Slight crackling from speakers; should I worry?

[corysmith01]

I'm hearing an ever so faint sort of snapping or crackling from my speakers when I play a CD. To not post this in hear blindly, I did a few things to see if I could help eliminate certain problems.

First the equipment. I'm using a Marantz SR8400 that's about 6 months old. Speakers are new Paradigm Studio 20 v.3. Cables are Impact Acoustic velocity speaker cables. CD player/source is old, crappy Sony DVP-NC655P (I haven't upgraded yet). Connecting the CD player to the receiver is an AR optical cable.

The problem is, and I'd never noticed it before, but when I put in a CD today, I was very close to my speakers, within inches. I normally adjust the volume with the remote, but since I was there, I did so with the volume adjust. I heard a very slight "crackly" that seemed to coincide with each level of volume adjusted. It wasn't loud, but it definitely got louder/softer in conjunction with the volume adjustment. Puzzled, I started moving the rotary dial for the different sound environments (stereo, auto, dolby, etc). Crackling again. Then, I adjusted with the remote. Crackling again. Keep in mind, this is very, very faint, but definitely there.

So, to try to get to the bottom of it, I swapped speaker cables since I had some extra to see if it was the cabling. Same thing.

Next, I turned off the CD player and just had the receiver on. "No Data" showed on the receivers screen. With this setting, no crackling at all. I could turn it up as loud as it it would go and hear nothing. So next, I turned the CD player on. Still no crackling. However, once I hit play, and data was being sent, the slight crackling would come back.

So, with all that in mind, what could this be? My thoughts are that it"s:

a) the player itself. old? needs replacement?
-or-
b) the cable connecting the player to the receiver. i'm using optical, an acoustic research (not too bad) cable.

Am I missing anything else? What else could I do to test? Could it be the actual digital input on the reciver? Should I try changing inputs? I do have a coaxial cable laying around...should I try that over the optical? I'm really at a loss here. I'm praying, absolutely praying, that it's one of the things mentioned above and not my receiver or speakers.

Anyone have any other ideas/suggestions? I'm trying to figure this out and it's baffling me. Thanks.

 

[zumbo]

Grab an analog set of patch cables to see if it is caused by the optical connection.

 

[corysmith01]

Good call. I'm off to do that now. Will report back.

 

[corysmith01]

Swapped out. Still getting the same clicking/crackling sound through analog, no digital hooked up.

 

[zumbo]

Another thing I would do. I use a hand vac, the kind with a hose, and vacuum my equipment weekly. I open my dvd and cd player, and carefully vacuum them out also.

You might want to try another input, like dvd, on the receiver.

 

[zumbo]

Swapped out. Still getting the same clicking/crackling sound through analog, no digital hooked up.

After checking another input, try another player. (dvd,playstation,friends player)

 

[JaceTheAce]

Sometimes dust can get into the volume control pod and make a crackling noise even if the volume control isn't moved.

Do you live in an area with a lot of dust?

 

[corysmith01]

There is an inordinate amount of dust in my apartment. I don't know why..I think it has something to do with the fact that we have wood-slatted ceilings (we're on the top floor). I do have an air can for cleaning off camera lenses and such. Maybe I'll try some of that.

In the meantime, I've tried analog and optical...also went with coaxial. Still crackling. Also, I hooked up my xbox and played a cd that way. Exact same thing. I'm baffled.

 

[zumbo]

There is an inordinate amount of dust in my apartment. I don't know why..I think it has something to do with the fact that we have wood-slatted ceilings (we're on the top floor). I do have an air can for cleaning off camera lenses and such. Maybe I'll try some of that.

In the meantime, I've tried analog and optical...also went with coaxial. Still crackling. Also, I hooked up my xbox and played a cd that way. Exact same thing. I'm baffled.

Now we know it's not your player.
And you tried a different input on the receiver? dvd,tape, anything?

 

[corysmith01]

Negative ghost rider. I tried using the air can to clean out the volume control. It changed nothing...still got a snap crackle and pop.

I'm still trying to figure out which is the culprit. Like I said, with nothing being sent, there is no crackle. But, the moment the cd player starts and is sending a signal, then it starts.

 

[corysmith01]

Now we know it's not your player.
And you tried a different input? dvd,tape, anything?

Crap. I can't remember. I think so, but let me go try again.

 

[corysmith01]

Okay, so now I have. Original set up was DVD player -> optical cable -> DVD input on receiver. Just now, I went DVD player -> analog cables -> CD input on receiver. Same thing. Uggh.

 

[zumbo]

Well. It's a receiver problem. I would remove the cover and use your little air thingy to blow dust away from anything that looks dirty.

Unpulg the power, and cover anything you don't want dust to get in while you blow it out. (inputs and such)

You may want to run an extension cord from another outlet just to be sure it's not the outlet.

 

[corysmith01]

I can try that, but will that void my warranty in any way? Like I said, it's only 6 months old. Also, should I fault Marantz on this, or just my dusty apartment? I gotta believe that lots of folks can get dust in their gear...this (when it was out) was a $1300 receiver for cryin' out loud. Oh well. Whattya gonna do?

 

[zumbo]

Pack it up. Take it back.

Invest. http://www.hunterfan.com/sort.php?pType=airP&type=2
I have a Hunter air-purifier in every room. They do a great job. And, my wife and I dust on a regular basis.

I would be sure to clean the unit off the best you can without taking it apart before you return it.

 

[corysmith01]

Did a few more things, just to try to cover all bases.

The DVD player was plugged into the back of the reciever and the reciver into a surge protector. So, I unplugged the dvd player from the receiver and ran it into the surge protector. Then, I unplugged the receiver and ran it directly into the wall plate. Still crackling.

Next, since I had a pair lying around, I unhooked my paradigms and plugged in a pair of Polk R15's to make sure it wasn't the speakers. Same thing. More crackling. Hmmm.

 

[zumbo]

Did you try the extension cord from another outlet?

 

[corysmith01]

Did you try the extension cord from another outlet?

Just did that. Had it plugged in across the room. Same results.

 

[Tex-amp]

"I heard a very slight "crackly" that seemed to coincide with each level of volume adjusted. It wasn't loud, but it definitely got louder/softer in conjunction with the volume adjustment."

Sounds like it is in your volume pot. Get it serviced under the warranty.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/ElectronicsRepair.htm

I'd say a quick trip to Radio Shack and an employee who can direct you to an electronics cleaner should fix the issue. If I remember correctly, your unit was from Ubid, right? It may have been sitting for some time, and like some of my older equipment in the basement, may simply need a little tlc.