Post Pictures Of Your Headphone Setup

[bruc3]

21 minutes ago, Ray H said:

First valve amp I have owned, so a bit of a novice in this area. It has only just been plugged in and has a pretty bad hum through the headphones at zero volume.

 

Any ideas on what the likely issue is ?

 

 

I have dealt with noise/hum on various tube amps I have had in the past, almost every time it was because of my source/DAC.

 

Is it currently connected to any source/dac? If so please try disconnect it from the source/DAC?

See if hum goes away.

 

Beautiful amp btw!!!

Edited March 5, 2021 by bruc3

[Bengineer]

Try plugging it in on the other side of the house somewhere too. Rule out each thing step by step, starting with the outlet its plugged into.

 

That kind of money on an amp, might be time to invest in some power conditioning too if you don't already.

[Ray H]

10 minutes ago, rand129678 said:

 

Does the hum disappear if you touch a metal part of the amp's case (outside of the case)?

 

 

Thankyou for the reply ! It isn’t effected by touching any part of the amp.

5 minutes ago, bruc3 said:

 

I have dealt with noise/hum on various tube amps I have had in the past, almost every time it was because of my source/DAC.

 

Is it currently connected to any source/dac? If so please try disconnect it from the source/DAC?

See if hum goes away.

 

Beautiful amp btw!!!

You got it in one @bruc3 as soon as I disconnected the dac/streamer there was no hum whatsoever.

 

So what’s the best way to fix the source hum ? Please don’t say buy a new source. It is connected via xlr, so will try rca later.

 

Thanks for the help

[Ray H]

2 minutes ago, Bengineer said:

Try plugging it in on the other side of the house somewhere too. Rule out each thing step by step, starting with the outlet its plugged into.

 

That kind of money on an amp, might be time to invest in some power conditioning too if you don't already.

Thanks mate, will do.

 

I do have a conditioner, just rushed to plug it in and try it without the conditioner. So will reconnect through the conditioner and see how I go.

[rand129678]

2 minutes ago, Ray H said:

You got it in one @bruc3 as soon as I disconnected the dac/streamer there was no hum whatsoev

 

Are you currently using balanced XLR cables?

 

Oops - sorry, you already said yes to this

Edited March 5, 2021 by rand129678

[Bengineer]

Yeah sweet. Well down to the source now.

 

Start by leaving the XLR plugged in, but unplugging any USB or digital input into the DAC.

[bruc3]

7 minutes ago, Ray H said:

So what’s the best way to fix the source hum ? Please don’t say buy a new source. It is connected via xlr, so will try rca later.

 

Thanks for the help

 

No, there is no issue with the source, you do not need to change that. Simply change the cables connected between the source and amp.

 

Can you please describe the whole audio chain of how things are connected? Such as is it a PC via USB to DAC via XLR to amp.

 

I have spent a lot of time troubleshooting my own noise issues before so happy to help.

 

[Bengineer]

One end done!

 

 

[Ray H]

3 minutes ago, Bengineer said:

One end done!

 

 

That’s a good looking and robust looking cable !

[Ray H]

45 minutes ago, bruc3 said:

 

No, there is no issue with the source, you do not need to change that. Simply change the cables connected between the source and amp.

 

Can you please describe the whole audio chain of how things are connected? Such as is it a PC via USB to DAC via XLR to amp.

 

I have spent a lot of time troubleshooting my own noise issues before so happy to help.

 

So it’s matrix audio element x connected via wifi to the network streaming files from an ssd to the Auris via XLR connection.

 

Is it possible RCA connection will reduce the Hum ?

 

I have made sure none of the source cables are touching the power cables.

[Bengineer]

Both channels?

 

Closer.

 

 

Edited March 5, 2021 by Bengineer

[bruc3]

4 minutes ago, Ray H said:

So it’s matrix audio element x connected via wifi to the network streaming files from an ssd to the Auris via XLR connection.

 

Is it possible RCA connection will reduce the Hum ?

 

I have made sure none of the source cables are touching the power cables.

 

Hmmm...interesting you will get hum with a setup like that. XLR cable I thought would have eliminated all the noise.

 

I think RCA would likely even be worse than XLR, not better.

 

Basically on my setup, I have my DAC connected to my tube amp via RCA and it had alot of noise/hum, but then I bought this thing below and all noise completely disappeared.
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B077Y5DLBB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Not sure it would work for you though, as your setup is bit different from mine, I am PC > DAC > Tube amp.

 

If you happen to live close by to me, you are welcome to come borrow my ground loop isolator and cables to test on your gear.

[Bengineer]

Assuming quality XLR cables, wired correctly. The issue is either;

 

- Noisy XLR output on the streamer

- Noisy XLR input circuitry on the Amp

 

The RCA wiring may be better on the streamer than the XLR, or the RCA circuitry may be better on the amp then the XLR. So despite XLR being better for noise, if its setup poorly, RCA may actually be quieter.

[Bengineer]

I once had noise that came from the power rail of a data USB for my DAC. The DAC could be off and no power cable, and it was wired such I could still hear it!

 

Drives you crazy.

[Ehrmantraut]

3 hours ago, Ray H said:

First valve amp I have owned, so a bit of a novice in this area. It has only just been plugged in and has a pretty bad hum through the headphones at zero volume.

 

Any ideas on what the likely issue is ?

@Indie Hi-Fi

[Ray H]

3 hours ago, Bengineer said:

I once had noise that came from the power rail of a data USB for my DAC. The DAC could be off and no power cable, and it was wired such I could still hear it!

 

Drives you crazy.

Dude,

 

making me regret valve amp....

[Bengineer]

44 minutes ago, Ray H said:

Dude,

 

making me regret valve amp....

Ray. That was all solid state

 

It can happen with all things.

 

Did you try RCA yet?

 

Does the streamer have any output controls, such as various output impedances or voltages or anything like that?

 

That amp is supreme. Trust the quest to make it silent will be worth it.

[bruc3]

1 hour ago, Ray H said:

Dude,

 

making me regret valve amp....

 

My first tube amp was a Woo WA2 which I regretted purchasing and sold shortly after due to noise and humming, I told myself I would never get another tube amp again.

 

Recently decided to give tube amps another try so I bought a La Figaro 339, once again there was humming and I felt frustrated. Instead of selling it this time, I tried to see if I could fix the noise issue, and it was as simple as replacing the USB cable from my PC to the DAC with optical cable instead. Total silence after that. I also found an additional method that gives the same result, via using the RCA isolator thing I linked you earlier.

 

Ever since I have been kind of crazed for the tube sound now, well worth the small effort to fix the noise.

 

So I would suggest try a few things first before you give up.

 

 

[Tarzan]

17 hours ago, bruc3 said:

 

My first tube amp was a Woo WA2 which I regretted purchasing and sold shortly after due to noise and humming, I told myself I would never get another tube amp again.

 

Recently decided to give tube amps another try so I bought a La Figaro 339, once again there was humming and I felt frustrated. Instead of selling it this time, I tried to see if I could fix the noise issue, and it was as simple as replacing the USB cable from my PC to the DAC with optical cable instead. Total silence after that. I also found an additional method that gives the same result, via using the RCA isolator thing I linked you earlier.

 

Ever since I have been kind of crazed for the tube sound now, well worth the small effort to fix the noise.

 

So I would suggest try a few things first before you give up.

 

 

Thats great advice bruc3

 

@Ray H hunt down the issue mate, tubes really bring life to show. And your amp has VU's to boot so it will sound even better when sorted

[xtiva2000]

22 hours ago, Bengineer said:

Both channels?

 

Closer.

 

 

 

 

Hey Ben,  let us know how is the sound with this cable

[Bengineer]

17 minutes ago, xtiva2000 said:

 

Hey Ben,  let us know how is the sound with this cable

It'll be with Anu soon enough, can test it yourself

[xtiva2000]

awesome will do that  

 

[Ray H]

So I moved the amp to a different power switch in a different room, with no audible difference. The source does not have  any controls that alter the output impedance or similar, BUT the analogue outputs (both XLR and RCA) do not have a fixed output state, ie the volume of the element X needs to be turned up (to full) to act like a fixed output. And interestingly the Hum is there regardless of the output volume of the element X.

 

The RCA connection has a slightly reduced level of hum, but still significant/loud.

 

Also I noticed that disconnecting the negative (L) rca stops the sound and hum, but if I touch the tip of the rca to the amp connection there is no hum, it’s not until the rca is pushed in and the body of the rca is connected that the hum begins.

 

I think the next option is to try a different source and then try the ground loop device mentioned by @bruc3.

 

I will say even with the hum, it sounds very very promising.

[Bengineer]

Ok. So it's only when the shell of the left RCA contacts that the hum begins?

 

Right has no change?

 

Using the XLR, if the left is unplugged, only right connected, hum?

 

Try a different source. Different DAC or CD player or Phone or something.

Edited March 6, 2021 by Bengineer

[Ray H]

6 minutes ago, Bengineer said:

Ok. So it's only when the shell of the left RCA contacts that the hum begins?

 

Right has no change?

 

Using the XLR, if the left is unplugged, only right connected, him?

 

Try a different source. Different DAC or CD player or Phone or something.

Yeah, only the negative ‘ left rca does it, not the right.

 

Will try the xlr again.

 

Yep, Will try to get a cable to go from phone to rca’s. The only other source I have (innuos streamer) only has USB out so no use in this case