I knew you were going to say that . . . . :DQuote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
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I knew you were going to say that . . . . :DQuote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
Well, you have bought all of the bits to do it, so as the expression goes, JFDI. :lol:
To give you an idea, the top of my TT shelf is 1.2m above the floor level. My LDA/MCRU PSU has the voltage regulator in the SL1200.
The PSU is on the floor, behind the rack.
Back on to the BB3, still have not heard the slightest bit of hum since fitting the aluminium foil capacitors, and the "avalanche" diodes.
It certainly sounds better than it did before, so I am happy.
It does make me wonder what some "really good" (i.e. audiophile cost) capacitors would sound like.
Oli also mentioned that the V-cap ODAM are supposed to be very good.
I am going to wait and see how the new capacitors bed in before I do anything else.
Now it is time to go and work on the garden before it warms up too much.
Going to speculate that you must have had some issue with that BB3 whether a cable was running too close to something and causing hum or something else. I don't see how just changing the brand of component would fix it. I think you might have inadvertently fixed the issue.
Ahh, there's the rub, I rarely do what people tell me to :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
The thing is, I'm not an audiophile, I just enjoy playing music. An improvement over a stock 1210MK2 is going to keep me happy, TBH a stock 1210MK2 would be fine as well. When I listen to music I'm not listening to the fidelity of sound reproduction, I'm listening to the musical content and the lyrics. I don't listen or view my system the same way an audiophile would, or at least that's my impression from hanging around audio forums. I'm a bit of an impostor really.
I'll get my coat . . .
That's how it should be. I still have a bit of a kit fetish, I'll admit, but I regard myself as a music lover who necessarily maintains a decent stereo system as a means to an end, not an audiophile who occasionally listens to music when he's not comparing the sound of different bits of kit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
You are forgetting that I changed the type of diode as well, for a faster acting type. When I replaced the capacitors, I did it with the board Insitu.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Nothing else was touched.
Just because I have not heard the hum does not mean it if fixed. It could just be an issue on the power network when everybody in the area has their heating switched on, polluting the mains. There are a lot of heat pumps in the area.
Have to see if it comes back then. Whatever the reason at least it's positive for now.
That's how I ran mine, Paul Hynes PSU 1.2m to the PSU on the 1210 and placed on a lower shelf.Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
TT long gone but I still have one of Paul's bits for the inside of the deck but can't remember what it's called, I do remember you needed a pair of them and this was a replacement after one was defective when it was installed.
Also have a couple of other internal parts that were removed when doing the PSU upgrade. I'll be honest if you want to save money and effort just buy an SP10, it'll be better too [emoji16]
Sent from my Pixel 10 Pro using Tapatalk
I'm not sure if spending over a grand, when you're happy with what you've got is saving money :scratch:Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
Are you still running the original bearing?Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
The bearing in my SL1200 probably makes less noise. ;)
Don't own any Techies now ;)
I am unhappy to report that I heard the hum today. A really short burst, which repeated a few times, still around the same frequency, so the ne t step is going to be an isolation transformer. I am not going to mess around changing anything else out. I just need to find a safe unit at a price I am willing to pay.Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
I think this would work:
https://www.bronson-energy.com/shop/..._values=9%2C13
Looks like a tidy little unit for just a century.
By the time I try and make a safe one, it will be cheaper just to buy that one.
Not as safe as I want,
For safety reasons please consider to connect your devices to the isolation transformer via an RCD
(residual current device). RCDs are available as plug adapters as well as as switches.
I tried my Power Inspired AG1500 with my BB3.
It blew the fuse in the BB3, so I think the AG1500 is officially dead.
As the AG1500 is basically a double conversion UPS without a battery, I may look at getting a double conversion UPS.
It is either that, or a balanced mains transformer with an RCD device.
I am going to try one more inexpensive mod before I splurge.
I am going to fit a ground loop breaker circuit to the "floating" 0V HV input on my BB3.
Good luck :)
I think I will need it.
Parts ordered based on an article by Rod Elliot.
I hope they are here by Saturday, so I can implement the mod a the weekend.
Another thing I put in place last night was the 0V connection of the HT part of the PCB to earth.
I have also added the arm ground to my BB3. With these in place before I suffered from noise, but I had not tried it recently since changing out the cheap diodes for the super fast versions.
I didn't hear any hum last night, but as experience has shown, that can happen for days. The only fix that will definitely cure it is a mains regenerator, so I am thinking of a double on-line UPS such as the Eaton 9sx to run my source components.
The ground loop breaker has been built and added between the 0V on the HT side of the BB3 and the "safety" earth.
This should help eliminate any stray hum getting into the PCB through the earth.
I have built it using a 35A diode bridge (KBPC3510), a 10W 100 ohm wire wound resistor and a 0.1uF X2 capacitor, so in the event of a failure, the "safety" earth is still maintained.
I will see what happens with this before going to the next stage - treating the mains.
I have been listening to vinyl for about an hour since the mod.
I think that this "fround loop breaker" has helped reduce the noise floor of my BB3. It is certainly sounding very good now.
I can finally put my soldering iron away.
I can't tell you if it has helped with the hum, as it is not something I hear when music is playing. ;)
Sounds like the effort is paying off :)
We shall see.
I think the super fast diodes and the ground loop breaker have helped remove the background noise.
When I rehoused the BB3, I added a common mode filter. The only part I did not touch was the earth.
I think (well, hope) that this has now sorted it. Noise removal in a phono stage can only lead to a better quality of sound.
If I am feeling brave, I will have to fit my XX2, but as I will have about 15 kids in the house in a few weeks time, that may not be the best idea.
I will pop an SLA stylus on the AT20 instead of the current SS to minimise the risk.
I have decided to go belt and braces, and have ordered the on-line double conversion UPS. It is an Eaton 9SX 700i.
This should make the BB3 "silent".
It does pretty much the same thing as the Power Inspired AG1500, which seems to have developed a fault.
The Eaton 9SX double conversion (pure sine wave) UPS arrived yesterday.
It is far too loud to be in my listening room.
I bought it second hand, as they are expensive. As it will only be running my source components, I doubt it will exceed 100W, for a capacity of 700W, so I will modify it with a quieter fan.
It is not a straight forward swap though, as the fan fitted has a blocked rotor sensor, so I will need to trick the UPS into thinking that the new fan is the same as the old fan.
starting to think you might be better just changing the phono stage.
I have a cupboard full of them, but I like the BB3.
It is a challenge to conquer.
The funny part is that the noise is not audible when a record is playing, but I know it is there.
I can relate that, sounds like me :)Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
I have managed to modify the UPS (in an easily reversible way) to accept an 80mm PC case cooling fan.
The best for an airflow\noise compromise is the Noctua NF-A8 which will give me 32.67CFM with a noise output of 17.7dB(A). I expect it to be a little noisier in the case, but I may take my dremel to it open it to ease airflow on the back, and fit a fan guard.
The new fan arrives next week.
Nice fans Noctua's - been using those in my computer builds for over 20 years now. Even when you can hear them, their noise profile is pleasing.
I am a noctua fan as well, or should I say I am a fan of their products.
I knew what fan was going in the UPS, I just needed to work out how to avoid a fan error.
I currently have a 140mm low speed case fan fitted temporarily, and there is no fan error, so I think my mod should work nicely.
I used one of the old capacitors from my SL1200 for the mod.
We learned and memorised things. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
That's very old fashioned now Rob . . .Quote:
Originally Posted by Filterlab
I have removed the stamped out fan protector, which is quite restrictive and probably caused a lot of the noise from the fan.
I now have a big 80mm hole, so with a quiet fan, and most importantly, a very low load, the UPS should run quite happily.
When the new fan arrives, I will install it and monitor the UPS temperatures to make sure I do not cause it to overheat.
But I thought the point of AI is so we can enjoy a bit of cognitive decline while still getting stuff done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Filterlab
UPS mission complete. A Noctua A8 has been installed, and the UPS is near silent.
I have also enabled the temperature warning in the UPS, so if the fan is not shifting enough air, I will replace it with a fan that shifts more air.
I now have all,of my source equipment r7nning from the UPS.
The total load is less than 20% of the 700VA capacity, so I don't think the temperatures will be an issue.
The best bit is that I know have a steady 230V arriving at my equipment, as the UPS is basically a mains regenerator.
I have not heard the occasional hum/buzz since I plugged the BB3 into it, but that was only 4 hours ago.
I need to have a lo0k at my Power Inspired AG1500 at some point, and see what is going on, and make a decision to either scrap or repair it.
Still no hum/buzz this morning, so I think I can happily declare that the issue is resolved.
Obviously there is noise on the mains, and the common mode filter I added into the BB3 case did nothing, so I assume that the noise is on the earth line, and there is nothing I can do about that.
Have you considered using a mains noise filter? https://laplace.co.uk/wp-content/upl...ns-filters.pdf. By "noise" I assume you mean hiss having frequency components of around 1kHz or more.
Are there other items of equipment used in your house that might be causing the problem? Are you able to switch them all off, pull out the plugs to see if the problem disappears? Apologies if I have asked you this before.
PS This is worth reading: https://www.soundonsound.com/techniq...upply-problems
I have a common mode filter inside the BB3 case.
The noise is what I believe to be a third harmonic of mains noise (about 150Hz).
I have not heard it for 24 hours, so I am happy.
As for eliminating what is causing it,that will be complicated, as it may not be originating from my house.
Innthe previous troubleshooting I did turn off all unnecessary equipment.
I did leave on everything that I considered important.
I have been doing some further reading on the ground loop breaker. If Iincrease the capacitance slightly (100nF to 180nF) it is supposed to have a better effect on the third harmonic.
So I ordered some new Y2 capacitors today to implement the change.
I had also bought two 35A diode bridges, so I implemented the second in the transformer earth line. This seems to have a good effect on the occasional buzz, as I now struggle to hear it with the volume turned up, without the UPS feeding the clean power. My safety earth to the chassis has remained untouched.
Having the fan running all the time was slightly annoying, as it runs full speed. My UPS is supposed to vary the fan speed based on internal temperatures. I have a feeling that my workaround for the fan fault has stopped this from working properly, so I have a fan simulator onnthe way that will generate the square wave the UPS is expecting to see. Hopefully this will allow me to get the variable speed working.
The new, improved ground loop breakers are installed.
I have not heard a buzz yet, but I am sat patiently for the first one to arrive.
You know how it is? No buzzes for ages, and then three arrive at the same time....
Hopefully this will not be the case.
I was thinking that you might/will end up replacing the PSU, the bearing, the platter and the feet ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
The journey is fun though.
I think we all did that back in the day.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
Nah, I'm a bit odd there Mike - I'm not aiming for anything better than good enough and I suspect my good enough bar is a lot lower than most. I'm just looking to improve on what I have and then I'm stopping. It's an odd concept I know :)Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
I totally get that, it's what I did AFTER I did all the upgrades in my 1210, I then tried an SP10 with panzer plinth and expensive arm, then sold the lot including, amp, phono stage and put the money into something else and lost very little in audio quality.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim