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DK Design VS-1 Reference MK3 Noise Issue

Dear DK owners, followers,
I have been a very satisfied DK owner and love the music it produces. I have never doubted their built quality, seeing their massive look and presence. However, I have run into a very odd, annoying issue lately and wanted to know if anyone out there had similar problem. No one from LSA group has gotten back so I am counting on the actual owners' insights here. The issue is, "without the music feed, when I turn to volume up on DK past 11'oclock mark, I hear pretty loud static type(zzz..) of noise from my speakers. It always happens when the volume passes by that area. I have had my unit replaced once and the new unit did not display this issue until after about 20 hours of break-in..Same noise, in same manner, it all came back. And the white noise on the speakers has gotten louder as well.

The dealer says it may be tube, but we aligned on that false assumption, because I own several pairs of new 6922's. Given that two units have dispayed same problem, I am assuming this is not an isolated case.

Has anyone out there experienced this as well and do you know what the solution is ? and what is the quickest way to get a rock solid response from LSA ?I am getting really bothered by it. Last thing I want is to spend over $3000 to learn that the good will run into QA issues down the road, especially this early in the game.

thanks
pkoh70
mwilson
430 posts
 
I concur with the previous posters. Tubes do hiss with or without program material, and the more sensitive the speakers, the more you'll hear it. Normally, you'd not hear the hissing more than a foot or two away from the speakers. If you're hearing more than that, the tubes you have might just be noisy. Tubes vary individually in the amount of noise they will produce, even between samples of the same brand/type/year etc.

I would call a reputable tube dealer like Upscale Audio or "The Tube Store" and ask them if they have any low-noise 6922s you could buy - describe what you're hearing and see what they recommend. You'll pay more for tested, trusted tubes, but you should get very high quality and reliable product. Even brand-new production tubes these days aren't always noise-free - noisy ones are common in my experience.

Good luck!
drubin
3,285 posts
 
I don't think the tube hiss is what pkoh70 is concerned about. He acknowledges that hiss but says he can't hear it at 3 feet away. As I read his posts, the complaint is aboout a separate noice -- a buzz -- that kicks in at the 11 o'clock position but stops at 1:00 o'clock and is audible from any distance.
pkoh70 OP
34 posts
 
All, thanks for your responses, first of all.

I hear you about the tubes and possible hissing/white noises they make. I have owned tube gears before and know the hassle, especially with 6922s. However this is not a normal hissing noise. I am talking about a very loud static noise as if you were tuned to a very bad radio frequency. I don't think that is normal tube noise. Especially doesn't explain why such noise comes and goes around specific range of volume, don't you think ? Same static noise around same range of volume, no matter which tubes I put into DK..this lead me to suspect that it is more DK than tube matter given the patterned noise reaction I am seeing.

Anyone who own the DKs here that can test and see if similar reaction is happening ? with music feed off, and only DK on, turn the volume lever up past 11-12'oclock range and see if you hear audible static noise..if you got high sensitivity speakers, the noise will be louder for sure.
mcfarland
356 posts
 
You wouldn't by any chance be connected to cable FM? That is notorious for ground loop hum. 90 db speakers are pretty sensitive, so, I agree, going for phono stage quality 6922's would be worth a try. I like Andy at Vintage Tube Services, for his opinions and expertise in providing well tested nos tubes, probably worth the modest added expense given the quality of your equipment.
newbee
4,817 posts
 
You've mentioned that this sound appears when there is no music on. I assume that you mean playing. Try disconnecting all of the inputs to the DK - this will eliminate the possibility that the problem is originating in a source. FWIW.
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