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How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?

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Posted on November 21, 2021 at 23:27:41
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 I keep having these annoying, mains (I'm sure) related issues:

-fluctuating sound quality
-sometimes my tweeter just sound like fried eggs
-erratic high pitched noises coming from the tweeter
-sometimes stereo image is solid and centered, sometimes it seems to wander a little bit

I have a lot of noisy SMPS supplies in the house. I also have offices above my listening room - and I'm pretty sure they use very polluting technologies such as CPL internet.

Of course having a tri-amped, 105dB average sensitivity just makes those issues more obvious.

I'm thinking of trying iFi Audio AC iPurifiers...

 

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RE: How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?, posted on November 22, 2021 at 04:57:03
Bill Fitzmaurice
Industry Professional

Posts: 5370
Location: New England
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Look at causes other than the power. The best method of 'power conditioning' is to transformer isolate the device from the AC line, rectify the isolated AC to DC, filter the ripple from the DC and then use this pure DC to power the device. Here's the thing: That's what the power supplies in your devices do. The only method of power conditioning that is proven to have some positive effect is a 55-0-55 transformer balanced AC supply.

 

I read what Bill said, posted on November 22, 2021 at 05:08:28
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10431
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 and I have 2 of those transformers in my setup, one is a PS audio the other is DIY - do it. The wandering center image could also be the mix of the music itself. You might be hearing the accuracy (or in-accuracy I should say) of the mixing console itself as on my rig I can hear these changes even within one song. The vocal or whatever will seem to float a tiny bit. It's noticeable but not drastic so don't confuse the two.



 

RE: How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?, posted on November 23, 2021 at 02:29:02
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2378
Joined: September 27, 2004
 With speakers of that sensitivity, you could take another route altogether - battery-powered amps. I have used Avantgarde speakers for many years and used a Red Wine Signature 30 for a while. Totally free from mains problems and the battery lasted for several hours. It was re-charged by the flick of a switch or, if you want to continue listening when the battery was low, it use the battery charger as a power supply.

Not sure if they (or others) still do battery amps, but the price was attractive compared with standard amp and mains transformers.

A DIY alternative would be to use what big boats so - have a battery, inverter and your standard amp. This again gets rid of mains supply and you could have a big battery lurking under your rack that can be recharged when necessary. You could then power all your kit from battery power.

These are "outside the box" suggestions. Daft or not, maybe worth considering!

 

RE: How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?, posted on November 23, 2021 at 06:12:22
rogerh113
Audiophile

Posts: 507
Location: San Francisco South Bay
Joined: October 20, 2014
 I have used PowerVar (isolation transformer) units with success. I like the older metal bodied units, which can be had relatively inexpensively on eBay. I think they were constructed for the medical industry. Caveat is that you want to use better ac wire, plug, and outlet to really get the benefit. The retrofit is not so hard. I think there are some write-ups on it.

The isolation transformer allows the neutral to effectively be connected to ground at the component side of the PowerVar. If you have a noisy neutral (not uncommon) and a relatively clean ground, then there should be a useful impact. If you do not have grounded outlets, then don't bother.

 

A power regenertor cn do wonders. , posted on November 23, 2021 at 07:23:06
Jack G
Audiophile

Posts: 9739
Joined: September 24, 1999
 Clean, consistent power.
Jack

 

Isolated Balanced Power, posted on November 23, 2021 at 11:19:30
jad
Audiophile

Posts: 228
Location: OH
Joined: August 23, 2002



Signal Du-2 transformer - works wonders!

 

RE: How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?, posted on November 23, 2021 at 22:04:27
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor
  Since: December 14, 2012
 The only time I've heard the fried eggs sound is from small signal tubes on their way out.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

 

RE: How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?, posted on November 24, 2021 at 08:15:57
Larry I
Audiophile

Posts: 2229
Location: No. Va.
Joined: June 28, 2000
 It could be power line issues, but, it could also be "in the air" RFI issues. A local dealer who sells mostly high efficiency systems had a customer who had the same sort of high frequency noise. He sold a customer an Isotek conditioner (I also own and like Isotek conditions in may high efficiency system), which reduced, but did not eliminate the noise. When he went over to the customer's home, his noise meter showed no noise on the power line post conditioning, so he went looking for an air-borne source. He found it in a string of LED lights the customer's daughter used in her room.

Another customer has multiple systems in his home and noise is a problem in only one system; again it was not from the power line but from nearby transmitting antennae and the more exposed nature of one of the rooms.

 

+1, posted on November 26, 2021 at 21:42:17
Jim Hodgson
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: New York City
Joined: March 9, 2006
 You could probably run both of the power amplifiers identified in your "Space Invaders" system from laptop batteries.

In general, I think it makes sense to at least try this with any component that comes with a wall wart power supply. A battery may not be optimal in every case (despite the logical appeal), but this solution may be ideal for you—especially during times of low-quality mains power.

 

RE: How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?, posted on November 27, 2021 at 10:50:02
TRUFI
Audiophile

Posts: 622
Location: So. California
Joined: March 16, 2002
 I use an Ametek 850 VA isolation, filter transformer. These are typically used in network data centers. No hum or noise period from my 103 dBSPL speakers. Cheap on Ebay.

 

Quieter than batteries..., posted on November 27, 2021 at 16:33:48
triodesteve
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Location: Walla Walla Washington
Joined: September 4, 2001
 I got fed up with noise using Oris horns. Went with Final Labs gear...all batteries....many many batteries. They are wonderful sounding pieces.
But shockingly Shindo stuff is quieter than batteries. No noise. Nothing. Zero. Its weird but wonderful.

 

RE: Quieter than batteries..., posted on November 28, 2021 at 03:21:46
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2378
Joined: September 27, 2004
 I've used horn speakers for the last 20 years and never suffered from noise that I could blame on the power supply. SET amp for 15 years, but now SS after a long period of evaluation. Because I've got it, I do use a simple Isotek Mini Sub filter, but my 107 dB speakers are dead silent with a 200 watt Class D amp up front.

 

RE: How do you deal with noisy mains and high sensitivity system?, posted on November 28, 2021 at 05:30:45
mikem
Audiophile

Posts: 170
Joined: September 23, 1999
 Have you tried a BPiT? A balanced power isolation transformer.. No snake oil or inefficient regeneration. Balanced power cancels out noise and also isolates the grounds. It's physics, common mode rejection.
You would still need regulation if your mains have large voltage swings.

 

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