Coincident Linestage vs CJ CT5 or Allnic L-3000

Thanks Brownsfan and Charles! I'm questioning my read more than usual since I'm in the middle of a great many changes (and frustrations) in the system.

I'm burning in the Druid V's in my main system. I also received KeithR's Valvets and they promptly exposed the hum and buzz in my system. They are dead silent if I run the DAC direct to the Valvets, but if it is run through the CSL, I get a buzz/hum that is annoying from the listening seat. It is there with the Audions also, but I deliberately have lowered the gain of Audions so this hum/buzz drops in level relative to the signal. When I systematically follow the Jensen troubleshooting guide, I end up with "inductively coupled noise" as the source. Very frustrating as I've tried different cabling and adjusted cable routing away from transformers and 120 lines, but no real impact. I use a PS Audio Premier as my line source...doesn't do a thing for "inductively coupled noise", however.

So...many changes back and forth have discombobulated my aural senses. I'd like to be able to directly compare the Valvets with the Audions, but the noise issue makes it nearly impossible. Hopefully, I'll be able to resolve this noise issue soon?!!!

Jordan, I feel your pain! Have you discussed this hum issue with Israel? When I first got my CSL, I had hum problems when I engaged the mute switch. As you know, muting prior to turning things off is recommended. It turns out that the CSL has a "very clever" grounding scheme, which can be very quiet but it turns out there are some grounding schemes in other equipment that can result in a hum with the CSL. In my case, Israel helped diagnose the offending equipment as my Cary mono blocks and offered to rewire the CSL to avoid this problem. The other option was simply to not use the mute switch, which is what I elected to do.

I think it is worth talking to Israel. He can probably help you figure out what is wrong and perhaps provide some options about what to do about it.

Hey Brownsfan...yes, I encountered the same issue with the mute switch, but only if I was running balanced (I think...been awhile since I talked to IB). I elected to do nothing and not use the mute at the time. I should talk to him and find out if he has any ideas.

With the Audion's gain turned down so that I'm using much of the gain of CSL (i.e. vol knobs 1 - 3 clicks from max), the hum/buzz is completely inaudible from the listening seat. With the higher, non-adjustable gain of the Valvets, I have no option to reduce the noise/hum.

When I ran all balanced systems, I rarely was aware of any noise/hum in my system. The frustrating thing is right now, even running all balanced from Luxman DAC to CSL to Valvets, I get this hum/buzz. If I run balanced or SE from Luxman to Valvets directly (bypassing the CSL), no noise at all, yet the Jensen trouble-shooting guide suggests it is due "inductively coupled noise".

Jordan,
I seconded the idea to call Israel, this is a strange problem as silence is a strength of the CSL. Pap says the CSL was dead quiet with his Soulution 710 amplifier ((just to mentioned another example of a SS ammp match). Maybe it's the Valvet that "could" be uniquely incompatible with the CSL. Did you have any problems when connected to the Frankenstein? I think this is a solvable issue.
Charles,

Jordan, You have superb equipment, and zero noise should be the expectation. If I were starting from scratch, knowing what I know now, I'd put together an all coincident system paired with my modwright sony (or an oppo) and be done. But I'm not starting from scratch, and I'm not kicking my Maggies to the curb, so the goal (and part of the fun) is making everything I have sing in harmony. Sadly, I really can't drive my Maggies with Franks.

Please let us know what sort of help Israel can offer on this. His customer base for the CSL really should explode, but he has to effectively serve the mix and match market to make that happen.