Buzzzzzing Transformers


My solid state monoblock transformers buzz. I use a CJ tubed preamp (PV9a) and a modified TNT Turntable. I use an SDS for motor stability and a PS audio 300 power conditioner which I set in to the very basic mode without upping the frequency. Could this conditioner be the source of the problem?
tphalieros
I am answering in sequencial order:
asdf...I will probably let the transformers loose with the first opportunity I get.

Jsawhitlock, Thank you for the PS audio info. I will check the connections as they suggest, with the first brake I get.

Chriskeating, Roger Paul serviced my amps about 2 years ago. He took out 70% of the circuits and installed a completely homemade H-cat system, housed in... plumber's pipes and held together with tape, but it works! the amps became a model of neutrality and transparency. I pray that nothing happens to them because Roger is in the computer business now and unlikely to have time to fix them. How did you know about the "Photons"? Also, Roger's patented preamp that featured the new technology was reviewed by Anna Log who gave it glowing remarks.

zaikesman, My amps are not plugged in to the PS 300. They draw about 350 watts each and the PS 300 would have fried long time ago.

Thanks to all of you.
T, I used to live in NJ and knew Roger and Arnie when they manufactured the amps and their subwoofers. They were the first to make cylindrical woofers and separate amps. The woofers were really something. They made me a set of transmission line speakers and also modified a Dynaco stereo 70 that made great music. Roger is a genius. I have not been in contact with them in 25 years. I remember hearing the Photons and at the tiome thought that they were a solid state amp I could actually live with. ahead of their time.
Great story Chris, I love it!, Now I've got to tell you more about that stuff. Back in 1990 I met 2 guys that I became friends with. They had Photon monoblocks but also stereo units. Roger Paul was selling his amps through Victor Goldstein who was importing then the "Jadis" line. Victor knew my friends and had them audition the Photons side by side with a Krell, the Photons won hands down and even though they cost $6000 for the monoblocks My 2 friends bought them. Later they also bought one of the stereo units. The interesting, and a little unsettling thing
was that Roger kept experimenting, and each of his amps had different wiring or power cords, even different make caps. He never provided schematics and no one could repair the amps except him.
One fine day, one of my friends called me and said that he saw an ad for Photon monoblocks selling for $1.500. I bought the units immediately, they were heavily modified by a Techie tweaker and had a plethora of expensive parts added to them, their interior looked like a plummer's nightmare! In addition, UPS damaged BOTH packages dropping each one down and managing to bent each unit's faceplate at the point where the handles emerge. I got $1,200 insurance compensation and Roger suggested that he would install his newly patented H-Cat circuit which was inspired by his work on goverment computers, for just about the amount I got from the insurance. At that time Roger had closed his company and changed his profession. He never advertised, believing that word of mouth from satisfied customers, would be enough to sell his amps, a mistake, which backfired and he had to go out of business and in to debt.
My 2 friends still own the Photons but have since moved to tubed amps. I have stuck with them since mine are one of a kind and no one, that I know, has this tech in his Photons.
The only problem is that should anything happened to them, unless Roger accepts to repair them, I am out of luck!
In case anybody cares, I fixed the fizzy noise in my PS Model 2 amp. It was one of the input section transistors. Now the DC offset is 0 only with the pot turned all the way to one extreme, which is a little weird. Oh well, it seems to sound OK now anyway, and the noise is gone.
Tphaliaros,
You said monoblocks. Both buzzing? If so, I don't know what the odds of both amps having a xformer failure at the same time are but I'll bet it's real low.
I had the same problem with a big Krell and a trip to the factory and a huge sum of money replaced the xformer and the buzz was gone. I hope you are not plugging your amps into the P300. I use a P300 on my front-end also and I know that it's not large enough for any kind of high current loads.
If you are starving the amps for current, the xformers could be complaining. Do you have dedicated circuits? Maybe not necessary but always better. Also, It could be as simple as loose wiring connections at your circuit breaker. These connections should be tight. If extremely loose you may be able to actually feel heat build-up on the front of the breaker. These should be checked. If you aren't comfortable doing this yourself get and electrician. It's tough to listen to music if you are dead unless you listen exclusively to harp music. Check the wiring connections at the outlets too, to be sure they are sufficiently tight. Loose connections can create a high resistance creating heat gain and can limit current to your amps. Especially if they are big.
Good luck,
Woodrow
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