2. amps-preamps
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Hissing sound when Tone Control is turned on

Hello all,

Wonder if any one of you experienced the same issue with your Mcintosh preamp ? If you did and what was the solution to it?
I have noticed that apparently audible hissing sound can be heard from my speakers during idle while the "tone control" is enabled on my Mcintosh C49 preamp. As soon as i toggled the tone contol switch off from the front panel the hissing sound is completely gone and the background is dead silent like it supposed to. 

Is this considered normal ? Any advises will be appreciated.

Thanks

Larry

larrymanadgn
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,057 posts
 
Make sure the Treble tone setting is not set too high.
larrymanadgn OP
9 posts
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies. The hissing tone remained the same level even when the preamp was set at zero volume. No other tone controls or EQ were in the chains. I have tried unplugging each sources one by one made no differences. And i have also tuned down the treble or made no gains from the power amp, the result was the same. But as soon as the tone control button is turned off on the front panel the hissing goes away completely. That was why i was wondering if this is considered normal for Mcintosh preamp’s. Thanks


oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
None of mine, to date.

Regards.
larrymanadgn OP
9 posts
 
Hi oldhvymec,

May i ask which Mcintosh preamp you are using ? This preamp performs very nicely and i love it. But this is my 1st time using Mcintosh product and i have no friends using some brand so i can compare with. Maybe i bought a slightly defective unit or perhaps it is normal. I have tried to ask Mcintosh technical support by email but not heard back from them yet. I will just wait and see how they reply to me.

Thanks
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
C11, C20s, C2500, Mx110z, Mx120.  A few.. When they are tuned up and running they are quiet..

Did you buy it new? Did it just start making noise or out of the box. it made noise?

They make music, not noise..:-) This summer 50 years with Mac.. YUP I'm a Mac guy.. I like their older valve gear.. MC225, 240, 275, 30 and 60s. I don't currently own ANY SS Mac Power amps.. Just valve.. I have a Cary V12R I really like with a Mac front end... Just perfect for me.

I use class Ds to do all the bass duty.. Actually I'll be swapping over within a month or so.. See how the weather act.. Class D, for the main monitors in the summer too. Valves are just to hot.. It gets to be 110 + here where I live..

Regards
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