Topic: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing" (Read 1603 times)

The Alchemist · « **on:** May 01, 2015, 06:15:34 AM »

SInce I have owned the Valhalla 2 sometimes it has a loud buzz, and sometimes it overpowers the music itself - it is especially clear when there are quiet parts in a song. I talked to Nick at Schiit and his thoughts were a possible ground loop. I was thinking of purchasing a ground loop eliminator but they are kinda expensive. I have tried moving the V2 away from any other electrical equipment, I have tried just plugging in headphones without anything connected to the V2 (to eliminate the possibility that the DAC or my source is causing the "buzz". I am not sure what else to try. I have asked a few other members here their suggestions but as of yet no luck with eliminating the "buzz".

Now sometimes, the buzz isn't present at all, which makes no sense to me, but more often than not, the buzz is there. I have loaned the V2 to a good friend of mine and member here and he had no issues with buzz at all so I am stumped.

If anyone has any suggestions I would really, really appreciate it. This is the second V2 I received from Schiit because the original one I purchased had the same issue. They sent me a new one and it does the same thing, so that pretty much rules out that they were both defective units. I am only using the stock tubes and my setup is pretty simple:

JRiver MC20 -> Bifrost Uber (connected via USB, but also the buzz occurs with an optical connection) -> V2 -> Headphones

Any help and/or suggestions as to what might be causing the buzz would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you fellow Pyrates!

Note:
I also own a Valhalla 1 and I have never had an issue with any buzzing or hum at all.

x838nwy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2015, 07:25:45 AM »

I had a similar thing with my gungnir. An isolation transformer took care of it. Give one a try.

P.s. I'm not an ee and have very few clues about electrical power. Hopefully one of these is cheaper than one of those ground loop thingy.

The Alchemist · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2015, 09:35:05 AM »

Thank you for the reply, I was looking at isolation transformers and they are around a $100 for those for a cheap one (at least the ones I saw). I was thinking about a EbTech HumX which are around $60 and Schiit recommends those for ground loops, but that's kinda high in price too, and I cannot be sure if that will work or not, I guess if it doesn't work I could always return it.

I am just puzzled as to why sometimes the V2 is as quiet as a mouse and other times the buzz is so loud it can over-come the music, and more puzzled still that the V1 connected the exact same way, to the exact same power outlet does not have any issues with noise, hum, or buzz. I really want to figure this out but I am completely stumped.

Solderdude · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2015, 09:42:58 AM »

1: does it hum when only connected to the headphones ? (when the hum is there it's time to investigate)
2: does it hum with the volpot set to '0' ?
3: any wireless routers, cell phones, or other wireless stuff in close proximity ?
4: tried well screened IC's ?
5: amateur radio transmitters nearby ?
6: tried the setup in another part of the house ?

The Alchemist · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2015, 09:52:42 AM »

Hi Solderdude,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and to try to help me figure this out. I'll answer your questions in order:

1: Yes, it only hums when connected to headphones (as in the hum/buzz is heard through the headphones)
2: Yes, it hums with the volpot set to '0'
3:There is a wireless router about 15 feet away from the V2, but no other wireless devices
4:I am not sure what well screened IC's are (sorry I'm still kinda a newbie)
5:No radio transmitters of any kind in my home
6:Have not tried my entire setup in a different part of my home because my PC weighs over 90lbs and is too difficult to move. I have though tried moving the V2 to different areas of my house and different outlets, but even with nothing connected to the V2 but headphones, the buzz/hum/noise remains.

This is my second V2, I returned the first one I purchased because of this issue, Schiit promptly sent me a replacement and the replacement has the same issue, so it is probably unlikely that both units are defective, and as stated in one of my earlier posts in this thread, I loaned it to my good friend and member here twice and he had no such issues with hum/noise/buzz. I am just baffled and frustrated.

Again I thank you for helping me try to eliminate what could be causing this issue, your reply is greatly appreciated -thank you very much!

uncola · « **Reply #5 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:03:01 AM »

well screened IC means interconnects.. like are your rca cables laying on power cables or unshielded etc

I had a buzzing in my Mjolnir, I tried a lot of things but I eventually was able to isolate it to the dimmer switch that controlled my living room lights on a different floor of my house from my mjolnir. turned lights off, no buzz. I just swapped it for an on/off switch and that fixed it. You may want to try turning off things one by one to see if it's AC line noise causing it.

Solderdude · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:24:44 AM »

So amp connected to HP only with the volume at '0' sometimes is hum free and at other times has a hum.

Try switching off the wireless router (long shot as I assume it is always on)

When the hum is there, pick up the amp and move it to another part of the house and see how it works there.

No amateur radiostations close by ? (up to a few houses away, usual give away is high antennas)

When you short the inputs of the amp is it still there ?

Try connecting the metal enclosure to a 'known' ground such as central heating, water piping or the 3rd (ground) prong of a mains socket.
(central heating, water piping needs to be connected together with metal or copper piping and connection has to be made on a blanc/bare piece of metal, paint is an isolator)

As Uncola already mentioned.
Dimmers, older LED lighting, CFL lighting (with those lightweight loads) all could induce such problems, motor controls even Switch Mode power supplies that are badly filtered may cause problems.
G4 phones can also cause nasties.
All it takes is one device that introduces garbage on the mains and an unfiltered or poorly filtered amp to get pestered by this.
Also as suggested by Uncola... try switching devices off at home until the hum goes away.
Then address that issue.

x838nwy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:41:17 AM »

The internittent (or non-constant) nature may be due to some other equipment in the area - water heaters, air conditioners, some dude welding, etc. even the lights/dimmers in your home can be a cause.

The Alchemist · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2015, 11:19:55 AM »

Quote from: Solderdude on May 01, 2015, 10:24:44 AM

So amp connected to HP only with the volume at '0' sometimes is hum free and at other times has a hum.

Try switching off the wireless router (long shot as I assume it is always on)

When the hum is there, pick up the amp and move it to another part of the house and see how it works there.

No amateur radiostations close by ? (up to a few houses away, usual give away is high antennas)

When you short the inputs of the amp is it still there ?

Try connecting the metal enclosure to a 'known' ground such as central heating, water piping or the 3rd (ground) prong of a mains socket.
(central heating, water piping needs to be connected together with metal or copper piping and connection has to be made on a blanc/bare piece of metal, paint is an isolator)

As Uncola already mentioned.
Dimmers, older LED lighting, CFL lighting (with those lightweight loads) all could induce such problems, motor controls even Switch Mode power supplies that are badly filtered may cause problems.
G4 phones can also cause nasties.
All it takes is one device that introduces garbage on the mains and an unfiltered or poorly filtered amp to get pestered by this.
Also as suggested by Uncola... try switching devices off at home until the hum goes away.
Then address that issue.

You stated when I "short the inputs of the amp is it still there ?" I am not sure what you mean by "short the inputs" (sorry, again I am a newbie, I am sorry). I will try all of your suggestions. I think you may be on the right track, but as you said it can be very difficult to diagnose what the outside interference could be. Sometimes the buzz will happen in the day time, and sometimes quiet during the day. ANd at night same thing, sometimes buzz, sometimes quiet (at night I usually listen with all the lights out.) I will try the router suggestion and your other suggestions as well. and thank you as well x838nwy for your valuable input as well.

Riotvan · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2015, 12:34:10 PM »

Shorting inputs means taking a piece of wire, a paperclip or anything else that will conduct electricity and sticking it in the hole in the rca jack and then connecting it to the outer shell. Do this while the amp is turned off obviously then turn it on. Also do it for both of them. Do you have the amp placed on other equipment?

Author Topic: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing" (Read 1603 times)

The Alchemist

Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

x838nwy

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

The Alchemist

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

Solderdude

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

The Alchemist

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

uncola

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

Solderdude

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

x838nwy

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

The Alchemist

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

Riotvan

Re: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing"

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Author Topic: Help with Valhalla 2 "Buzzing" (Read 1603 times)