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What does this tell me?

I've got a buzzing issue that I'm trying to track down, here's what I know.
(FYI, my amp is an integrated)

~It's only coming out of the tweeters of my Vandersteen 2ce's.
~It happens regardless of the source, DVD player, Squeezebox or DAC.
~It only happens if I select an input that has a source connected to it. ie, if I switch to an input that has nothing connected to it, there's no buzzing.
~I've tried every input and they all buzz when something is connected to that input and they all don't buzz if there's nothing connected to that input.
~I've tried different power cables and IC's, they don't change anything.

I don't know where to go from here. Is it the amp? Is this a ground issue? What do I try next?

Thanks,
E-
ecruz
tvad
9,467 posts
 
In my system, I have a preamp with WBT Nextgen input jacks, and I use some interconnects with Eichmann bullet plugs. Since the jacks and bullet plugs do not have metal completely around their barrels, the connectors have to be twisted until the metal pin on the Eichmann barrel makes contact with the metal section on the Nextgen jack. If the metal isn't making contact, a buzz results.

Until I discovered this, I thought the interconnects were faulty, or that I had a system grounding issue.
almarg's avatar
almarg
8,673 posts
 
I'm suspicious of the Squeezebox. Is it connected to a computer via ethernet or wirelessly? If via ethernet, try disconnecting the cable. If wirelessly, try removing power from whatever is wirelessly transmitting to it. And of course keep in mind that any of these devices can probably continue operating for some seconds after the power plug is pulled, running on capacitively stored energy.

Regards,
-- Al
almarg's avatar
almarg
8,673 posts
 
And unplug the Squeezebox's wallwart power supply from the ac outlet, if what you did was to disconnect the Squeezebox's power by unplugging the wallwart from it instead.
ecruz OP
402 posts
 
I think I've got it cured, although I'm still not exactly sure what was causing it.

I unplugged the Squeezebox from the wall and disconnected the ethernet, still buzzing. So I decided to disconnect, reroute and reconnect everything. I tried to cross lines as little as possible. That helped, but there was still a little noise, not as bad, but it was still there. I then remembered, I have a power cable with a choke. I installed it on the amp. Viola! No noise at all, gone! Finally.

Not sure if the amp was generating the noise or if it was just picking it up. I'll live with this for a few days and see how it goes.

Thanks everyone for your help.

E-
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