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Low buzzing through speaks

Hello All,

 

Need some serious help here. So I just (upgraded?) from a Marantz AV8802A to a McIntosh MX122 preamp. I also just got brand new Revel Performa3 speaks all around (5 channel setup). I disconnect everything from the Marantz and then into the McIntosh, connect the speaks and I have a faint buzzing through all 5 speakers (that was not there previously). I have everything plugged into a Furman Elite 20pfi power conditioner which is plugged into a dedicated 20 amp circuit. My power amp is a Simaudio Titan HT200 5 channel. This is not going through the Furman but directly into the other outlet on the same 20 amp line. I even tried plugging the Sim amp into the Furman to see if that helped-no change faint buzz is still there. I have unplugged just about everything, and the buzz is still there. It is very faint and does not get louder when I turn up the volume. Again it is faint and you have to put your ear up to the speaks to hear but it is definitely there. I have tried so many things and nothing gets rid of it. It is not my cable box (I did have that issue previously with the Marantz but as soon as I unplugged the coax from the box it went away so I just bought a coax loop eliminator connected the cable to that and noise was all gone) as I unplugged that and started there.

 

Any help would be so sincerely appreciated????

kingbr
dpop
293 posts
 

Ok, so you're saying that the buzz *did* take place when the first XLR cable was connected, but you just didn't hear because it was a rear speaker, yes?

dpop
293 posts
 

The cables are all less than 2 years old and they are Transparent Plus so they’re not cheaply made, they’re solid…

I get it. I hear what you're saying. I'm not saying it's the fault of the cables yet. 

dpop
293 posts
 

So just wondering if you have any kind of wire stripper? Have you ever stripped the jacket off a wire? We’re definitely not going to take apart those nice XLR cables, but I’m wondering, before we go any further, what your skill level is here, so I know how to further direct you?

kingbr OP
289 posts
 

Thanks man, skill level is novice, I'm already over my head as soon as we get past connecting stuff, sorry😯...I have stripped the jacket off of a wire before but yeah definitely don't want to play with that with the Transparent cables...

 

And yes, the buzz would have been there I just didn't put my ear up to that speaker but as soon as I plugged the 2nd rear in the buzz was there in both speaks at the exact same level whether 2 are connected or all 5. This buzz is steady, doesn't fluctuate...guess that's a silver lining😬

dpop
293 posts
 

I have stripped the jacket off of a wire before but I’m already over my head as soon as we get past connecting stuff

Thank you for being honest and admitting that. There’s only two more things I can think of at the moment that I’d like to try, and one requires a different XLR connecting cable (which removes the shield connection - pin 1 - on one end). I can actually make them myself, but let me see if I can find something on the internet for you. The other is I’d still like to hear if there’s any buzz with that ground wire connected between the two rear panel ground screws. Is there any small cable laying around (like a small extension cord) you could butcher and sacrifice? If you don’t have a wire stripper, with a little guidance, a scissors could probably perform the same function.

Do you own any other XLR cables? If so, have you tried them to see if they produce the same buzz as the Transparent's do? 

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