I see your last sentence, but double check you don’t have any wall-wart type power supplies near the cabling from the SPP. I noticed that sort of noise when I was moving stuff around the other day. In this case it was the PS for the EtherRegen.
All components have linear power supplies being fed by cardas clear/clear cygnus power cords from a shunyata hydra alpha power conditioner. No wall worts in the dedicated listening room.
Well, it was a thought. I guess I’d try getting the noise to happen, then move the AC cable to the SPP around/away from anything else (especially if dressed with a bunch of other cables) as well as the audio cables from it to see if the noise changes at all, and if that doesn’t affect anything, see if proximity of anything else in the neighborhood of the SPP affects it.
I made a video of the noise. To be clear I am turning the pots as the noise changes frequency. The noise you hear in the video only happens when switched to custom loading, and it is coming from the headphones. There is also a whooshing noise when I turn the pots. The same whooshing sound a dirty pot would make. The high frequency whine is so irritating, I feel like I can hear high frequency hash behind the music. I’m really considering returning this. Unacceptable for a product of this price point…
I had the same issue as you when my SPP arrived. I was in the process of returning but then decided to try something extreme after reading how sensitive it is. I replaced my RCA cables from the turntable to the SPP and replaced my XLR cables from the SPP to the BHK preamp. I also relocated my eero router, which was close to the turntable and SPP. It worked. I can’t tell you which one of the above made it go away but I’m extremely happy now. It is very quite.
As I recall from the manual, they recommend not turning the pots while the unit is on.
Couldn’t tell from the video - are you saying this is a noise the actual pot makes, or it is coming out of the speakers?
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This is the noise that comes out of my headphones. Its a headphone only system. I am only turning the pot to show the behavior.
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Thanks for the thoughts. My eero router is upstairs 50 feet away from my listening room. I am using a cardas clear cygnus rca from TT to phono, and balanced cardas clear cygnus to the Rogue Audio RH-5 headphone amp. All cables are a least an inch from touching each other. I spent an hour dressing cables. Not really sure what to think anymore. Certainly not my first rodeo and I’ve tried all the usual suspects.
Sorry - it just says to mute it:
Which might suggest that the pots may make some noise. Though if you’re saying you can make the noise stay when left at a particular setting, it seems like an issue. I’ve moved them without muting and have not heard any noise.
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Correct, depending on the specific loading value the pot is left at, the noise is present constantly.
I’d contact customer service tomorrow.
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After reading your text I decided to try the custom loading on my SPP. Set it to 250 on both channels and heard no noise. Tried turning the pots on the back whilst it was not muted like you describe and did not hear any noise. Just thought you’d like another data point concerning your issue.
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Maybe they will be willing to send a new unit to swap with the one you have? If you still hear feedback with the swapped unit then it is most likely interference coming from somewhere and less like two defective units in a row. Just a thought.
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Right - I’m guessing CS is going to want to try and rule local issues out first. Why swap just to discover there is a local source of interference. Though it could be argued it shouldn’t happen in any case.
Cbl117 - I’d also see if (after trying the cable-orientation stuff) if changing the orientation of the whole unit itself makes any change in the noise. The fact that it is only happening at certain settings is suggestive. Of what, I’m not sure🤷🏻♂️
It sounds like my old Loewe tube radio receiver when tuning.
Due to the changing frequency of sound you seem to have may be caused in an RCL loop picking up a base frequency on which it resonates when switching to custom setting.
The potentiometers (circuit) might pick something up, rather than the cables, otherwise you should have the issue with the fixed settings also. Is your headphone amplifier a tube amplifier with a high voltage circuit? Probably positioned close to the SPP?
I am no a big fan of potentiometers in the delicate low MC signal chain. Linn even offers options to have the load resistance firmly soldered in once the best value is determined. Hence the reason I let my self convince to buy the Stelar Gain Cell feature (which avoids potentiometers in the volume control).
If the fixed settings can satisfy your sound quality needs you could opt to let that potentiometer feature go.
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The Rogue Audio RH-5 is a tube hybrid with two 12AU7s. Not sure what the voltages are though. I think you hit the nail on the head - i need to decide if i forgo that feature.
I can honestly say its starting to sound pretty good at fixed 200 ohm load. I’ve always loaded my Benz’s much higher between 500-1kohm. But i don’t notice any high frequency roll off at 200 ohm and the sound seems to tighten up and image locks in place.
The sound was pretty dull and lifeless at the start, but it really is starting open up and put some flesh on the bones. I’m not sure yet if the SSP is bright or the Lehmann Decade was warm. Perhaps the SSP is neutral because im able to select different headphones and hear their frequency response better.
This was indeed the only thing I wondered about in the SPP…usually every dip switch or pot is strongly avoided and either replaceable plugs or soldered parts preferred within the phono section (even if less flexible).
But on the other hand if the SPP sounds as good as it seems to do, this can’t be too essential.
You are right, but apparently there are occasions where that circuit seems to have issues and the fixed load options seem to be satisfactory. Great after all.
Just surprised to read that the Lehmann Decade sounded more “warm”. Some home my ignorance or pre assumptions made made me think that the PS Audio would sound a bit warmer/more pleasant. The Stellar Gain Cell DAC however does indeed sound more analytical, in a pleasant way and never causes fatigue.
With the discrete electronics, thus higher number of components it’s natural that the SPP requires a bit of “burn in time”.
Thanks for the update, very informative. While still deciding whether to purchase the SPP, since I have very positive experience with Synergistic Research fuses (currently have 6 SR orange fuses in the system), I replaced the fuse in the BC SEII with a SR Black fuse. The result is VERY positive, now I am getting an orange fuse to try. So I decided not to purchase the SPP for now.
On a side note, this experiment really showed that SR fuses are directional. Unlike PS Audio gears, it’s impossible to tell which fuse direction to use or try first, so I tried both, it’s very obvious of the effect when the correct direction is used.
Another positive review in the Audio Press: Positive Feedback Review of the SPP