. Also makes noise if pre totally turned off or turned to a non used input. I will however also disconnect pre as you suggest.
Oh and not regular or anything just once in a while.
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Don't assume it's coming from the line outside of your sound equipment.
It could be line related but from within the sound equipment, like a failing power switch, loose fuse holder, or other intermittent connection, or something as simple as an IEC power cord that's not fully seated. Process of elimination and patience will get it eventually. Good Luck.
It could be line related but from within the sound equipment, like a failing power switch, loose fuse holder, or other intermittent connection, or something as simple as an IEC power cord that's not fully seated. Process of elimination and patience will get it eventually. Good Luck.
Re-did all cables today will check fuses and stuff like that to ensure well fitted and clean. Gonna turn off fridge and freezer tomorrow for a few hours so ready to fire up as soon as I turn them on and manually check to see if either causes the click.
Semi detached, kitchen sockets and chest small freezer in hall are in seperate ring and breakers so livingroom and two plugs in hall are on the downstairs socket ring, nothing particularly high power on them and the BT transformer based mains conditioning unit should put pay to any idea of noise from mains.
Not sure about late at night, dog having hard time with noise so turning amps off but has happened throughout day/evening here and there when I have been trying things to loose noise. Defo sort of spacing between them like old fridge/thermostat would fit. Its a council house and kitchen wiring was re-done 4yr ago brand new and following that all wiring was checked and full system tested including earth and all sorts.
Gonna turn off fridge and freezer tomorrow and wait till they are ready to run then manually turn one at time on/off and see if either causes noise.
Not sure about late at night, dog having hard time with noise so turning amps off but has happened throughout day/evening here and there when I have been trying things to loose noise. Defo sort of spacing between them like old fridge/thermostat would fit. Its a council house and kitchen wiring was re-done 4yr ago brand new and following that all wiring was checked and full system tested including earth and all sorts.
Gonna turn off fridge and freezer tomorrow and wait till they are ready to run then manually turn one at time on/off and see if either causes noise.
Also turn on an AM table radio at high volume between stations, and see if it also picks up the noise.
Seems to be radiated.
Seems to be radiated.
Well ruled out both fridges and central heating. Gonna try one monoblock at a time (but my other power amp also had a click like a fridge too so doubt it will reveal anything - but just to be complete but if all 3 amps show same click then safe to say it’s not an amp fault). .
Where the hell do I go from here though, vent heat is new and has a modern stat not old switch and turned it off, there is no immersion, fridges aren’t the issue as still happens when turned off. I have full hi-fi on proper transformer based conditioning units and even picked up a cheap RA silencer to plug in to house circuit.
Will also find my tester plug and make sure sockets earth is showing up as connected properly.
But what do I do next to identify where and what interference is?
Where the hell do I go from here though, vent heat is new and has a modern stat not old switch and turned it off, there is no immersion, fridges aren’t the issue as still happens when turned off. I have full hi-fi on proper transformer based conditioning units and even picked up a cheap RA silencer to plug in to house circuit.
Will also find my tester plug and make sure sockets earth is showing up as connected properly.
But what do I do next to identify where and what interference is?
If you provide me with transport and a few days of accommodation (so that I can visit the area), I will come to solve it.
Kidding!
You didn't specify clearly or I didn't understand exactly what checks you did, I mean for example the ones detailed by @Elvee.
Put here a list of test that you made and the results of it. Maybe I have some ideas on what to try, but first I need to understand exactly which tests you did among those presented by your colleagues.
It would be very useful if you could present a block diagram of all the equipment and the interconnections between them.
Kidding!
You didn't specify clearly or I didn't understand exactly what checks you did, I mean for example the ones detailed by @Elvee.
Put here a list of test that you made and the results of it. Maybe I have some ideas on what to try, but first I need to understand exactly which tests you did among those presented by your colleagues.
It would be very useful if you could present a block diagram of all the equipment and the interconnections between them.
Ok click for life of me sounds like fridge/stat click and has been present in both amps I have used a.c. Magnum mf250 (freshly serviced by designer) and denon 6600 monoblocks. Meridian 502 pre and slimdevices transporter. All connected with XLR balanced cables. Stripped all other connections off system so nothing else connected. Heating is new and has modern wall stat not mercury switch, no immersion heater and as you’ll see in list still happens when turned off
I have turned amps 90deg, tried with input level on denon amps turned to zero, with rest of system powered down, with no connections to amp, tried filter power strip on fridges, and on hi-fi, added transformer based power conditioners to whole system, turned off heating and fridges, changed the xlr cables, added a cheap eBay RA silencer to mains. The demon amps don’t have earthed power cables so with preamp not connected I have ruled out the take off earth suggestion.
Last thing I am gonna do is check one monoblock at a time cos if it’s defo in both and the serviced ac magnum amp as well then rules out an amp issue. I may also run extension from upstairs and see if get same on another loop/breaker.
I have turned amps 90deg, tried with input level on denon amps turned to zero, with rest of system powered down, with no connections to amp, tried filter power strip on fridges, and on hi-fi, added transformer based power conditioners to whole system, turned off heating and fridges, changed the xlr cables, added a cheap eBay RA silencer to mains. The demon amps don’t have earthed power cables so with preamp not connected I have ruled out the take off earth suggestion.
Last thing I am gonna do is check one monoblock at a time cos if it’s defo in both and the serviced ac magnum amp as well then rules out an amp issue. I may also run extension from upstairs and see if get same on another loop/breaker.
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