I have an Odyssey Khartago++ (upgraded version) and realized after some time with it that I had a low level buzz/hum coming from both speakers, a grounding issue I was told. I didn't realize it was abnormal I guess. My previous amp, a McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe, was dead quiet at idle unless I cranked the volume way up, and then could hear a slight hiss, but no hum/buzz.
I spent a lot of time via email, in a group chat with Klaus and Peter Madnick, who designed my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 (great guy!), troubleshooting it and trying every possible combination of things off/on and plugged/unplugged. Peter admitted that grounding hums can be VERY hard to locate and resolve. The final consensus it is was the amp, so I sent it back. Klaus said he'd found the problem, and offered to upgrade the amp to Kismet level level (his best) at a discount. How could I refuse? It got the best transformer he uses, and other goodies.
When I got the amp back, the buzz/hum is reduced by at least 50% but it's still there. GRRRR. In denial and frustrated, I told myself it was all fixed but it's not. After a month I let Klaus know that it is better but not gone, and NEVER got a reply. More frustration. The amp does sound excellent when playing, and during quiet passages of a track I don't hear the hum/buzz... only at idle.
I haven't taken the time to rip everything apart and put it back one by one, trying different combinations. I'm not good at that. I even thought of buying (w/ 30 day return) an amp or borrowing one to see if I get a buzz/hum with another amp, but haven't yet. In the meantime, I've just let time pass to ease my irritation.
I've checked out the gadgets that PS Audio and others make to address ground hum, but it seems they aren't for amps.
Any suggestions for locating and fixing ground hum would be appreciated. Thanks.
I spent a lot of time via email, in a group chat with Klaus and Peter Madnick, who designed my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 (great guy!), troubleshooting it and trying every possible combination of things off/on and plugged/unplugged. Peter admitted that grounding hums can be VERY hard to locate and resolve. The final consensus it is was the amp, so I sent it back. Klaus said he'd found the problem, and offered to upgrade the amp to Kismet level level (his best) at a discount. How could I refuse? It got the best transformer he uses, and other goodies.
When I got the amp back, the buzz/hum is reduced by at least 50% but it's still there. GRRRR. In denial and frustrated, I told myself it was all fixed but it's not. After a month I let Klaus know that it is better but not gone, and NEVER got a reply. More frustration. The amp does sound excellent when playing, and during quiet passages of a track I don't hear the hum/buzz... only at idle.
I haven't taken the time to rip everything apart and put it back one by one, trying different combinations. I'm not good at that. I even thought of buying (w/ 30 day return) an amp or borrowing one to see if I get a buzz/hum with another amp, but haven't yet. In the meantime, I've just let time pass to ease my irritation.
I've checked out the gadgets that PS Audio and others make to address ground hum, but it seems they aren't for amps.
Any suggestions for locating and fixing ground hum would be appreciated. Thanks.