2. tech-talk
  3. 132315-8612

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
james1969's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
james1969 OP
347 posts
 
@whart 

There is now cell phone reception in the subways too.  So each subway car or perhaps the subway tunnels are lined with these devices.
whart's avatar
whart
3,021 posts
 
@james1969 - alas, another quiet oasis in NYC gone to hell. 
This thread is fascinating to me for the deductive work- i know suffering the noise sucks--we've probably all had our share of imponderable issues at times- but i'm learning as i read this. 
The solution will probably be something obvious and stupid (e.g., did you plug it in?)
In the meantime, here's my tin foil hat conspiracy theory connect the dots, Elvis is an alien idea: if the subways have these critters, and the noise coincides with the passage of a subway under or near your building....?
james1969's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
james1969 OP
347 posts
 
The subway goes right under my building.
Post removed 
james1969's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
james1969 OP
347 posts
 
@jea48   

LOL, Yes, I know where my cell phone is.  I tried turning it off, no effect.

My system does sit against the outside wall, which is at the same level as the cell phone tower.  I do not directly face the tower, but the tower is in direct line of sight just 2 units to my right, so for line of sight purposes, it may as well be right in front of my unit.  I also have the Empire State Building in direct line of sight, and a friend of mine thinks the Empire State Building is radiating all kinds of emissions...says I need to be wearing sunscreen while listening to my system because of the Empire State Building.

I will post a photo on my system page so you can see the towers.

The problem with the towers is they are nondescript - no signs indicating ownership or contact info.  All I see on the towers are WARNING labels everywhere.
That is an outstanding post you found on ProSoundWeb.  Thank you very much with all of your attention on this thread.  You are a real asset to the community.
More to discover