[Hogg]

Currently I'm using a Chord Scamp amplifier.  It's powered by a Mean Well SMPS power supply, 12 V 8A.  My problem is power supply noise.  It's very noticeable when the system isn't playing music.  I would appreciate any suggestions to mitigate this problem.  I've thought of replacing the power supplies with a better product and/or using a power conditioner.  Thank you in advance.

                                                                                                               Jim

[Speedskater]

Is this mechanical noise coming from the SMPS or noise that you hear at the loudspeaker?
Power conditioners don't do much for SMPS supplies.

[FullRangeMan]

Power conditioners wont solve the prob,
its a linear or switched supply?

[Johnny2Bad]

Power conditioners wont solve the prob,
its a linear or switched supply?

SMPS = Switch Mode Power Supply

[FullRangeMan]

SMPS = Switch Mode Power Supply

Thanks, would be useful have the service manual.

[Johnny2Bad]

I see that you must buy the power supply separately from the amplifier itself (What HiFi? Magazine says 150 UKP, or maybe $US 225 or so) and that the supply is rated for 8A 12V. However, there is a Power Supply Out on the amp, and the supply is designed to power other units such as the mating preamplifier and possibly more.

I say the above because at 20wpc/8 or 40wpc/4 this amp certainly does not require 8 Amps of current for that power level. So the first question I would have is why did you choose an 8A supply if you are not building a multi-component Chord system?

Secondly, what type of supply is the Chord unit: Switch Mode or Linear?

Why are you using the Meanwell and not using the Chord supply?

Do you have a Digital Multimeter (DMM)?

[rikhav]

You can also try the array solutions power filter with meanwell smps

[Hogg]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.  The Scamp came with the Meanwell SMPS; it's not my power supply.  I do have a Digital Multi-Meter.  I'm not sure what an array solution is for power filtering.  The sound I'm hearing is a clicking sound through the loudspeakers.  The Scamp does have a built-in fan for cooling, as it's a small amplifier.    Below is a link the amp's description. I don't have a service manual.  Thank you again for any suggestions. 

Jim

http://chordelectronics.co.uk/specs/Chordette%20Scamp.pdf

[G Georgopoulos]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.  The Scamp came with the Meanwell SMPS; it's not my power supply.  I do have a Digital Multi-Meter.  I'm not sure what an array solution is for power filtering.  The sound I'm hearing is a clicking sound through the loudspeakers. The Scamp does have a built-in fan for cooling, as it's a small amplifier.    Below is a link the amp's description. I don't have a service manual.  Thank you again for any suggestions. 

Jim

http://chordelectronics.co.uk/specs/Chordette%20Scamp.pdf

clicking could be smps overload protection

[andyr]

Currently I'm using a Chord Scamp amplifier.  It's powered by a Mean Well SMPS power supply, 12 V 8A.  My problem is power supply noise.  It's very noticeable when the system isn't playing music.  I would appreciate any suggestions to mitigate this problem.  I've thought of replacing the power supplies with a better product and/or using a power conditioner.  Thank you in advance.

                                                                                                               Jim

The Scamp seems to be a 20w amplifer?  If so, there is no way it draws anywhere near 8 amps of mains current.

So the Meanwell you are using is over-specced - which is good.   

Sbooster have a 12v version (it's a 'linear' PS) - you might like to try one of these to power your Scamp?


Andy

[Speedskater]

I thought that the 8 Amps was at 12V DC output?

[andyr]

I thought that the 8 Amps was at 12V DC output?

Yes, of  course!   

Andy

[poseidonsvoice]

Speedskater's point is that it's just 96VA, and the 8A is from the SECONDARY not "mains current" or PRIMARY. That's really no different than the 19V/4.7A switchers out there for laptops and Nelson Pass' Amp Camp (6 watt pure class A amplifier). It's a pretty standard sized brick!

But that doesn't answer the OP's original question.

Why is the OP assuming that the "noise" the OP is hearing has anything to do with the PS? What is his source? Is the noise being produced by the source when not playing any music? Is an interconnect loose, are they clean connections? Has he tried a different amplifier? Has he turned down the gain on this integrated Chord design or is the gain all the way up, increasing the chance of noise? Is he using the USB input?

And so on.

FWIW, the MeanWell designs are good quality, but failures can happen.

We need to use deductive logic to find out what is wrong with the OP's setup, so he can get back to the wonderful world of music 

Best,
Anand.

[Hogg]

Thanks for everyone's advice.  A power condition has solved the problem. 

                                                                    Jim