Spectral dma 260 hum

[gratefulgroveway]

Hi friends -

I own a new Spectral DMA 260 in a system that runs: Magico V3, Spectral 30SS, Spectral 4000 pro, and the DMA 260. All cabling is MIT/Spectral. I have worked my way up the Spectral chain. I very much like the DMA 260 but am frustrated by it having a low but audible hum. This is from within the amp itself - sounds like a power transformer. It is loud enough to be audible before music is playing. Has anyone else experienced this? Any thoughts?

Thanks


Paul

 

[mullard88]

Hi Paul,

Have you tried floating the ground of the power amp's power cord?

 

[gratefulgroveway]

Hi

The hum isn't through the speakers and therefore I am not thinking it is an earth hum?

Also how don you float the ground? Is this a safe thing to do?

I live in the 240v would not be funny!

 

[mullard88]

Hi Paul,

I didn't read carefully. My apologies. You may have to ask your dealer.

I float the ground by using an extension plug that only plugs in two prongs instead of the usual three prongs of the power cord.

I live in 220v area and have never had any problems floating a ground.

If I may ask, are you somewhere in Asia?

Sam

 

[mep]

Paul-Sounds like you are describing a hum emanating from the power transformer and not an electrical hum that is working its way through your system and being reproduced by your speakers. I would contact Spectral and see what they have to say.

 

[ack]

For all intents and purposes, a more accurate description would be a 'buzz' from the transformer... yes contact the dealer about this.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Paul-Sounds like you are describing a hum emanating from the power transformer and not an electrical hum that is working its way through your system and being reproduced by your speakers. I would contact Spectral and see what they have to say.

I would echo Mark's comment. I've heard of cases of companies having a hum problem when running a power transformer on a different voltage.

 

[gratefulgroveway]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to this.

Should these amps hum a[/I]little? My old 250 was pretty silent as I recall. What I am not certain is whether I am over-reacting. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you again

Paul

 

[mep]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to this.

Should these amps hum a[/I]little? My old 250 was pretty silent as I recall. What I am not certain is whether I am over-reacting. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you again
Paul

Paul-if the sound is loud enough that it bugs you, then you are not over-reacting. If you have to put a stethoscope up to the amp to hear it, then you are.

 

[Adimon]

Hi Paul,

I have the same problem with my DMA100S.
It is a transformer buzz.
I can hear the noise at the listening position.
I even try another amp from my dealer with the same result.
So you have the live with it.
Another possibility is that you have a little dc component on the AC (not in my case).
My amp is an European type for 230Vac 50Hz.

I wanted to contact Spectral but i have no mail address.
Please let me know if you have a solution!

 

[naturephoto1]

Though not Spectral, I have transformer buzz from my Aragon Palladium 1K amps and even a little from my Krell KAV-250a/3 power amp. It is just something to live with. In most instances it is not too much of an issue and is hidden in the music and my Home Theater set-up, but since these 4 amps are all on special footers and all 4 amps in the same rack stacked it is a little more noticeable than I would like.

Rich

 

[gratefulgroveway]

Thank you for all the comments. This is not a negligible hum. Playing quiet music at night I notice it in quiet moments. I wonder if Spectral are really using the correct transformer for 240v UK.

Thanks

Paul

 

[MylesBAstor]

Thank you for all the comments. This is not a negligible hum. Playing quiet music at night I notice it in quiet moments. I wonder if Spectral are really using the correct transformer for 240v UK.

Thanks

Paul

Paul:

Did you get your Spectral amp thru a dealer? I'd go back to them if so and let them sort it out with Spectral. Surely they have a contact number.

This is from the Spectral website:


Please call the factory for the Spectral Dealer in your area.
(408) 738-8521 Office
(408) 738-8524 Fax

 

[gratefulgroveway]

Yes my dealer has been very helpful. This is already a replacement model. I will talk with them this week.

Thanks

P

 

[MylesBAstor]

Yes my dealer has been very helpful. This is already a replacement model. I will talk with them this week.

Thanks

P

Great, hopefully they can solve your problem.

 

[Orb]

I have same thing but with my CD Transport, basically same thing in that it is transformer buzz.
From what I understand this can either be related to DC or poor mains or if really unlucky the wrong transformer has been put in (50hz-60hz), out of interest I took my transport to a neighbours house and the problem went away so this shows it is a problem with another product in my house or poor mains.
Maybe you can take the amp to a friends house to just turn on and see if the transformer buzzes?

I am mulling over whether to try something like the following:
http://www.trichordresearch.com/acatalog/Powerblock_1000.html
Or the new replacement for the PS Audio Power Plant Premier.
Or spend time testing-monitoring the mains and try to resolve the source of the problem.
I am in the UK as well.

Cheers
Orb

 

[dan31]

I have the DMC-30SS and the DMA-260, both are US market versions. I am using Spectral MIT cables. have had similar issues with transformer hum. I thought it may be potential DC leakage, but after investigating that is not the case. My DMA-260 has a very low level of transformer hum. You have to put your ear very close to hear it. The DMC-30SS has an higher level of hum that is easy to hear from several feet away in a quiet room. I am taking the DMC-30SS back to the dealer for Spectral to take a look. When I called Spectral they said some hum was normal. The hum I am experiencing is not something close to any other component I have had in the past.

 

[gratefulgroveway]

This is really interesting. My 30SS is totally silent, as is my 4000PRO CD player. For me the DMA 260 is loud enough to be irritating. I haven't called SPECTRAL and am working through my dealer.

Having worked up through the chain - 100 Power amp, 250 Power and now 260 Power this is the first SPECTRAL I have had grounds to worry about. I hugely admire SPECTRAL but this is all a bit of a pain in the neck.

 

[mimesis]

I have the DMC 30SS and the 360S2; so far in two different setups and with a variety of interconnected gear, I've been fortunate not to have any hum, transformer or ground loop. Hope all of you experiencing this issue are able to resolve the problem. Good luck!

 

[nirodha]

humming away

I have a dCS transport and dac with a hum. Spectral monos are quiet.
I have thought about trying this:
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/humbuster-iii
Anyone tried the Humbuster?
Wim