Shorter interconnects?

[jostenmeat]

I had a bit of static-noise coming from a particular speaker. I've played with all the connections, and now have interconnects between the pre/pro + amp as being switched around as a result (too lazy to put them in original config: no need to, correct?)

I don't have that noise anymore, not quite anyways. I kindly asked a couple of friends to listen closely to all of the speakers' noise floor, but they didn't really hear anything. I think* one or two of them might* be producing a bit more noise.

Some of my interconnects are a few ft long. One of my HDMI cables might be as well. Would I be well advised to buy shorter interconnects to reduce possible interference?

Or, at a few feet long, are the interconnects so short that interference is a virtual non-issue? I grant that the wiring will be much neater and easier to see if I did, but I do not like to waste money, or have products lying around doing nothing. Then again, the wiring mess does look a jungle... but this does not yet bother me.

Is the raised noise floor of some speakers most likely due to the electronics? Do many of you experience this kind of thing with any frequency? I guess I want to say that I am satisfied enough for now, but I would like to receive your insights as to why I have, and may run into, such issues . . .

AS ALWAYS, thanks much for your thoughts.

jostenmeat

 

[TLS Guy]

I had a bit of static-noise coming from a particular speaker. I've played with all the connections, and now have interconnects between the pre/pro + amp as being switched around as a result (too lazy to put them in original config: no need to, correct?)

I don't have that noise anymore, not quite anyways. I kindly asked a couple of friends to listen closely to all of the speakers' noise floor, but they didn't really hear anything. I think* one or two of them might* be producing a bit more noise.

Some of my interconnects are a few ft long. One of my HDMI cables might be as well. Would I be well advised to buy shorter interconnects to reduce possible interference?

Or, at a few feet long, are the interconnects so short that interference is a virtual non-issue? I grant that the wiring will be much neater and easier to see if I did, but I do not like to waste money, or have products lying around doing nothing. Then again, the wiring mess does look a jungle... but this does not yet bother me.

Is the raised noise floor of some speakers most likely due to the electronics? Do many of you experience this kind of thing with any frequency? I guess I want to say that I am satisfied enough for now, but I would like to receive your insights as to why I have, and may run into, such issues . . .

AS ALWAYS, thanks much for your thoughts.

jostenmeat

RF penetration should not be an issue with a digital interconnect. However RF does not usually manifest itself that way.

Likely culprits: -

A bad connection somewhere.

A leaky failing cap some place.

A noisy semiconductor junction somewhere, with total failure at some time a possibility.

A noisy resistor someplace.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks TLS.

Do you suppose, barring the first possibility, that I just enjoy my system until any such noise causes great concern, or that something just dies?

My amplifier is refurbished NAD T-973. Since I have zero experience with working on electronics, I am inclined to ask you if its ever a worthy effort to get an amplifier "checked up" or "tuned up"?

Or would you say that the chances of having an imbecile misdiagnose or worsen my issues be so great, that I just wait for total failure, and then buy a new product at that time? It wouldn't surprise me if the costs for diagnosis and repair are great enough to warrant a new purchase anyhow.

Appreciated, dear expert.

jostenmeat

 

[highfigh]

Thanks TLS.

Do you suppose, barring the first possibility, that I just enjoy my system until any such noise causes great concern, or that something just dies?

My amplifier is refurbished NAD T-973. Since I have zero experience with working on electronics, I am inclined to ask you if its ever a worthy effort to get an amplifier "checked up" or "tuned up"?

Or would you say that the chances of having an imbecile misdiagnose or worsen my issues be so great, that I just wait for total failure, and then buy a new product at that time? It wouldn't surprise me if the costs for diagnosis and repair are great enough to warrant a new purchase anyhow.

Appreciated, dear expert.

jostenmeat

If you rearranged the cables, it's possible that a connection was improved slightly, an analog audio cable being used is farther from the power cord and/or speaker cables and if the noise was only at high decible levels, the noise could have been induced into an audio cable, which isn't necessarily RF, but EMI. It's generally best to keep low voltage cabling as far from high voltage cabling as possible. If these cables need to cross, do it at a right angle, in order to minimize interference.

Any time current flows in a conductor, a magnetic field is created and this can act on a nearby cable.

It could be as simple as a dirty control or switch on the NAD, too.

 

[jostenmeat]

If you rearranged the cables, it's possible that a connection was improved slightly, an analog audio cable being used is farther from the power cord and/or speaker cables and if the noise was only at high decible levels, the noise could have been induced into an audio cable, which isn't necessarily RF, but EMI. It's generally best to keep low voltage cabling as far from high voltage cabling as possible. If these cables need to cross, do it at a right angle, in order to minimize interference.

Any time current flows in a conductor, a magnetic field is created and this can act on a nearby cable.

It could be as simple as a dirty control or switch on the NAD, too.

It was with nothing playing that I could originally hear it. I guess it must be something with all of the cabling, though I can hear a tiny bit now (just not quite as much as before).

Shall I take your information as possible encouragement to replace my RCA interconnects with shorter lengths?

 

[highfigh]

It was with nothing playing that I could originally hear it. I guess it must be something with all of the cabling, though I can hear a tiny bit now (just not quite as much as before).

Shall I take your information as possible encouragement to replace my RCA interconnects with shorter lengths?

I would try moving them away from any possible sources of EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference). If you have a subwoofer that has a Class D amp, it could be from the power supply. First thing I would do is verify the noise and turn the subwoofer off. If it goes away, try a different interconnect to that.

If your audio cables are far too long and bundled in a loop, get rid of the loop- it can act as an inductor and pick up noises.

 

[Alex2507]

A while ago I had what I thought might be a problem and started a thread about it. It's short and it may be of use to you.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40458

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks TLS.

Do you suppose, barring the first possibility, that I just enjoy my system until any such noise causes great concern, or that something just dies?

My amplifier is refurbished NAD T-973. Since I have zero experience with working on electronics, I am inclined to ask you if its ever a worthy effort to get an amplifier "checked up" or "tuned up"?

Or would you say that the chances of having an imbecile misdiagnose or worsen my issues be so great, that I just wait for total failure, and then buy a new product at that time? It wouldn't surprise me if the costs for diagnosis and repair are great enough to warrant a new purchase anyhow.

Appreciated, dear expert.

I would leave it disconnected from all input sources and see if you still hear the background noise. If present you know that this is generated by the NAD unit.


jostenmeat

Due to age a cap is the likely culprit if you still hear the noise with no input connections.

A good look at the circuit would give a clue to likely suspect components. There is a good chance a competent service tech could isolate this problem quite quickly.

It is up to you to decide to replace or service. I have a bias to keep good older equipment running, and even bring a worthy example or two back to life. But I may well be in the minority on that.

 

[highfigh]

It would be a lot easier to have an idea if we could hear the noise. It could be a cap, a resistor, transistor, bad solder joint(s), etc. If this piece sat idle for a long time, I would suspect some of the electrolytics but definitely wouldn't rule out dirty controls and switches. I saw so many people come in with "blown up" amps and receivers that only needed to have these cleaned and all of the customers were completely surprised, and relieved. This is a cheap fix, especially if the owner does it. That doesn't rule out the possibility of a control that won't come back but if it hasn't been done before, it's worth a try.

I know how it is with older equipment- much of my system is older but since it sounds good, there's really no reason to replace. I also have a few old guitar amps and at some point, they all need something, but that's to be expected when they're from the late 1930's, 1958 and 1966, respectively.

 

[jostenmeat]

If you rearranged the cables, it's possible that a connection was improved slightly, an analog audio cable being used is farther from the power cord and/or speaker cables and if the noise was only at high decible levels, the noise could have been induced into an audio cable, which isn't necessarily RF, but EMI. It's generally best to keep low voltage cabling as far from high voltage cabling as possible. If these cables need to cross, do it at a right angle, in order to minimize interference.

It was at any volume, or specifically with nothing playing (would be hard or impossible to hear if the volume was loud). Its gone now, or if its there, its now greatly reduced.

It could be as simple as a dirty control or switch on the NAD, too.

Thanks. Have any good links and/or instructions to opening up and cleaning an amp?

I would try moving them away from any possible sources of EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference). If you have a subwoofer that has a Class D amp, it could be from the power supply. First thing I would do is verify the noise and turn the subwoofer off. If it goes away, try a different interconnect to that.

I do have a Class D amp in my sub, which is in close proximity. Interesting comment. However, when I was originally having the issue, I'm pretty sure the sub was not on, as it didn't yet have a signal to auto-detect when first firing up the system.

If your audio cables are far too long and bundled in a loop, get rid of the loop- it can act as an inductor and pick up noises.

I'm now considering buying shorter interconnects... lol...

A while ago I had what I thought might be a problem and started a thread about it. It's short and it may be of use to you.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40458

Thanks a lot.

Due to age a cap is the likely culprit if you still hear the noise with no input connections.

A good look at the circuit would give a clue to likely suspect components. There is a good chance a competent service tech could isolate this problem quite quickly.

It is up to you to decide to replace or service. I have a bias to keep good older equipment running, and even bring a worthy example or two back to life. But I may well be in the minority on that.

I am also inclined to keep things until they die. Its just my nature. However, I must admit I've never really felt any types of upgraditis before that I can possibly remember . . . until I discovered this silly hobby.