Fixing that elusive "buzz"

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K

knardini

DJ
Dec 3, 2006
1,618
6
51
Kansas City
I've read some posts in the past about fixing hums and buzzs but I had an experience tonight I thought I'd share.

I just got in a new TOV case to replace my custom one and with the new size I decided to mount my Amp, Hard drive, and Wireless reciever as well, all running through my Power conditioner (along with mixer, MP3/CD, Rackmount PA). I get everything in order and power up and hear the loudest buzz I've ever heard. I immediatly put the two prong adapters on everything which helps slighlty but still a loud buzz. I start unplugging stuff and eventually find that my Numark CDN95 MP3/CD player is to blame. It's sitting right on my amp so I wonder if there is some interference going on???? I move the Numark player out, but still a loud buzz. On a whim, I unscrew the control to the Numark that is mounted right below my mixer on the top of the case and right when I lift the control console off the metal rails the buzzing stops....touch it to the metal rails, the buzzing starts...and I mean loud buzzing! I put some electrician tape along the surface of the rails, replace the control console and not a hint of buzzing :) I had no idea that metal contact with the controler could do that. I also moved the mixer up one space since any metal contact seems to cause a problem and everything seems okay.

Learn something new everyday I guess.
 
It's a ground loop.

Mad Joe Martin posted something about this sometime back... he got a rack rail isolation kit that solved the issue. Don't know what it was called nor where he got it.
 
Also, Two Prong Adapters? Those are 1) Unsafe 2) Will not stop ground loops... The best way to prevent ground loops is to use balanced cables (search for a post by Kevin) and to have all your equipment plugged into a common ground.
 
When installing anything into my Racks, I've also put the nylon washers on top of the Install componenets & below (no need for rack rail isolation kit).
 
knardini said:
So far I've gotten to the point that when I turn off my CD player the buzz goes away. All I would have to do is plug my CD player into this hum-X plug and that should fix it?
Click to expand...


I would guess so.... google it.
 
Try this first...

With the system powered up, take a length of electrical wire and momentarily touch the ends of the wire to the CD player's case (an unpainted area) and the casings of other components. Try this on a known earth ground as well. If the buzz goes away, it's a grounding issue.

When I was working with the old RS rig years ago, I tussled with this often. None of the stuff was balanced line... and I actually had to bond some component chassis with lengths of wire to quiet hum and buzz. The RS mixer had turntable bonding lugs... I used 'em to bond to the rest to manage ground loops.

It worked. It was crap gear but it didn't buzz anymore at least. :D
 
I will do some research and see if it's worth the $. I'm super stoked to finally have a weekend off.....and it's raining outside.....school just got out for the year yesterday.....I'm hung over......I'm planning on snuggling up with my rack and see if I can reduce the noise a bit before I buy the hum-X thingy. I'd rather be spending the money on the total control.
 
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