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Hi there,
About two years ago there was a thread about clicking noises when turning the volume control on an NAD M3:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/amp/messages/14/140970.html
I just bought an M3 and have a related problem.
I also hear the clicking from my speakers when turning the volume control, but mine can get quite loud. I sit 8 feet from the speakers, and the clicking can sometimes be audible over the music. If you turn the volume up via the remote, the clicking increases in volume in lockstep with the music.
I should say, that I can hear the clicking over the music from 8 feet away, only when there is just a single instrument or two being played, for example a bass solo, or quiet piano.
I'm thinking my unit is defective and I should get it replaced.
If you're an M3 owner, I was wondering if you could play a bass solo and check if you can hear the clicking from 8 feet away when changing the volume. If you can't, then I'd be more sure something was wrong with my M3.
If you can do this, I'd be most appreciative!(If you live near me-- Los Angeles -- and I can come check out your M3, all the better)
Thanks!
PS: In case you're interested, the bass solos I've noticed this on are:
--opening of Track 1 "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" on "Wheelin' & Dealin" CD, John Coltrane
--opening of Track 1 "Yesterdays" on "Voyage" CD, Stan Getz
--opening of Temptations "My Girl"
Edits: 02/26/12Follow Ups:
Thanks much for this additional info. Your experience tracks mine exactly. So I guess my unit isn't defective and I guess I should change my mind about swapping it for a different unit while the 30 day return period is still around.
The clicking you hear is probably coming from the fancy stepped attenuator volume control your M3 is equipped with. I just sold an M3 that I had for a year and mine did the same thing and is considered normal. The BAT integrated I have now does the same thing because it has the same type of volume control-the clicking is actually louder on the BAT than it was on the M3. The benefit of a stepped attenuator is potentially better sound because only one resistor of the volume control is in the circuit at a time-or something like that, I'm not a techie. The click occurs when your volume control switches from one resistor to the next. Read up on your M3's volume control in reviews and NAD literature and then maybe you'll appreciate the clicking. Great amp, by the way. Enjoy it.
Thanks for the reply!
I now understand some clicking is normal.
What I'm specifically wondering is, can the clicking be heard over music (for example a bass solo) from a listening position at least 8 feet away.
And as you raise the music volume with the remote, the clicking gets louder in lockstep.
Do you recall?
with a particular "gatling gun" clacking when the attenuator is engaged, and it ramps up with an increase in level. Perhaps a similar system is being used with the NAD? At fist it was bothersome, but over time I don't even think of it anymore.
The greatest impediment to advancing an audiophile system is the audiophile.
it doesn't get louder as the volume is increased on my 840A V2, and, it's not audible through the speakers - only from the relays. I'm wondering if the OP is hearing it through his speakers? Which would seem odd to me.
By the way - I agree, the clicking seemed odd to me at first, but I've gotten used to it.
In the relentless pursuit of Sanity, and his elusive brother, Common Sense.
Music Machine
I heard some Cambridge product at a dealer's a couple of years ago and whatever model I was listening to did the same thing. I then asked myself why I would want such a feature.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
The benefit is the notion that as a feature a stepped attenuator is the best sounding type of volume control. Some (maybe all) stepped attenuators just happen to click. Anybody wanna get involved in a lengthy discussion over stepped attenuators vs. Alps pots vs. volume controls in the digital domain? Not me.
I understand the so-called benefit. I'm one of those who prefers not to hear the volume control while it is changing the volume.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
I hear 'ya. Like when I test rode a BMW motorcycle with the classic twin engine...it vibrated and shook a lot at idle and I thought it was broken after riding Hondas for years. The salesman said it was a quirk you learned to love. I thought he was crazy.
Since then I learned to love the vibes and have owned three of them. Currently an '06 R1200GS.
Just as it seems that my unit is functioning like at least one other M3, I got this reply from NAD's support center:
"2012-02-29 08:55 re: loud noise on M3 when turning volume control
Hi Jerold,
If this noise is occurring with music and at 8 ft away then it seems like it has developed a fault.
The low level clicks with open input is normal.
The dealer should check this first.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Pam Anderson"
Thoughts??
First thought: You never mentioned the noise was "loud" in your post but it looks like you told NAD it was loud. Mine did it exactly as you described it in your posts. Hearing it during a quiet solo at high volume is one thing, if it is loud enough to hear over a mixed program then you may have a problem. Can you go to your dealer and try to recreate it using his demo?
Second thought: If you can get Pamela Anderson to make a house call to look at your amp that would be cool.
Maybe my use of the word "loud" did throw her off. In my text, I did specify I hear it only over things like bass solos. FYI, I pasted in below what I wrote to her. I tried to make it accurately reflect our mutual experience with the M3.I definitely don't hear the clicking over a mixed program. In fact, I've noticed that over speaking voices, it's often virtually absent, for some reason.
I bought my M3 online from audioadvisor.com, so no dealer to go to. I'm still within the 30 day return period. If the M3 weighed 10 lbs, I already would have sent it back for a different unit. But its 51 lb weight is not easy for my back. Packaged in the oversized box with all its cushioning, it weighs in at 68 pounds. So I've been trying to avoid having to take it off the rack, package, and then unpack and install another unit.
Anyhow, your continued input is always appreciated!
Here's what I wrote to NAD:
2012-02-26 23:42 loud noise on M3 when turning volume controlI recently bought an M3.
Starting about three days into ownership, I started to hear a clicking noise when turning the volume control. I know NAD says this is normal. Others have reported this when no music is playing, and they are right near the speakers.
But my situation is quite different.
I sit 8 feet from the speakers, and the clicking can sometimes be audible over the music. If you turn the volume up via the remote, the clicking increases in volume in lockstep with the music.
I should say, that I can hear the clicking over the music from 8 feet away, only when there is just a single instrument or two being played, for example a bass solo, or quiet piano.
To troubleshoot, I changed CD player, interconnects and CD's. I also disconnected my line conditioner and plugged the amp directly into the wall. No help.
U.S. rep. Bob Moran told me some clicking is normal, but something could be wrong to make the clicking so loud.
An NAD authorized repair technician, who has fixed other things for me, told me it sounds like the digital is improperly leading into the audio.
I'm thinking my unit is defective and I should get it replaced.
It would be great if my query could be forwarded to the designer of the amp, Mr. Bjørn Erik Edvardsen.
Thanks!
Edits: 02/29/12 02/29/12 02/29/12
Thanks for the reply!
I now understand some clicking is normal.
What I'm specifically wondering is, can you hear the clicking over music (for example a bass solo) from a listening position at least 8 feet away.
And as you raise the music volume with the remote, does the clicking get louder in lockstep so you can always hear it over the music?
The clicking gets louder as the volume increases but only when the volume is changing. Once you've reached the desired volume you should hear no clicking. Try pausing a CD and raise/lower the volume. You can hear the clicking get louder as volume increases and quieter as you lower it.
Ah, there's the nub of the issue.
You mentioned pausing the CD.
Can you hear the clicking while the music is playing and you raise and lower the volume?
This would be from 8 feet away.
Thanks!
During quiet musical passages at higher volumes I could hear the volume control clicking from eight feet away, or if the program was mostly bass or a solo instrument or voice. The clicking is always there during higher volume changes but gets obscured by a band, orchestra, when there is more mid/hi frequency info on the program. There may still be some clicking at low volumes but you'd probably have to get very close to the speakers to hear it.
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