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My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

114.78.0.197

Posted on January 24, 2015 at 13:47:31

Jethro Seven
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Location: Qld
Joined: January 24, 2015

Here's my situation :

1. I have the Pocket Amp 2.0 (http://www.electric-avenues.com/)
2. I have the AKG K271 Mk II Headphones
3. I have the CH Products Multi-Function Panel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JXreeig30M)
4. I am using the Asus Xonar STX which is great for my needs.

Love all the equipment. When I use the three of them together, the RF frequency from the MFP interferes with the PocketAmp and I get background noise (which can be severe, depending on how close I get to it) with my headphones.

I use the amp as it significantly improves the sound on my music collection. (I use Foobar / CD rips).

I'm stuffed. I'm in contact with the manufacturer of the Pocket Amp, and he can't get the Pocket Amp to resist RF properly.

I need a AMP that is resistant to RF (radio frequency) which is what the MFP uses to communicate between the switch and the device. Is there such a device?

Failing that, I need to dump my headphones and go for normal speakers, in which case I am hoping for some suggestions.

Is there a RF resistant AMP I should consider?

I'm new here, but would love some help. :)
Jethro

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RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Caucasian Blackplate

14:27:18 01/24/15

Awe-d-o-file

16:43:14 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Jethro Seven

14:30:40 01/24/15

...

Show full thread outline!

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Caucasian Blackplate

14:27:18 01/24/15

Awe-d-o-file

16:43:14 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Jethro Seven

14:30:40 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Caucasian Blackplate

14:37:31 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Jethro Seven

14:38:37 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Caucasian Blackplate

17:13:58 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Jethro Seven

21:45:19 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Caucasian Blackplate

10:30:50 01/25/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?

Awe-d-o-file

16:47:09 01/24/15

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 24, 2015 at 14:27:18

Caucasian Blackplate
Industry Professional

Posts: 8313
Location: Seattle
Joined: June 18, 2004

It's never a good sign when an audio-band opamp is showing RF instability. Literally, the amp just needs a pair of small caps at the input to shunt any RF coming in. Having said that, what you may be hearing is noise coming through USB from a computer.

If you like the amp, try using some shielded cables from the Xonar to the headphone amp. Also, if you have an optical digital out, try using that into a different DAC for good isolation.

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 24, 2015 at 14:30:40

Jethro Seven
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Location: Qld
Joined: January 24, 2015

Here's what I am hearing, this is me moving my hand over to the CH MFP.
Jethro

Sound Sample (Google Drive)

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 24, 2015 at 14:37:31
Caucasian Blackplate Industry Professional Posts: 8313 Location: Seattle Joined: June 18, 2004	Try shielded cables, they will cost less than a new amp, but that certainly is instability.

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 24, 2015 at 14:38:37

Jethro Seven
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Location: Qld
Joined: January 24, 2015

Thanks for that suggestion - can you link me to a suitable cable (perhaps on ebay?) - This is my setup..
Jethro

Both , posted on January 24, 2015 at 16:43:14
Awe-d-o-file Dealer Posts: 21037 Location: 50 miles west of DC Joined: January 10, 2004	are excellent ideas as I see it. E T ET "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 24, 2015 at 16:47:09
Awe-d-o-file Dealer Posts: 21037 Location: 50 miles west of DC Joined: January 10, 2004	I'd also physically move it away from the tower,monitor and anything else such as power supplies. Good luck E T ET "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 24, 2015 at 17:13:58
Caucasian Blackplate Industry Professional Posts: 8313 Location: Seattle Joined: June 18, 2004	You have your headphone amp right by your computer's power supply. That is about the worst place in your room for it. Get slightly longer cables and rest the amp on top of your tower case.

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 24, 2015 at 21:45:19
Jethro Seven Audiophile Posts: 4 Location: Qld Joined: January 24, 2015	I'm going to try a few of those things and see if it makes a difference. If not, can anyone here suggest a similar amp that is less likely to have RF issues? Jethro

RE: My AMP is Radio Frequency Vulnerable - Alternatives?, posted on January 25, 2015 at 10:30:50
Caucasian Blackplate Industry Professional Posts: 8313 Location: Seattle Joined: June 18, 2004	Look for something that has aluminum in the chassis, and that has its own power cord. If you're handy with a soldering iron, you could custom make some cables with a capacitor across the output end to help with this problem, but I suspect you'll be OK just getting your current amp away from the ATX supply.

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