2. amps-preamps
  3. 123661-2131

Help...hum issue with new preamp

Hi goners, I have just switched preamps from an Aesthetix calypso sig to a Supratek Cabernet and I am now getting a  decent hum from the balanced connections from my Atma-Sphere monos to the Supratek where as I did not get it at all with the Aesthetix. Now I had an old set of single end cables that I used with the Supratek to troubleshoot and the hum was gone. The only thing I can think of is that since the Supratek is not truly balanced it must be causing an issue, as we know the Aesthetix is truly balanced. In any event I want to keep my xlr connections because of length. No I have not contacted Mick from Supratek yet as I'm hoping this can be resolved easily. .Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much. 
barfbag
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,901 posts
 
Maybe Ralph, the owner of Atma-Sphere, will see this thread and respond.
Indeed I did.

I'm pretty sure all that is happening here is that the Supratek has no internal connection on its XLR (since its a single-ended preamp) between pin 1 and pin 3. As a result, pin 3 is picking up noise and the amps are amplifying it.

A jumper installed between pin 1 and 3 on the XLR inside the preamp should sort it out.
jea48
4,486 posts
 

atmasphere,

Couldn't he do the same thing at the end of the two XLR cable connectors that plugs into the preamp? Solder a jumper wire from pin 1 to pin 3 of the female connector.

I doubt he would want to void the warranty on the preamp if he did it inside the unit.

Or could he just take and old RCA interconnect cable and demo the inside pin of the plug on one end. Cut off the cable and bare the return ground wire and connect it a metal screw on the chassis. Then plug the RCA plug of the cable into any output RCA jack on the back of the preamp?

Jim  

barfbag OP
26 posts
 
Thanks Ralph& Jim, I'll check it out.

jayrossi13's avatar
jayrossi13
188 posts
 
@barfbag How do you like the Cabernet as compared to the Calypso?
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,883 posts
 

OP-


what did not you not like about the Aesthetix?

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