Panasonic SA-XR50

cwchiang · « **Reply #160 on:** 3 Nov 2004, 04:52 pm »

Thanks for the recommendations! I'm also checking out the new thread on power to digital amps, so I'll try to read up as much as I can before making a purchase.

tomek · « **Reply #161 on:** 4 Nov 2004, 04:59 pm »

Hi there, i picked up a Panasonic xr50 last night and i have a question.

i hear a high pitched sound coming from the unit as soon as the cd player starts playing. the noise changes depending on the input that is being used and i can actually hear it across the room when it's quiet.

i plugged the panasonic into my oneac line conditioner and noticed it quiet down somewhat.

is this a faulty unit or is this normal, and what the hell is causing this to happen. as soon as the cd player is paused it stops, but as soon as it has some kind of 'active input' it starts again.

!?!??!?

cwchiang · « **Reply #162 on:** 4 Nov 2004, 10:10 pm »

Quote from: tomek

i hear a high pitched sound coming from the unit as soon as the cd player starts playing. the noise changes depending on the input that is being used and i can actually hear it across the room when it's quiet.

I have noticed this problem as well, and I think it must have to do with the power. It's one of the reasons I'm looking into a better power cord and a line conditioner. I do live in an old building, and I'm not too confident of the electrical work here, and I have a lot of unshielded cabling nearby as well. The fact that your line conditioner had some effect is comforting, but I don't know enough to be able to pinpoint the problem. Inititally, I was quite bothered by it, as I'm still breaking in the unit (using the fm tuner mostly and the sound seems to be associated most with that input). However, I bought mine about 10 days ago, and the sound is quieter, though it will pop up on occasion. I'll update if there are any further changes.

One little temporary workaround I found was to switch on the B speakers as well (I only have A connected, nothing on B) if you notice the sound on one of the inputs and that may have some effect on the buzz. Also, the dimmer function for the lcd can change the pitch of the buzzing, sometimes increasing other times decreasing the sound.

If anyone has an idea what might be causing this, I'de love to hear it. I'd bought a refurbed xr25 before this, and that unit had a horrible squealing sound as soon as I powered it up. This seems to be a similar problem, but to a much lower degree.

Thanks.

AphileEarlyAdopter · « **Reply #163 on:** 4 Nov 2004, 10:22 pm »

I have a XR50 and have none of these problems.
How are you connecting the CD player , digital or analog ?
Just try one component alone first to isolate the problem.

tomek · « **Reply #164 on:** 5 Nov 2004, 12:00 am »

wow, that describes it exactly.

i noticed last night that

1) different inputs had differing effects on the volume and pitch
2) turning on B speakers lowered it
3) the dimmer intensity also would lower or raise it

i use mine with an optical input from the cd player and i am definitely not imaging it. aphile, you don't hear a squeal coming from the unit when the room is dead quiet? you sure? go near the unit in a quiet room.

i find it quite unlikely to be a faulty unit if i have the exact same problems.

edit: it pisses me off and i just got the Tripath Teac from mcscsgsgsgsr and it makes no noise whatsoever.

cwchiang · « **Reply #165 on:** 5 Nov 2004, 12:17 am »

Quote from: AphileEarlyAdopter

I have a XR50 and have none of these problems.
How are you connecting the CD player , digital or analog ?
Just try one component alone first to isolate the problem.

Here's what I've found:

All equipment is plugged into a cheap power strip.

CD - optical digital - buzzes when playing or is turned off. No buzzing while paused or stopped or volume is turned to "--". Buzz pitch and volume are lower when dimmer is on.

DVD - optical digital - Buzzes when source is off, stopped, or paused. No buzzing while playing.

TV - coax digital - no problems

DVR/VCR - coax digital 2 - no source connected, but slight buzzing.

VCR2 - no source - buzzes momentarily until the "digital processing fs" lights up on display.

TUNER - buzzes momentarily until the "digital processing fs" lights up on display, or inbetween channel changing. Does not buzz once locked into a channel (though the buzz frequency rises and then disappears). When other sources powered on, it buzzes when dimmer is activated. Buzzes when volume set to "--".

TAPE - analog from computer audiocard - wasn't buzzing 10 minutes ago, but now does! Buzz pitch lowers when volume set to "--" or when dimmer is on.

Pretty curious. Given that the behavior is completely opposite for CD and DVD, despite both being from optical digital sources, I don't think it has anything to do with the signal processing. It might be some weird interaction between the lcd display and some electrical interference. Any thoughts?

mcgsxr · « **Reply #166 on:** 5 Nov 2004, 12:18 am »

Hey, that's a lotta m's and s's and g's and stuff in that wierdo's name... Oh, it's me...

Yeah, the Teac has served me well, but it is not all things to all folks...

Have fun with the comparo,

Mark in Canada

BenF · « **Reply #167 on:** 5 Nov 2004, 07:27 pm »

Once you have tried troubleshooting everything else, then, in my opinion, that is what warranties are for. I'd get a replacement unit immediately for a buzzing one. Don't prolong your pain. If the next one does the same, then maybe it is something else.

If you know someone who has no problems near by, maybe you could then have them bring theirs over and do a test in your setup. That could help find the issue.

Ben

AphileEarlyAdopter · « **Reply #168 on:** 7 Nov 2004, 12:45 am »

I checked my XR50 today. No buzz, hiss..nothing nada zilch.
Return the product for a different one.

CRFX · « **Reply #169 on:** 8 Nov 2004, 09:56 pm »

Hi everyone,
I just got a sa-xr50 myself, and am very happy.

I've been looking around for a way to feed my xr50 with digital inputs but I can't find exatly where to connect them. I know where the i2s inputs are on the TI chip, but I'd never be able to solder to that. I have a rough idea that the large black conector on the lower right is the input to the TI chip, can anyone confirm exatly what pins I need to use? (or if i'm compleatly off)

On another note it is posible to run a biamped 2.1 sytem with digital signal on a stock sa-xrXX. I have an nforce2 motherboard with dolby digital encoding. It is connected to my xr50 via the coax input that then decodes it giving me control over 5 channels, can't use rear center out unfoutuantly, the sub channel just gets passed over to the sub out. Althogh I read that the rear outputs have a 10ms delay that cant be turned off, that's probably messing with the sound a bit. Eventualy I'd like to run 2 sa-xr50s with all digital inputs to biamp my 5.1 HT and bridge 2 channels for a sub.

Thanks for reading.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #170 on:** 8 Nov 2004, 11:25 pm »

No ground issue?

tomek · « **Reply #171 on:** 10 Nov 2004, 12:27 am »

well, i'm going to take this thing into futureshop and try my luck with a new one. i'll probably get a black one anyways.

but can anyone else chime in whether their unit makes any noise? if i was the only one that heard it that would be one thing, but another user has the exact same issue to the dot.

hmm....

allears · « **Reply #172 on:** 10 Nov 2004, 01:09 am »

My saxr50 has the same squealing issue that tomek and cwchiang have mentioned.

As an electronics tech in a previous life, I would say that there is some sort of parasitic oscillation (I think that's the term) going on and one or more of the electronic devices inside the saxr50 is mechanically vibrating and causing an audible noise.

Another misfeature with my saxr50 is that I can make the amplifier go into protect mode with out even feeding it an input signal. In my case, I have a CD player (which isn't even powered on!) hooked up to the optical input on the saxr50 (which is turned on and the optical input is selected). As I turn the volume knob up or down, I hear a clicking noise coming from my speakers. It appears that perhaps one click is being emitted for each 1 dB change in the volume setting. If I spin the volume knob quickly to a high setting (e.g. 0 dB), the amplifier goes into protect mode. Power cycling the saxr50 clears the unit from protect mode.

tomek · « **Reply #173 on:** 20 Nov 2004, 05:48 am »

ok, this question may sound totally out of left field, but i'm asking because i'm concerned with energy bills.

i know that these digital amps are more efficient. my old tube amp drew 230 watts and i know solid state amps draw even more.

the panny is rated at 135watts of consumption. does it always draw this amount or does it depend on the channels being used and the volume?

i'm asking because i like to leave these things on all day and i'm wondering how bad this is for power consumption.

Red Dragon Audio · « **Reply #174 on:** 20 Nov 2004, 07:28 am »

I'm looking at the XR45 service manual and it say it draws 1watt in standby mode and 130watts when powered on.

I would assume the 130watts is when it's running full steam but I am no totally sure.

albee · « **Reply #175 on:** 21 Nov 2004, 06:38 pm »

What is the source for these Panny's making the noise? Is it high-volume internet discounters, retailers, where? I might be interested in getting one but if eBay or other discounters are sending these out I may reel back a bit.

ToddSTS · « **Reply #176 on:** 22 Nov 2004, 03:49 am »

Quote from: heavystarch

I'm looking at the XR45 service manual and it say it draws 1watt in standby mode and 130watts when powered on.

I would assume the 130watts is when it's running full steam but I am no totally sure.

H.S.,

Can you fill me in on how to get a service manual from Panasonic? I looked on the website but couldn't find it. I think I'll order one for both the XR10 and XR45.

Thanks.

Todd

cwchiang · « **Reply #177 on:** 22 Nov 2004, 04:15 am »

Quote from: albee

What is the source for these Panny's making the noise? Is it high-volume internet discounters, retailers, where? I might be interested in getting one but if eBay or other discounters are sending these out I may reel back a bit.

Just FYI, I purchased mine at J&R in New York.

After the previous post about parasitic oscillation, I'm wondering if the problem is related to RF interference. I haven't isolated the cause just yet, but when I disconnected my antenna, I was surprised to find that my FM reception was just as good without the antenna. That can't be good, can it?

Red Dragon Audio · « **Reply #178 on:** 22 Nov 2004, 06:04 am »

Quote from: ToddSTS

Quote from: heavystarch
I'm looking at the XR45 service manual and it say it draws 1watt in standby mode and 130watts when powered on.

I would assume the 130watts is when it's running full steam but I am no totally sure.

H.S.,

Can you fill me in on how to get a service manual from Panasonic? I looked on the website but couldn't find it. I think I'll order one for both the XR10 and XR45.

Thanks.

Todd

Hi Todd,

Call this Panasonic # 800-833-9626 and just ask for the two manuals. They're very courteous and it arrived in about a week.

ToddSTS · « **Reply #179 on:** 22 Nov 2004, 12:56 pm »

Quote from: heavystarch

Hi Todd,

Call this Panasonic # 800-833-9626 and just ask for the two manuals. They're very courteous and it arrived in about a week.

Thanks a bunch.

Todd

Panasonic SA-XR50

BenF