speaker buzzing/interference

3db

3db

Audioholic Slumlord
The whole problem with RF interference though, is that y, just like a radio or TV transmitter. You can't eliminate it with a power conditioner. RF can not get through the equipment's transformers. The problem is devices like dimmers radiate RF back into the mains cable. It can be your neighbors dimmers and motors too. Any one on the same secondary of the nearest transformer as you, can radiate RF interference into your home. The mains cable then becomes a transmitter through the air. Your equipment receives this as radio waves through the air, just like you radio set does. You have to go into a different mode altogether to deal with RF. You have to think way beyond power conditioners. To stop RF with a power conditioner, it would have to be right were the supply comes into your house, and big enough to handle your whole house current.

You have to keep speaker cables, which are so often the entry point for radio waves from being near power cables, and not having them run parallel with mains cables if possible.

Make sure screens are in good condition. An oxidized RCA jack can be a source of penetration, as the oxide layer can act as a semiconductor, and start the rectification of radio waves at the connector. Sometimes changing the physical orientation of an amp preamp or receiver makes a difference as it can reduce the pick up by the part receiving the interference. This is just like rotating an antenna to receive a radio stations signal better.

Radio frequency interference is a tough problem. He is in Australia, that uses a higher voltage grid. He will be sharing his electric circuit with far more people than in the US, as I explained previously.
yes but *L* .. he did mention that when he used an alternate circuit, the problem disappeared. hence the recommendation of power condititoner on that outlet or simpler yet, just use the alternate circuit. :)
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
yes but *L* .. he did mention that when he used an alternate circuit, the problem disappeared. hence the recommendation of power condititoner on that outlet or simpler yet, just use the alternate circuit. :)
Yes but previously he had tried different circuits, even running a cable up to the bedroom and still had trouble. Yesterday he used a couple of circuits and no buzz. I think he came to the conclusion that his Interference was likely coming from a neighbor, and at that time yesterday the offending radiating equipment was not functioning.
 
3db

3db

Audioholic Slumlord
Yes but previously he had tried different circuits, even running a cable up to the bedroom and still had trouble. Yesterday he used a couple of circuits and no buzz. I think he came to the conclusion that his Interference was likely coming from a neighbor, and at that time yesterday the offending radiating equipment was not functioning.
Good point. :rolleyes: What was I thinking?

I remember way back in my youth that wheneve mom turned on the vacuum cleaner, our old b&w tv picture went haywire.

Short of being in a "tempest" room, I don't know what he can do.
 
holden_stroker

holden_stroker

Junior Audioholic
thanks guys, i think im starting to understand. and to clear the power part up, when i went to try another circuit, i noticed the buzzing had already stopped before i tried it.. then last night i heard it was doing it again :confused:
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
thanks guys, i think im starting to understand. and to clear the power part up, when i went to try another circuit, i noticed the buzzing had already stopped before i tried it.. then last night i heard it was doing it again :confused:
I think you have got it! Yes, when you don't hear it your neighbor is not generating the interference. I think you understand you can't solve this one changing circuits or using power conditioners.

Thank you for your posts. This is a difficult topic about which there is a lot of misunderstanding. If you have to resort to RF chokes, just confirm that the interference is being picked up by the speaker leads. Try for instance to see if you can listen to the amp outputs with phones or a small speaker on a very short lead, see if you hear it on the speakers and not the phones. If you can't hear it on the phones, the RF chokes will likely be effective. They will have no audible side effects their inductance is causing an RF trap not an audio trap. Remember there are other places were RF can penetrate your system, like my case here yesterday.
 
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