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Distortion and mains filter


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#1 ruskiru

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Posted 22 September 2014 - 06:17 PM

I moved to a new apartment a couple of years ago and have never been able to get a decent sound from my setup since. After replacing the speakers, amplifier, DAC, cables and computer, the sound is still distorted (sounds like clipping and that the amplifier isn’t able to drive the load), a harsh and strident top end, and bass is missing in action. The soundstage is small and sound in general thin, and all this added together leads to a headache-inducing listening experience as you can imagine. There are occasions, for small periods of time where the sound seems to improve markedly, but it’s usually very short lived. The apartment is located in Russia, in the middle of a big city and there is no earth. I’ve tried various off-the-shelf filters from the supermarket. They change the sound but don’t improve it. I've also tried to isolate the audio equipment as much as possible, and listened when everything else in the apartment is disconnected from the mains, but to no avail. Now I’m left with no resolution to the problem, and it’s driving me crazy, not to mention the money that’s been wasted in what I thought was broken equipment. I’m wondering if there could be a problem with the mains electricity. The transformer in the new amp buzzes quite loudly at times (Rotel RA-10), and the old amp (NAD C316-BEE) that I thought was broken, gets really hot even at low volumes. I couldn’t have imagined before this that bad mains might cause such extreme issues, but I’m thinking of borrowing an ISOL-8 Powerline Axis to see if that might help. But I’d like some expert opinions on what the problem could be? Any ideas would be appreciated.    
  • EruptRedter, XRumerTest, DavinOdom and 20 others like this
W8 64bit, 4GB RAM, Intel Core Duo 2GHz, KingRex UD-01 Pro, NAD C316BEE AMP, Wharfedale 9.1 speakers, Atacama stands, Chord Silverscreen speaker cables, Atlas Equator MKIII interconnect, WireWorld Starlight USB interconnect, WireWorld Stratus 52 mains cable to DAC. JPLAY settings – WASAPI, 256 samples, River. All other settings as default.

#2 Marcin_gps

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Posted 23 September 2014 - 07:12 AM

Have you tried any AC regenerators like the ones from PSAudio? 

JPLAY for iOS: the new reference hi-fi app. 


JCAT: streaming specific products for high-end audio
 
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#3 ruskiru

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Posted 23 September 2014 - 10:05 AM

Thanks for picking up on this Marcin. No because if you mean something like the PSAudio Power Plant, these devices are way out of my budget. Maybe something like the Powerline Axis just isn't going to help. I guess there's a slim chance I might be able to borrow a Power Plant, to establish if it would solve the problem. But if yes, then what I don't know.
W8 64bit, 4GB RAM, Intel Core Duo 2GHz, KingRex UD-01 Pro, NAD C316BEE AMP, Wharfedale 9.1 speakers, Atacama stands, Chord Silverscreen speaker cables, Atlas Equator MKIII interconnect, WireWorld Starlight USB interconnect, WireWorld Stratus 52 mains cable to DAC. JPLAY settings – WASAPI, 256 samples, River. All other settings as default.

#4 ruskiru

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Posted 21 October 2014 - 08:11 AM

With a bit of help from Isol, this problem was solved with a DC blocker. Both amps now go about three times louder, and are able to power the speakers with no distortion.
W8 64bit, 4GB RAM, Intel Core Duo 2GHz, KingRex UD-01 Pro, NAD C316BEE AMP, Wharfedale 9.1 speakers, Atacama stands, Chord Silverscreen speaker cables, Atlas Equator MKIII interconnect, WireWorld Starlight USB interconnect, WireWorld Stratus 52 mains cable to DAC. JPLAY settings – WASAPI, 256 samples, River. All other settings as default.

#5 Pachanko

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Posted 21 October 2014 - 03:09 PM

You can also bought a Furman which is a really good product and not really expensive. 

Edited by geekuix, 21 October 2014 - 06:51 PM.


#6 ruskiru

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 03:23 PM

I did look at Furman filters, but unless I'm missing something they don't block DC, which was the main requirement. As a side note, not only did the DC blocker have a critical effect on the amplifier, but also on the router which I have wired to the computer for Internet radio. Interestingly, the DAC and computer benefit only a little.

Edited by ruskiru, 22 October 2014 - 05:29 PM.

W8 64bit, 4GB RAM, Intel Core Duo 2GHz, KingRex UD-01 Pro, NAD C316BEE AMP, Wharfedale 9.1 speakers, Atacama stands, Chord Silverscreen speaker cables, Atlas Equator MKIII interconnect, WireWorld Starlight USB interconnect, WireWorld Stratus 52 mains cable to DAC. JPLAY settings – WASAPI, 256 samples, River. All other settings as default.

#7 zabloc

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Posted 26 December 2020 - 06:38 AM

Hi,

I have Furman and this miracle:

http://www.puritanau...rifiers/psm156/

 

When i tried and bought the Puritan PSM156, now Furman serves me to protect my AV receiver and computer :)

Little research, this device is better than most far more expensive ones.


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#8 Rob

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Posted 26 December 2020 - 03:49 PM

Hello, super bit of kit if you live in a city this should deal with most of the mains borne noise and it’s not silly money.

Kind Regards Rob.






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