Hissing normal??

danman · « **on:** 28 Sep 2010, 06:42 pm »

Hi everybody. Its been a long time I have not wrote here!!

I have just sold my beloved Martin Logan Quests for a new pair of Focal 826w Special Edition speakers. I must say, I am impressed and had to be in order to return to speakers other than Electrostatic! They are quite amazing with their sandwich "W" drivers from their Utopia Series.

I have noticed though that when my amp is on and I am close to the speaker, I can hear a slight hissing sound from the tweeters. Is this normal? It does not amplify when the volume is turned up but I never noticed gthis before. I use the 4b SST2 that is a year old. I would note that even when the amp is turned on alone, I still hear it.

Thank you

James Tanner · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Sep 2010, 07:15 pm »

Quote from: danman on 28 Sep 2010, 06:42 pm

Hi everybody. Its been a long time I have not wrote here!!

I have just sold my beloved Martin Logan Quests for a new pair of Focal 826w Special Edition speakers. I must say, I am impressed and had to be in order to return to speakers other than Electrostatic! They are quite amazing with their sandwich "W" drivers from their Utopia Series.

I have noticed though that when my amp is on and I am close to the speaker, I can hear a slight hissing sound from the tweeters. Is this normal? It does not amplify when the volume is turned up but I never noticed gthis before. I use the 4b SST2 that is a year old. I would note that even when the amp is turned on alone, I still hear it.

Thank you

Hi Danman - welcome back - my guess is the new speakers are much more sensitive (efficent) than your previous speakers and you are hearing the residual hiss level in your system.

JAMES

danman · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Sep 2010, 07:28 pm »

Hi James

Yes they are very sensitive compared to the ML's.

The hiss occurs at idle without any volume. You just hear it no matter what when the amp is turned on. I was just curious to see if this was normal.

1ZIP · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 01:13 am »

Can't help with the hiss but I am interested in your impressions of the Focal's. I listened to a pair over the weekend and can't say I was overly impressed but the the room was far from ideal and they were not driving them with Bryston.

danman · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 12:30 pm »

The best way for me to answer your question is that for me to change my ML's they had to be very good! It was a matter of space that I needed a change.
They are very dynamic with the Bryston amp and clear and very detailed if you like that. Much easier to drive too. The fit and finish is second to none for a 4000$ speaker. I have a sub hooked up for extra punch and I dialed it in very carefully to not over power them. I am very impressed and had been looking for 6 months.

1ZIP · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 05:19 pm »

I auditioned a used pair of ML "Clarity" and the ML's were, as you say, clear and detailed. But I thought a little fatiguing after a time. So the comparison of the ML's to the Focal's was very helpful. So, back to the search, and the more I listen to other speakers the more I like my B&W's although the Harbeth's do sound nice.

Again thanks for the feedback.

danman · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 06:38 pm »

Let me say that I did love my Quests very much! They had the best mid-range of any speaker I ever heard no matter what price! They were just too big for my new house and need lots of room to sound their best!

I wanted something smaller and did own JmLab before. I was not really convinced I would like them but this model was different with the drivers from the Utopia series. Much faster and can mix well with a good sub. They seem to adapt to the humidity levels in a room well and can go very loud without sounding harsh! After bringing them home for a week to audition and comparing them, I was very shocked! My wife was too along with friends at their ability to do it right in my room! Very easy to drive and love the punch of Bryston amps. They are detailed and the tweeters are never harsh or fatiguing. To sum it up,they are better then past models in this configuration and I really like them. The mid range is very close to my ears but I seriously doubt will beat the Quests for that. However, they do have better timing and cleaner bass which is impoortant.

Robert D · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 11:25 pm »

Quote from: danman on 29 Sep 2010, 06:38 pm

Let me say that I did love my Quests very much! They had the best mid-range of any speaker I ever heard no matter what price! They were just too big for my new house and need lots of room to sound their best!

I wanted something smaller and did own JmLab before. I was not really convinced I would like them but this model was different with the drivers from the Utopia series. Much faster and can mix well with a good sub. They seem to adapt to the humidity levels in a room well and can go very loud without sounding harsh! After bringing them home for a week to audition and comparing them, I was very shocked! My wife was too along with friends at their ability to do it right in my room! Very easy to drive and love the punch of Bryston amps. They are detailed and the tweeters are never harsh or fatiguing. To sum it up,they are better then past models in this configuration and I really like them. The mid range is very close to my ears but I seriously doubt will beat the Quests for that. However, they do have better timing and cleaner bass which is impoortant.

Lets see them and a Welcome back

Robert

danman · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Oct 2010, 11:22 pm »

Sorry to bring this up again but I have been reading reviews at how silent this amp is and that it is free of tweeter hiss etc........I am starting to wonder if I have something wrong!!!!?? Am I paranoid!?? Also notice a POP when turning on and off!
My new speakers are very efficient but not sure if any of you notice a hissing from your tweeters on idle. This happens without anything else turned on by the way!

James is this really normal?

Thanks

Phil A · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 12:27 am »

What preamp?

danman · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 01:01 am »

BP-20 however with just the amp on alone, it hisses! The pre-amp does not change anything. I just want to know if others can hear the hiss as well.

Laundrew · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 01:17 am »

Quote from: danman on 17 Oct 2010, 01:01 am

BP-20 however with just the amp on alone, it hisses! The pre-amp does not change anything. I just want to know if others can hear the hiss as well.

Hello danman,

I just tried this with my preamplifier on and my CD player off - I could not hear any hiss at all while at full volume.

Be well...

danman · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 01:20 am »

Thanks. I suspect something is up but James will have to confirm this or not. Like I said, you hear with just the amp on alone.......nothing else, so it is the amp itself. Oh no!

It plays well though and no distortion or anything.

larevoj · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 01:34 am »

Hi Danman, I too have the 4BSST2 with BP26 and driving a pair of Dynaudio Focus 110 but I hardly hear any hissing sound from my listening position. But the Dynaudio is 85dB in sensitivity.

danman · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 01:38 am »

Mine are about 92db so do you think this is the cause? James seems to think so but I am not sure what the technological explanation would be for that.

1ZIP · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 01:48 am »

Have a 4B SST2 with a BP-26 and a pair of B&W805's. Maxed out the vol. and if I put my ear to a speaker I can hear a very faint 60 cycle hum, but that's it.

danman · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 02:11 am »

I think something maybe up with my amp but like I said it sounds perfect except for the noise floor hiss.
If I have my pre-amp on and jack the volume, I can hear the hiss even louder but it is there with just the amp alone so obviously that is the source of the noise.

larevoj · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 07:08 am »

Quote from: 1ZIP on 17 Oct 2010, 01:48 am

Have a 4B SST2 with a BP-26 and a pair of B&W805's. Maxed out the vol. and if I put my ear to a speaker I can hear a very faint 60 cycle hum, but that's it.

Likewise, it's only if I max out the volume and put my ear flat out against the speaker a hear a faint hiss or hum (whatever it's just too soft). At my listening position about 2.5m away I can't hear a thing...

danman · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 11:50 am »

I can't hear from my listening position which is about 3 metres but when close to speakers it is audible

James Tanner · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Oct 2010, 01:34 pm »

Quote from: danman on 17 Oct 2010, 11:50 am

I can't hear from my listening position which is about 3 metres but when close to speakers it is audible

Hi Danman,

We can certainly have a look at it but 92 DB is extremely efficent and my guess is that is what is going on.

james