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RE: Too many connections?

Posted by chopper87@aol.com (A) on April 21, 2009 at 07:31:43

In Reply to: Too many connections? posted by Charles Hansen on April 20, 2009 at 20:14:11:

Charles,

You think it's confusing for you, try living with it. Let me try and clarify a bit. I only connect one digital audio output from my PC at a time. If starting fresh (at a point when there is no buzzing) with a single USB from PC to the DAC, then music plays wonerfully with no buzz. When I disconnect this USB connection and then connect one of my 75 Ohm rca's from the PC to the DAC, then the BUZZ arrives.

One would think that disconnecting the computer from the amps and transformer based passive preamp would illiminate the I have turned EVERYTHING off removed and tested all cables, put all back together sans the PC and the buzz remains. The buzzing goes away only after I make an rca connection from my Sony player's rca digital out to the Havana's rca SPDIF input. Now I can reconnect the computer and connect the USB cable from it to the DAC, no buzzing, only music.
But, if I attach an rca cable from the PC to the DAC, then the whole Buzzing mess starts over. The USB cable from the PC to the DAC is always disconnected prior to connecting the rca.
Oh yea, I got a pretty impressive electrical shock from the chasis of my PASSIVE preamp while the buzzing was happining!
A simple hypothysis; A ground loop or maybe a defective component on the SPDIF section of my motherboard sends a charge (buzz) into the transformers of my passive preamp. These transformers get charged up enough to retain the buzzing after all equipment is turned of and or disconnected? And, the charge up is enough to render a good shock through he case of the preamp?

I don't want to play any more. I'm going to buy a turntable.


"I don't know your DAC, but I don't understand why you have both an S/PDIF and a USB connection to your PC. (Assuming I understood your rather wandering description.)

USB send audio in packets. If things aren't working right then you will get a loud "buzzing" noise at the packet rate of ~1 kHz. I would guess that there is some sort of conflict between the two audio output devices.

You seem to have created a very complex setup. It will take some effort to wort it out. Sometimes simpler is better."

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Kimber Kable

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