Hissing sound coming from tweeters

Al, how do you calculate the reduction in gain?

As a rough approximation, I neglected dynamic headroom and calculated the gain for the MC252 based on the continuous maximum power rating of 250 watts. Based on P = (Esquared)/R, 250 watts into 8 ohms corresponds to 44.7 volts. The specified sensitivity for the balanced inputs is 3.2 volts. Therefore the voltage gain, neglecting dynamic headroom, is 44.7/3.2 = 13.97. Based on 20log(Vout/Vin), that corresponds to 22.9db.

I now see in one of the spec sheets that dynamic headroom is specified as 1.8db. So depending on what power level the sensitivity spec is defined with respect to, the gain may be as much as 22.9 + 1.8 = 24.7db, which is only 7.3db less than the gain spec of your present amplifier.

how much reduction do you think is needed to obtain satisfactory levels?

A commonly cited rule of thumb is that a 10db reduction in volume is subjectively perceived as being about "half as loud." Based on that, and on your initial description of the present hiss level as "very annoying," my rough guess is that you would want to reduce the amplifier gain by significantly more than 10db with respect to what it is now, perhaps reducing the present 32db gain to the area of 16 to 20db or thereabouts.

Regards,
-- Al

Did you try the cheater plugs? It is a common solution to hiss/hum problems? May not be elegant, but it does work in lots of cases. If it has no effect, you are out $10 at most. You probably need different amps, but the cheater plugs may buy you some time. If it really is a ground loop problem, different amps may or may not help.

You're a smart guy Al. It's been a while since I have worked with that kind of math. It seems like there must be more to it than the gain on these amps that's causing the hiss. There are plenty of people out there running Klipsch with Emotivas/Mcintosh and don't experience the ridiculous amount of hiss I'm experiencing. Even if I picked up an Ayre V-5xe, that amp still specs gain of 26db which wouldn't help my case either.

I just want a good solid state amp that can rock hard and won't cause a bunch of hiss through my tweeters. I could hook up my old Klipsch KG4's and see what happens. They are rated at 94db.

Just tried it with the Klipsch KG4 and it the tweeters hissed just as much. I never had this problem before using my Marantz 2270 as a preamp with the Emotivas. Why is this Ayre preamp brining on the hiss? >_<

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I agree you have more power and gain than you need but that is not causing your problem. In any case I think everyone is over thinking this.

Now that we know you did not have an issue with your previous preamp isn't the problem obvious?

......Before the Ayre hiss not a problem

......With the Ayre hiss is a problem

We're going around in circles here talking about gain. Either something is wrong with the Ayre or there is some weird interaction with your amps but probably the former. Maybe the reason the previous owner sold the Ayre is they had some annoying hiss? Have you contacted Ayre about getting it checked out?

I don't agree it could be a cabling or ground issue. A hum problem yes but hiss no.

How about building a little passive pre out of some Radio Shack parts and see how that sounds? May be all you need.

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