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high frequency intermittent noise

I have a noise issue that is intermittent.  Here is what the noise sounds like:

https://clyp.it/4b233bmm

Here is what I know so far:
  • The sound affects all components and is compounded if all components are turned on.  I have turned off my preamp, phono preamp, leaving just my mono blocks on, and the noise still appears.
  • I have turned off everything and unplugged everything in the house including my dimmer switch, and the noise still appears.
  • I have a pair of pro-audio monitors, self powered with class AB amps, and when I plug those into the same outlet, I hear the same noise coming through the pro-audio monitor.  So this rules out my big system.
  • The noise is primarily during the day and goes into the evenings, weekends too, early mornings it does not appear.
  • I live in a pre-war mid-rise building.  I have no ground, I'm using a Nordost QKore grounding system.  This did reduce the noise floor quite a bit, but has no affect on this intermittent noise.
  • I have a cell phone tower directly across the street from my building in Manhattan.
  • Looking at a real time analyzer, I see peak at 2kHz when the noise appears.
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjames1969
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
If you have a portable battery powered AM radio, try tuning it to an unused frequency toward the low end of the band (e.g. 540 kHz), and see if it picks up the noise.  That might help to determine if the noise is getting into your audio system via the air or via the power line.  And if it turns out that the radio picks up the noise, you might be able to determine the direction it is coming from by trying various orientations of the radio's antenna.

Good luck.  Regards,
-- Al
 
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
I did lots of research into balanced power a while back and although I went with a different unit for monetary reasons this is the unit I would have purchased. Yes, it's professional grade but so what? If it takes care of your problem then it’s worth it.

http://www.furmanpower.com/product/20a-prestige-symmetrically-balanced-power-conditioner-P-2400%20IT
james1969's avatar
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james1969 OP
347 posts
 
@almarg I checked 540kHz and for a moment, I thought I was in that movie Contact, I did not hear the noise.  Just static.  Great idea.

@falconquest Thank you for the pointer, I will check that out.
erik_squires
16,017 posts
 
Make sure you look at a Furman with LiFT and SMP.

The SMP surge protection is, by design, a low pass filter. Unlike most other AC filters it works in the audible band, but not sure how low.

LiFT is active filtration. The one thing about Furman, they seem to have 100 different models, so be careful that the exact model you look at or test includes both.

Not sure about common mode noise, but most linear power transformers filter that out anyway.
erik_squires
16,017 posts
 
James, one other thing to try, use an extension cord if you must, but maybe you have other AC lines which are less noisy, or perhaps a place in your apartment where the noise pickup is less?

Just throwing out ideas that are cheap. :)

But yeah, I like Furman for noise and value (especially if you can find them on sale!)


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