2. amps-preamps
  3. 1057680463

Buzzing in my speakers w/ new amp

I've just introduced a new Odyssey Stratos Amp with a cap upgrade to my system, and I'm getting a nasty buzzing sound in my speakers. It sounds like its definitely an electrical issue. I contacted Klaus at Odyssey (great guy!) and he had me disconnect the interconnects and the buzzing went away. This tells me that the amp is picking up some interference and its not within the amp itself (unless its the interconnect connections, which I doubt). I think I'm dealing with some serious dirty power. I did not have this problem with my previous amp (Marantz MM9000), but that amp did not have the same quality (sensitive) power supply.

I'm hoping that you people have some solutions for me to try, so that I can stop focusing on the buzz, and concentrate on the beautiful music this amp is delivering.

I've already tried isolating the cables, different (dedicated) outlets,different interconnects, a PS Audio UO (did quiet it down a bit), a "cheater plug" (dangerous?), a Monster Cable HTS5000(the high-end one with the "glowing meter") and a PS Audio P300 power re-generator (made it worse!!!). The Stratos Amp has two little blue LED's inside to illuminate the Odyssey logo. I'm wondering if these could possibly be introducing some interference? In the past I've had some experience with this type of wiring introducing problems.

My system consists of the following:

Sunfire TheaterGrand 2 Pre-Pro
Odyssey Stratos 2ch amp
Marantz MM9000 Amp (center, surrounds for theater)
Alisis MasterLink HardDisk Recorder/CD transport
MSB Link DAC3
Sony DVD (high end, forgot model)
PS Audio P300
PS Audio 20 Amp UO
Monster HTS5000
TaraLabs interconnects (high end, forgot model)
TaraLabs speaker cables


Im sure this is a common problem out there, so HELP ME PLEASE!!!!
mhubbard
mborner
34 posts
 
Sugarbrie,
I certainly hope that when you say everything should be plugged into the preamp, that you’re not including the power cord as well. You should never connect the power cord from your amp into the power outlet on the back of your preamp. However, there should only be one power cord in the entire system that should be grounded, weather it is the amp or the preamp doesn't really matter. I mentioned the amp because generally it is the amp that has a ground plug.
s23chang
619 posts
 
Mhubbard, what interconnect are you using? Does it have shielding? I have the same issue with my amp that it only works with certain interconnects and not all the interconnects. The one that works are NBS and Audio Note.
Many manufacture don't shield their cable or don't shield properly.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Many interconnects are only shielded at one end. Not sure if it would help, but try reversing each pair individually and see/hear what happens. A few cables like the Siltech SQ-88 are shielded at both ends.

Mborner...The preamp is grounded through the AC cord. Everything is "plugged" into the preamp, ie, by way of the interconnect cables.
mhubbard OP
86 posts
 
I have TaraLabs RSC Prime interconnects. The damn things better be shielded!!! If there not, they should have spent a little less on the fancy (yet beautiful) box they came in, and done it right!!!

However, as I mentioned in the beginning, I did not have this buzz issue with the previous amp, which used the same IC's. How about taking the cheater plug off my amp and trying it on the pre-amp instead? Is there any logic in this?
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
There could simply be something wrong with the amplifier. I mean broken, not in design...
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