Speaker Hiss

[Bertaut]

Hi all, my first post.

Right, I've a fairly straightforward problem. Really bad speaker hiss. I have a Technics EH-790, and basically, all five of my speakers are giving out a nasty hissing sound. The unit is connected to my PS2, my VCR and my DVD player. Now, I've had the unit for over two years, and there's always been a low level hiss, but recently, it's gotten much worse - to the point where it is now audible over music, dialogue etc. I haven't done anything or connected anything new recently, I literally turned it on one day, and there it was. Like I say, the hiss has always existed, but it's gotten intolerable at this stage.

Thanks for any help you may be able to give me guys.

 

[markw]

speakers don't produce hiss. They merely reproduce what's sent to them.

It's coming from another component updown the line and you have to isolate it.

Does it do it on all sources? If not, it's that one source. If it does it for all sources, it's the receiver.

Assuming it's the reeiver, does it do it at the same level, regardless of at what the volume control is set? If so, it's the power amp. If it varies with the volume control, it's in the preamp stage.

In either case, if it is the receiver, you'll have to either replace it or get it repaired.

You might want to get an estimate and compare it to a replacement before commiting to a repair.

 

[chadnliz]

Is it a hum or a hiss? If it is a hum it most likely is a ground loop which you can cure with a simple 2 prong adaptor. If it is a hiss try this, it may help a bit, go into your speaker level menu and lower your speaker levels as much as you can keeping them all level ofcourse. Now your volume will need to go higher but that can cure hiss and it has worked for me before. For a quick example say you have your fronts at 0db, your center at +2db and your surrounds at +3db.........and you can adjust all levels plus or minus 10db, you would lower your mains say 4 or 6 db and all others that same amount and see if that cures your issue. One time I wanted more volume out of a unit I had and I did the exact opposite as I describe to you, so after I changed everything I had a gain hiss.......thats how this idead came to me. Cheers

 

[Seth=L]

The system is similar to a home theater in a box/mini system correct? Are you using the same speakers that came with it?

Did you get new speakers and the problem just suddenly got worse with the speaker upgrade?

 

[spacedteddybear]

Make sure your existing connects are solidly in place. Other than that, everyone else's suggestions are good.

 

[3db]

It's coming from another component updown the line and you have to isolate it.

Does it do it on all sources? If not, it's that one source. If it does it for all sources, it's the receiver.

Assuming it's the reeiver, does it do it at the same level, regardless of at what the volume control is set? If so, it's the power amp. If it varies with the volume control, it's in the preamp stage.

In either case, if it is the receiver, you'll have to either replace it or get it repaired.

You might want to get an estimate and compare it to a replacement before commiting to a repair.

markw is spot on with this post. You need to do a little investigating and isolating. If all inputs to your receiver have been disconnected and the hissing still prevails, then you have a faulty receiver.

 

[Bertaut]

Thank you all for your response, they are most appreciated. I haven't had a chance yet to investigate further as I'm working overtime at the moment, but I will in a day or two, and I'll let y'all know what happens.

To answer the various questions you asked though:

Markw
It is coming from all sources, and yes it stays at the same level irrespective of volume

Chadnliz
I tried your suggestion but it didn't do the trick. Good idea though

Seth=L
Yep, I'm using the same speakers, nothing about the set up has changed whatsoever since the day I got it

Spaceedteddybear
Yes, everything is solidly in place.

So it looks like it's the power amp if I'm not mistaken.
As I say, I'll look into it a little more shortly.

Again, thank you very much guys, I really appreciate your help.

 

[Seth=L]

Try plugging the unit in at a different outlet. Make sure no other electronic items are being operated on the same circuit as the receiver unit. For instance, a flourecent light that is on can introduce noise into a sound system, or a fan.

 

[mtrycrafts]

markw is spot on with this post. You need to do a little investigating and isolating. If all inputs to your receiver have been disconnected and the hissing still prevails, then you have a faulty receiver.

Maybe he has SNAKES in there?

 

[3db]

Maybe he has SNAKES in there?

I hate snakes!! Why does it have to be snakes?

 

[bspooner]

My first home theater had bad hissing problems. I blamed the Sony reciever I'd bought, so I took it back to the store and they gave me a good deal on an upgraded (but still Sony) reciever. I don't remember the model number, but it was about $1100, so must have been a fairly good one.

The hiss was less prevelent but still there and it bugged me. So I bought a Denon 3802 and there was zero hiss. That was about 10 years ago and I'm still quite happily using it to this day.

 

[wire]

Maybe he has SNAKES in there?

Hehe
To funny

 

[mtrycrafts]

.. Why does it have to be snakes?

All that hissing is coming from something, right?

 

[sparky77]

A snake in the grass is worth two in the tree.

Wait, it seems we might be getting just a little bit off topic here.......

Enough cliche's already, the movie industry takes care of most of that for us.

 

[Bertaut]

Well, I've done some investigating, and thankfully, there's no snakes in the system (that would hae really sucked as my snake removal guy is on holidays), so I'm 90% sure its the receiver. I'll go get an estimate on a repair job tomorrow, although I've been thinking about getting myself a really good amp for some time now, and this might just provide the impetus I need.

Thanks very much for all your help guys, it really is very much appreciated.