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Never heard an amp do this before, ideas?

I have a primaluna 100 unplugged from any inputs. It has this awful high pitched sound coming from the speakers when it's turned on. It happens on both channels, and through headphones.

I have turned off all electricity in the apartment, turned all breakers off except the one it's on, moved the amp around the apartment, tried a humx, and different power cables. I even replaced the unit with another primaluna and they both do it.

I'm running out of ideas, anyone ever seen this before?

 

hobbes101
mastering92
870 posts
 

bad power supply, a ground loop, or in need of further inspection.Test another amplifier to see if it's the amplifier that's the problem.

hobbes101 OP
9 posts
 

@mastering92 thanks for the advice, I tested two primaluna amplifiers, both did it. I also tried a cheater plug.

mastering92
870 posts
 

Well whatever it is, hope it gets resolved soon. Good luck! 

hobbes101 OP
9 posts
 

Update: wrapping a faraday blanket over the unit dampens the sound. But the source of the RFI is not from my apartment, because it happens with everything in the apartment unplugged and off.

Does this mean all tube amps will do this and I'll have to go SS? 

ghdprentice
7,323 posts
 

OP,

 

This is not a “tube” problem. Not sure what it is… but this is never problem with high end audio equipment. So, either it is a PrimaLuna problem or a location problem. I would not abstract this to tubes or good quality components.

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