High Volume producing 'white noise', any solutions?

[spider_duggan]

Hi,

I just purchased a system.
-Onkyo TX-602
-Klipsch RF15
-Monster Power HTS 2000
-14 gauge cables

Without any other HT equipment on, there is a 'white noise' sound from the speakers when the reciever is turned up past 80%. Is that normal? It's not loud or distinctive, it's a static-like sound that one might hear when playing a record.

Any solutions or suggestions?

Thanks, Dan

PS - I'd like to get the Klipsch Sub, Is it alright to get the RF-10 instead of the RF-8 recommended by Klipsch?

 

[Venger]

Are you sure you're not just hearing the noise floor? EVERY amp in the sub $3k range is likely to produce audible hiss from the speakers at 80+%. Think about it - a 95db s/n ratio will make noise when you amp the raw signal 100db.

80% is awful high...

 

[spider_duggan]

I'm not sure of the origin of the noise. Your response gives me reason to believe that the noise is normal, in the sense that it's not a problem with the speakers, reciever, or wires.

Thanks for the clarification, as I had never experienced a Hi-Fi system and had no idea as to the nature of the noise. Can anyone further explain the terms noise floor, s/n ratio, and raw signal? I'd like them clarified.

And hiss is definately the discriptive term for the audible sound which I was struggling to explain in my previous post.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[MDS]

Is the noise only audible when you are not playing any source? If so, that is normal. If you can hear noise when actually playing music that would be a problem.

Noise Floor: The level of noise that is inherent in the equipment. The level is usually very low on modern receivers. When you turn the volume way up with nothing connected, you are amplifying the noise. That is likely what was meant by 'raw' signal.

S/N: The Signal to Noise ratio is the ratio between the Signal and the Noise as it's name implies. A value such as 95dB means that the level of the signal exceeds the noise floor by 95dB or to look at it another way using the example given by Venger, at an output level of 100 dB the noise will begin to dominate the signal and be clearly audible.

 

[spider_duggan]

Thanks Anonymous and Venger,

Great awnser! I've got a good grasp of noise floor and s/n ratio now.

The noise is not audible at listening levels. That said, I have not pushed the volume up to 80% with music playing and don't know if it is audible with music playing at that high volume. I might try pushing the volume up tomorrow afternoon, and I might get evicted some time tomorrow too, for playing music at such a loud level!

In fact, I really have not turned the system up past the half way mark. The speakers were floor demos and I assume that they have been played well beyond the level at which I have played them, and I'm still reserved about turning them 'way up.'

How much volume is to much volume? Can speakers be pushed to the point when they distort without damage?

Cheers,
Dan

 

[Venger]

Most people will bail on music that's overly loud - music sounds good with energy and punch, but your hearing begins to fatigue at high levels real quickly.

Speakers normally will tell you when they are having a problem - since most energy is expended in the bass region, listen for chuffing, or bass distortion. If your instinct is to turn away from directly listening to the music - it's too loud.

Keep the music balanced for your taste, turn it up nice and loud - but not loud just for the sake of loudness.

Venger

 

[jaxvon]

Many times though, when you turn speakers up that loud and they start to sound crappy, it's the sound of your amplifier (or in this case the amp section of your reciever) in pain. This is not a good thing. You can damage your speakers this way. If you had a more powerful amplifier, you would be able to turn up your system more without the amplifier getting close to or even clipping. A clipping amplifier is a really easy way to damage speakers. A pair of speaks can handle a lot of power before they get messed up, but it has to be a lot of clean power. If you find that when you listen to music at levels you like but your speakers sound dirty, you may A) Have too small of speakers B) An inadequate amplifier or C) Both A and B.

No, this is not a test. Just a post

 

[spider_duggan]

Thanks for the Advice and Information,

I turned the reciever up to about 85% with a DVD-A playing through an optical connection. Other then being to loud for comfort, there was no serious distortion in the treble and the bass was, as I had expected, missing in action.

The klipsch RF-15 are a beautiful speaker with great treble, and i recommend that a subwoofer is purchased with the speakers.

Again, thanks for the information.