RichB
27-08-2014, 08:06
Are a pet hate of mine. I recently asked a question on another forum in relation to a review of a balanced mains unit which, although positive in terms of the SQ improvement, also mentioned some audible noise coming from the unit. I am trying to get my head around the idea of introducing an item into the listening area to improve SQ which also makes some noise of its own. I expect that as I was referring to an item the manufacturer is currently looking to offload my comments there were perhaps seen as interfering with business. However this is an area I have a particular interest in and I might even be a little OCD about.
For me, any item which enters my listening room must be silent both in operation and at idle. That is a prerequisite. Perhaps I'm just overly picky where this is concerned but if i could elimate a source of noise in the room then I would rather than introduce one.
Some examples of steps I have taken in my own system to ensure silent operation
Case and mechanism dampening on a Marqntz CD player I own
Using a Squeezebox touch as a digital source (replacing a laptop which had fan noise)
Preferring optical connections for digital sources to reduce potential for RFI
Putting proper feet on a TiVo box to reduce the rumbling sound its internal hard drive makes when stood on a wooden cabinet.
Using high quality (Kensington) power supplies for laptops elsewhere in the home as the supplied ones created an audible ground loop when used in adjacent sockets.
Moving the large linear PSU for the squeezebox to a location as far from the turntable as possible.
Removing a cheap DVD player from the listening room as it created a whirr noise and now use chromcast for videos and movies.
Removing ornaments and such from the fireplace where my sub was causing them to rattle (most noticeable with loud movie sound effects)
Building in solid cabinets which are fixed to the wall and placed on concrete floors.
I live quite near a light passenger railway at the rear of the property, when I'm having a listening session I close the doors to the back of the house so the whoosh of the trains and the constant murmur of the central heating boiler in the kitchen can't be heard. I also replaced the old double glazing in the property with the best rated stuff I could find. This reduced traffic noise from the outside considerably.
When nothing is playing and put my ear to any the components, I can hear no buzz or transformer hum. When I play music there is only the music, when I play nothing and concentrate on work or the crossword there is a wonderful silence (from the audio components anyway, environmental noise notwithstanding).
A while ago my dear friend Mr Mad Moon of this parish brought around one of those BT mains conditioners folk seemed keen on using. We plugged it in and listened for around 30 mins before the low hum of the big traffo in the thing became too much for me and he took it away.
So, my question to the forum is.... When is an upgrade actually a downgrade? When the component itself makes a mechanical noise in it's normal operation?
Does anybody here own any bits of kit which make noises when they are used and, how do you live with them?
For me, any item which enters my listening room must be silent both in operation and at idle. That is a prerequisite. Perhaps I'm just overly picky where this is concerned but if i could elimate a source of noise in the room then I would rather than introduce one.
Some examples of steps I have taken in my own system to ensure silent operation
Case and mechanism dampening on a Marqntz CD player I own
Using a Squeezebox touch as a digital source (replacing a laptop which had fan noise)
Preferring optical connections for digital sources to reduce potential for RFI
Putting proper feet on a TiVo box to reduce the rumbling sound its internal hard drive makes when stood on a wooden cabinet.
Using high quality (Kensington) power supplies for laptops elsewhere in the home as the supplied ones created an audible ground loop when used in adjacent sockets.
Moving the large linear PSU for the squeezebox to a location as far from the turntable as possible.
Removing a cheap DVD player from the listening room as it created a whirr noise and now use chromcast for videos and movies.
Removing ornaments and such from the fireplace where my sub was causing them to rattle (most noticeable with loud movie sound effects)
Building in solid cabinets which are fixed to the wall and placed on concrete floors.
I live quite near a light passenger railway at the rear of the property, when I'm having a listening session I close the doors to the back of the house so the whoosh of the trains and the constant murmur of the central heating boiler in the kitchen can't be heard. I also replaced the old double glazing in the property with the best rated stuff I could find. This reduced traffic noise from the outside considerably.
When nothing is playing and put my ear to any the components, I can hear no buzz or transformer hum. When I play music there is only the music, when I play nothing and concentrate on work or the crossword there is a wonderful silence (from the audio components anyway, environmental noise notwithstanding).
A while ago my dear friend Mr Mad Moon of this parish brought around one of those BT mains conditioners folk seemed keen on using. We plugged it in and listened for around 30 mins before the low hum of the big traffo in the thing became too much for me and he took it away.
So, my question to the forum is.... When is an upgrade actually a downgrade? When the component itself makes a mechanical noise in it's normal operation?
Does anybody here own any bits of kit which make noises when they are used and, how do you live with them?