2. amps-preamps
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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
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
There could simply be something wrong with the amplifier. I mean broken, not in design...
newbee
4,767 posts
 
have you addressed the issue of cable routing. I have found with one of my amps that if the cables pass near the transformers I get a buzz. I have to take the cables straight back. You were going to disassemble your system & start from scratch - did that not point out the offending component? You can try to use the cheater on the Pre as well as the amp - its never worked for me. Some one else mentioned a solder crack in the cable or RCA could cause a problem - YEP. Try using different cables and if you still have it sub in a different amp and see what happens.
s23chang
620 posts
 
Mhubbard, the ground design in each amp is different. Some is more sensitive than the other.
The same cable will not make hum noise in my second system.

Not sure if you have any radio shack grade of cheap interconnects but you can try that and see if they make hum.
mhubbard OP
86 posts
 
OK, heres the deal. Just for the hell of it I tried disconnecting one interconnect to the back of the amp from the pre-pro (the right channel).......the buzzing went away!!! The buzzing went away!!!!

So naturally I thought I had found the culprit...the right channel on the amp. NOPE, I decided to reverse the hook up and connected the right and disconnected the left.... the buzzing stopped.

The buzzing only happens when both interconnects are connected to the amp. I AGAIN tried different IC's and got the same results.

I dont think this is a problem with the pre-pro, I feel that there could be a connection problem within the amp itself. I called Klaus at Odyssey and he was very cool and very concerned about this issue. He never took the tact of "your doing something wrong". Instead he offered to sit down tonight and MAKE ME A NEW AMP, then take it home with him to hook up to his own system to make sure its in working order. I only hope this is the problem and Klaus isn't waisting his valuble time to help me out.

Although I wish this was never an issue in the first place, I understand that sometimes this stuff happens. I'm just glad I'm dealing with a company that is willing to go the extra mile to help out a customer.

Thanks Klaus!
mhubbard OP
86 posts
 
Just an update.

I receved the replacement amp on Friday just as Klaus said I would (and for my trouble he included some really beautiful adjustable isolation cones!). I hooked the amp up and GONE was the buzz, totsl silence!!!

THEN I heard this terrible ZAP!, ZAP! sound!!! I'm thinking "what the hell is going on!!! Then I notice that there is no sound coming from the right speaker!!! I look behind the componet rack.... and a frickin inner connect that was dissconnected from my other 5ch amp had fallen down and made contact with the right speaker terminal on the back of the Stratos Amp, blowing the two fuses inside the amp!!!

OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NO FAULT OF ODYSSEY OR KLAUS, JUST ME BEING AN IDIOT WHO WAS TOO EAGER TO SEE IF THE BUZZING HAD GONE AWAY, AND DIDN'T SECURE ALL THE OTHER CABLES SURROUNDING THE AMP. Life can be a real bitch sometimes.

I simply replaced the two fuses inside the amp, and all is good.

The amp is VERY nice indeed!!!
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