2. amps-preamps
  3. 127813-86341

Power supply hum transmitted to loudspeakers

I know the issue of hum and buzz has been discussed endlessly. Is it not almost universal that all amplifiers with power transformers have some low level power supply noise that will cause minimal leakage hum, buzz, or hiss through the loudspeaker with your ear close enough and no inputs to the amp connected?
Is this considered the noise floor of the amplifier? According to Galen Carol's website, if you can't hear it through the music and your system sounds the way you want it to, this idle noise should be ignored. Any thoughts?


normie57
normie57 OP
50 posts
 
Thanks for all your thoughtful responses.
I realize that this discussion has as much to do with psychology as electronics.  What's easy for some to ignore or even sound soothing, drives others crazy...as Mr Spock used to say 'fascinating'. 
As I really enjoy the amplifiers I will try to ignore the idle buzz, barely audible from listening chair, and enjoy the music. I have read for years that idle noise rides on the music, which has led me to believe my enjoyment might be improved by eliminating it. I'm gonna discard that notion, realizing it might be true, and just put on another record or CD asap so I don't hear the buzz at idle.  I don't want to sell the amps just to replace it with one that's dead silent and perhaps not as musically satisfying!  Enjoy and thanks!

gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
You're welcome normie57. Not to belabor this but frankly I wouldn't be able to ignore "the idle buzz, barely audible from listening chair" and if you are a perfectionist like I am I think the fact that you will "try to ignore" it can be futile. If you are within one inch of the amp and can hear something that's a different story and would be considered normal. Even then I would try to eliminate it. But noise from the equipment, heard at the listening position is a show stopper in my view. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,753 posts
 
have had their power supply upgraded, but still has a small amount of buzz at the loudspeakers, not audible while playing music beautifully.(with and without shorting plugs). I've learned to ignore it and realize the amplifier was meant to play music, not to necessarily be dead silent at idle.
Its worth getting to the bottom of little buzzes like this- you will notice the system sounding better. The reason is, depending on how the buzz originates, it can cause intermodulations. Its worth it to get them gone!
toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone
840 posts
 
@boxer12 i disagree about shielded power 'chords' being an absolute must.
i thought the same when i made my first batch of power cords and made them all shielded. they did, indeed, make my system quieter. after further builds with different architectures and materials, i have found that unshielded power cords can be just as quiet as shielded and can sound less compressed.  as usual, it all depends on the system.. the one caveat is that pretty much everyone agrees that digital components do best with shielded PCs.
wolf_garcia
6,686 posts
 
I had some transformer hum from a high current SS amp I use for a spare speaker system (for my deck) and a PS Audio Humbuster III completely fixed the issue. I now plug both of my amps into it although my main tube amp is quiet anyway. I demand that my system is humless and it is…I have lighting dimmers here and there and they don't bother the rig, and even my turntable is dead quiet after I put a new din plug Mogami cable on the Akito arm (Jelco or something). P.S. Audio should have kept making the humbusters…they're cool.
More to discover