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Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94678 05/17/05 03:25 AM
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I tried different speakers first, same hum and/or hiss from drivers and tweeter. I changed source from amp to receiver only. I tried everything turned off except source powering speakers, both receiver and amp. I disconnected everything, right down the the bus bar/surge protector and powered only the power source and the speakers with the same low level hiss and hum. It can be heard up to 6 or 7 feet away when there is no actual sound being produced.

Is this maybe normal to get some sound coming from the speakers when no input is selected?

It isn't noticeable when even the lowest sounds are being produced.

Any thoughts??

Troy


M80 VP150 4-QS8 EP600 Monitor Audio S8 NAD T 773 Anthem MCA3 II Hitachi 57" projection
Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94679 05/17/05 06:44 AM
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Well. Does depend if your getting a humm or a hiss. We havent established that yet

Usually a hiss is a trademark of cheap amplifiers. However looking at your list of gear i dont see anything "cheap" there. Hum on the other hand is common with a grounding problem or physical transformer noise from the amps. not speakers.

Although Hums and hisses are both somewhat common with tubes depending on the individual tube itself. But you dont have any tubes i guess.

Dunno what to tell you really. If its not noticable from your listening seat. which I assume is farther back then 6 or 7 feet then i woudlnt worry about it.

Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94680 05/17/05 03:57 PM
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if it's a hiss and the volume on your amp is turned all the way up, then that's likely normal.

i have a denon 1602, if i turn the volume way up, i hear some hiss, even 6-7 feet away.

Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94681 05/18/05 02:52 AM
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i hear absolutely nothing from mine with no source playing, volume pegged.

I doubt if this could actually cause a hiss or hum, but how's your speaker wire conections - just to rule that out?

Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94682 05/18/05 10:04 PM
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I used banana plugs, but removed them on the speaker side.
I didn't try removing them on the receiver or amp side though. The hum is the sound from the drivers and the hiss type sound is from the tweeters. I tried to move power cords as far apart as possible, but read somewhere to try seperating the digitol/audio cables from the speaker wires as well. Don't know how it is possible to seperate them all but I'll try anything. It would be a perfect world if as you stated they would be silent when not playing anything. I'm sure that it must distort the sound a little.

I must admit the more I listen the M80's the more i'm enjoying the sound.

Thanks for the advice.

Troy


M80 VP150 4-QS8 EP600 Monitor Audio S8 NAD T 773 Anthem MCA3 II Hitachi 57" projection
Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94683 05/19/05 05:59 PM
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In theory, if a source is not sending a signal to the amps for amplification of that signal, then there should be no electrons traveling through the speaker wires to the speakers. But I did notice that with my HK 7200, I would hear a very slight hiss/hum under these conditions, and the 7200 was HK’s flag ship AVR a year ago. With the Rotels, I hear nothing. This lends itself to a thought that possibly, the amps in a receiver are still sending a ‘stray’ signal to the speakers, while separates do not. I’m still in the learning stages of how all these critters actually work, so I’m just speculating here. Maybe others with knowledge of the intimate workings of audio electronics can provide insight.

Or, you could be picking up stray noise from other AC wiring in close proximity of your speaker cables. Again, just guessing.

I too enjoy the M80’s more every time I listen to them. I’m in love with them now. They were great before with the HK, but they’re fantastic now with the Rotels.


Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94684 05/19/05 08:09 PM
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In reply to:

In theory, if a source is not sending a signal to the amps for amplification of that signal, then there should be no electrons traveling through the speaker wires to the speakers.


There's an inherent DC voltage in pretty much anything in the real world. (ever made a potato battery? - yes I realize that's an electrolytic reaction...) that along with a little wee bit bouncing around in the amp are what gives you the hum.

Speaking of hum... does anyone watch American Idol? I've started watching it with the S/O the last season or two and I'm surprised how much hum the "pin 1 problem" in FOX's crowd mics exhibit!

Bren R.

Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94685 05/19/05 08:13 PM
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Any thoughts in why it would be more pronounced in some gear and / or situations vrs others?

Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94686 05/19/05 08:23 PM
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Depending what the source of it is - I'd venture shielding and isolation. Also, some amps may have a gate circuit that clamps anything below a certain signal to 0.

Bren R.

Re: Hum &/or hiss from speaker
#94687 05/19/05 08:29 PM
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Interesting....what would a person look for on a spec sheet indicating this?

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