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Buzzing from speakers. Where is it coming from?

I can hear buzzing from the speakers's tweeter when I put my ears up to it. Can't hear it from the listening positon. Speakers are Vienna Acoustics connected to a Mcintosh MC402 amp via a Pionner reciever as a pre/pro. The Mcintosh is directly plugged into a wall outlet. The Pioneer is plugged into a Monster power conditioner. I have tried just turning on the Mcintosh with no signal and it still has a buzz. Then tried plugging it into the line conditioner and still buzzing. Lastly, I tried connecting the speaker to the Pioneer and still has buzzing but slightly quieter. The buzzing occures with all speakers. The Mcintosh powers the fronts. The Pioneers powers the center and rears. Any suggetions?
Thanks
vuongd
erikminer
433 posts
 
Try lifting the ground on the power amp.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
I'm sorry, I don't mean to mock anybody, but people go to incredible lengths to optimize and choose cables, connectors room treatments, racks and any of the hundred and one things affecting sound.
Some items are pretty...shall I say....esoteric? The differences in cables, some would say is pretty small while others call it titanic.
I'd say that any tweeter hiss is on the intolerable side.
A BUZZ from the tweeter? Shouldn't that be a HISS? I'd expect the BUZZ thru the woofer.

Start going thru the list by first disconnecting everything and if the hiss goes away, reconnect 1 item at a time till it returns.

This is the worst thing to track down. I'm betting on the Sat Box, which has lots of RF circuitry and are notorious for spewing it everywhere. My sat box is a good 3 or 4 feet from anything stereo related.
vernneal's avatar
vernneal
438 posts
 
Ground loop. Usually cause by speakers. To test disconnect speakers from amp. Turn on amp if no hiss it is the speakers. If it hisses IT IS THE AMP. My bet is to get a high quality outlet like a Levitron or Hubbell 20 amp(set you back $8 for a double outlet) and this will cure the problem. Houses put 89 cent outlets on houses these days.If not disconnect everything and introduce one componet at a time. USUALLY these are caused by subwoofers
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Vern,
I don't understand? Disconnect speakers from amp and listen for noise! Good trick.

I'll agree with one thing, which I hope is what you MEANT, if not said.

disconnect everything but speakers to amp. Even the interconnects. If the hiss disappears, start adding stuff back one component at a time. You have to go at this systematically to find the culprit. Process of elimination may be tedious, but it should yield a result.

No 'usual' cause. It is what it is. maybe the sub, maybe the sat dish. Maybe the neighbors microwave! (kidding on last)

Do you have an outlet tester? Use it. cheap check.
Don't lift grounds. Find the hiss-maker, first.
vuongd OP
6 posts
 
I will try disconnecting the interconnects this weekend and report my findings.
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