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Pre-amp causing loud hiss from speakers

I have a BAT VK3i with Quicksilver Horn mono-blocks and Klipsch LaScala's. This setup is dead quiet, however when I recently hooked up Rogue Audio M-180 mono-blocks there was a loud hiss coming from the speakers well past the listening spot. This noise was constant even with the volume down to zero and occurred with either balanced or rca connectors.

When I took the BAT out of the equation there was now only a faint hiss coming from speakers but one had to put your ear to it to hear it. After disconnecting all components from the BAT and putting it back in - the noise returns. I tried a Conrad Johnson Classic and there was no noise.

So does anyone have any ideas as to why the BAK and Rogue Audios amps do not play nice together?

Thanks
deadlift
deadlift OP
9 posts
 
That's what I noticed as well, I thought the situation would get worse with the CJ not better. I did re-tube the BAT awhile back I will detail the tubes I put in tomorrow - perhaps there are better tube choices.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"BTW, FWIW, cabling, wires, cords, connectors., etc can have an effect on tone and clarity, but they do not create or reduce 'hiss'."

Yes they can and I can show you any time on my own system. Any time you start fooling with balanced and SE components and cables you can make a mistake and end up with a noise.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Interestingly, the cj Classic is not a tube preamp, but a tube/solid state (FET) hybrid, which may speak to the lack of noise in the piece.
czarivey
4,494 posts
 
I agree Viridian. Tube electronics today used more to please the child inside adult.
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Veridan, Excellent observation, I missed that.

Zd542, I realize that there can be line noise on single ended connections that may be eliminated using a balanced
system and cable, especially in long runs. But this conversation was not about line noise, it was about 'hiss' originating in the pre-amp which is going to persist when passed on to the amp without change because of cabling and/or connectors. That is my experience. Your comments, without specificity anyway, baffle me, but I'm open to hearing about your experience when you encountered this issue in the past. And the techie stuff to explain it if you are aware. Thanks.............Perhaps we can all learn something.
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