Speaker Noise

[Jimmy82]

What's the best way to reduce speaker noise?

 

[j_garcia]

Turn them down

Speakers don't add "noise". If you are getting sound that isn't part of the signal then it is likely something that is before the amplification stage that is being amplified along with the signal. If you switch to an input that you don't have a source connected to, do you still have the noise?

 

[markw]

Turn the volume down.

Speakers generally don't make noise. They do, however, reproduce any and all noise produced by the upstream components.

I can think of one exception though. What kind of nose are you talking about.

 

[Seth=L]

What kind of nose are you talking about.

It took me a second, but I figured it out.

The electronics before the speakers make noise. Stereo components are usually measured as SNR (signal to noise ratio). The higher the SNR is, the lower the noise will be. For example; A CD player with an SNR of 120 dB (decibels) would be quieter than one measured at 100dB. Each component in the chain will add noise. Assuming all components are of decent quality and functioning properly the noise level should be low, and the speakers should merely hiss faintly and the hiss should only be heard if no music is playing and if you are close to the speaker. The most common component to add noise is the preamplifier (receivers are a preamplifier, tuner, and amplifier combined in one chassis). Because of all the variables involved in a preamplifier such as volume attenuation, tone controls, and other processes it's likely the most noise will be introduced with this part. That's not to say that's the only component that may add noise, as I've seen terrible sources that add lots of noise as well as amplifiers. A good amplifier with nothing connected to it should make very little if any noise. CD players are often low on noise as well. Tuners and other analog sources such as tape players and VCRs usually have low SNR ratios making them noisier.

Other possibilities for the introduction of noise comes from poor power. If your signal chain has too much electromagnetic interference (EMI) or the voltage is not constant you may have problems with 60hz humming and buzzing. Improperly grounded components can cause humming or buzzing interference as well. Bad cabling can also cause problems. And of course because your speakers are the end of the chain they will reveal all the extra noise that comes from any number of things. The best thing you can do is troubleshoot to see where the noise is coming from. Check to see if the noise is at a constant level regardless of what volume you have the receiver or preamplifier set to. Take an inventory of all components and their connections and systematically go through each part (disconnection, reconnection, input changes etc...) until you find the source of the problem.

 

[markw]

It took me a second, but I figured it out.

Gotta keep ya on your toes.

 

[Seth=L]

Gotta keep ya on your toes.

Good, because the last thing I want to be kept on is my nose.

 

[Jimmy82]

It took me a second, but I figured it out.

The electronics before the speakers make noise. Stereo components are usually measured as SNR (signal to noise ratio). The higher the SNR is, the lower the noise will be. For example; A CD player with an SNR of 120 dB (decibels) would be quieter than one measured at 100dB. Each component in the chain will add noise. Assuming all components are of decent quality and functioning properly the noise level should be low, and the speakers should merely hiss faintly and the hiss should only be heard if no music is playing and if you are close to the speaker. The most common component to add noise is the preamplifier (receivers are a preamplifier, tuner, and amplifier combined in one chassis). Because of all the variables involved in a preamplifier such as volume attenuation, tone controls, and other processes it's likely the most noise will be introduced with this part. That's not to say that's the only component that may add noise, as I've seen terrible sources that add lots of noise as well as amplifiers. A good amplifier with nothing connected to it should make very little if any noise. CD players are often low on noise as well. Tuners and other analog sources such as tape players and VCRs usually have low SNR ratios making them noisier.

Other possibilities for the introduction of noise comes from poor power. If your signal chain has too much electromagnetic interference (EMI) or the voltage is not constant you may have problems with 60hz humming and buzzing. Improperly grounded components can cause humming or buzzing interference as well. Bad cabling can also cause problems. And of course because your speakers are the end of the chain they will reveal all the extra noise that comes from any number of things. The best thing you can do is troubleshoot to see where the noise is coming from. Check to see if the noise is at a constant level regardless of what volume you have the receiver or preamplifier set to. Take an inventory of all components and their connections and systematically go through each part (disconnection, reconnection, input changes etc...) until you find the source of the problem.

Actually i only hear a hiss when no sound is playing and it's not really bothering me but i would like to know ways to reduce that hiss to minimum. Suggestions for REALLY GOOD cabling would be good...

 

[Seth=L]

Actually i only hear a hiss when no sound is playing and it's not really bothering me but i would like to know ways to reduce that hiss to minimum. Suggestions for REALLY GOOD cabling would be good...

The only cabling that would cause a noise problem would be faulty cabling, and that would only introduce a buzzing sound, not hiss. The hiss is most likely coming from the receiver or preamplifier, which ever you have.

If there is one thing you won't catch me doing on here is recommending exotic cables. Monoprice is very popular around here because they sell cheap, durable cables that work. Cables have as much to do with sound as the color of your car has to do with it's handling ability.

 

[highfigh]

Actually i only hear a hiss when no sound is playing and it's not really bothering me but i would like to know ways to reduce that hiss to minimum. Suggestions for REALLY GOOD cabling would be good...

Cable doesn't add hiss, either. Electronics adds hiss. Cable may allow hum or other noises in, such as what comes in when the signal cables run parallel to data cables but they don't change the noise level. If you have manually set an equalizer or some other levels, that's usually where noise comes from.

 

[TLS Guy]

What is your receiver or amp, and what is its signal to noise spec?

There are two possible reasons for your problem.

All devices produce some hiss. Generally upscale electronics produces less hiss than cheaper electronics, but there is always some.

The second problem, if your speakers have a peak around 5 kHz the small amount of hiss becomes much more noticeable.

Bass/mid break up modes not notched in the crossover often produce peaks in this range making hiss audible.

So if you know your receiver amps S/N then we can determine which part of your system is due for replacement.

It would be helpful if you would let us know your electronics and speakers.

 

[Seth=L]

What is your receiver or amp, and what is its signal to noise spec?

There are two possible reasons for your problem.

All devices produce some hiss. Generally upscale electronics produces less hiss than cheaper electronics, but there is always some.

The second problem, if your speakers have a peak around 5 kHz the small amount of hiss becomes much more noticeable.

Bass/mid break up modes not notched in the crossover often produce peaks in this range making hiss audible.

So if you know your receiver amps S/N then we can determine which part of your system is due for replacement.

It would be helpful if you would let us know your electronics and speakers.

I think I have found the answer.

I've recently got my hands on a vintage technics audio system with 2 loudspeakers but i don't know the wattage and it isn't written anywhere.The speakers are the nb-304 12'' 4 way (Technics? googled it didn't find it).Can someone tell me a way to find the wattage?

Vintage audio equipment is often plagued with noise problems for a multitude of reasons. Depending on what time these components came out they may have cared so little for the SNR because they were in the middle of the THD (total harmonic distortion) wars or the wattage wars. It's easy to overlook certain factors when you focus on only one aspect in order to compete with everyone else in the field.

Technics had quite a few high end pieces a couple of decades ago, but they also flooded the market with some pretty cheap stuff. A friend of mine has a Technics stereo receiver that you can hear the radio playing music when no speakers are connected. Needless to say, stuff wears out over time and doesn't work like it did when it came fresh out of the box.

I'd say, be happy you got the stuff for what I assume was cheap or free and that it works. Ignore the hiss, and if you can't hear it when playing music then there's no cause for concern or senseless fretting about noise that emits when nothing is happening. Who cares if it's going to make a noise when nothing's going through it. You don't sit for hours on end with the equipment on for it to play nothing (well you might if you were off your meds or your rocker).

Simply put, it doesn't matter and you should just be happy with the stuff for what it is. Old audio equipment can be every bit as fun as the new so enjoy yourself.

 

[highfigh]

Vintage audio equipment is often plagued with noise problems for a multitude of reasons. Depending on what time these components came out they may have cared so little for the SNR because they were in the middle of the THD (total harmonic distortion) wars or the wattage wars. It's easy to overlook certain factors when you focus on only one aspect in order to compete with everyone else in the field.

Technics had quite a few high end pieces a couple of decades ago, but they also flooded the market with some pretty cheap stuff. A friend of mine has a Technics stereo receiver that you can hear the radio playing music when no speakers are connected. Needless to say, stuff wears out over time and doesn't work like it did when it came fresh out of the box.

I'd say, be happy you got the stuff for what I assume was cheap or free and that it works. Ignore the hiss, and if you can't hear it when playing music then there's no cause for concern or senseless fretting about noise that emits when nothing is happening. Who cares if it's going to make a noise when nothing's going through it. You don't sit for hours on end with the equipment on for it to play nothing (well you might if you were off your meds or your rocker).

Simply put, it doesn't matter and you should just be happy with the stuff for what it is. Old audio equipment can be every bit as fun as the new so enjoy yourself.

I can vouch for the obsession over power and THD. I couldn't begin to guess how many people came into the store where I worked and asked questions about specs that they knew nothing about. Sansui was making noise about their Direct Coupled amps and Slew Rate, EVERYONE wanted to be the King Of Power and THD but nobody mentioned S/N very much because at high levels, the noise was masked by the music and after a few weeks of cranking the thing up to 11, it wasn't possible for the little pinheads to hear, anyway.

One thing that contributes to noise levels is lead dressing and signal path routing. When you can hear the tuner with the source set to Tape, Phono or some other input, it's usually because of inductive coupling, cheap parts or a leaky switch. Hiss can be due to gain stages trying to do too much or carbon composition resistors- newer types are much more quiet.

 

[Jimmy82]

The path of the sound is Laptop Headphone output -> technics SH-8025 equalizer -> technics SU-Z25 amp -> nb-304 4 way speakers (Technics?)

 

[markw]

And, your point is?

The path of the sound is Laptop Headphone output -> technics SH-8025 equalizer -> technics SU-Z25 amp -> nb-304 4 way speakers (Technics?)

Everything that can be said about this has been said.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm sure the laptop isn't helping things. Built in laptop audio cards usually don't have very good signal to noise ration, especially for a headphone output. Cheap EQs add more noise that most component because of all the extra circuitry. Your entire chain of components create more noise than average, but all that really matters is this... does it sound good?