A beginners problem with new Schiit stack, Saga 2 and Gjallarhorn

[RavioliMeNorth]

I recently got a Skoll, Saga 2, and Gjallarhorn from Schitt and I get a really loud hum/buzz out of my speakers. Skoll was removed and I still get a hum. As soon as a remove the Saga 2, the hum goes away. I've worked through this with Schiit support, and they're saying that it can't be the Saga 2. I bought a Furman surge protector, a HumX, and a ground loop isolator for the RCA cables. All cables are new PYST from Schiit except for a pair of cheap ones that I had on hand. No difference when cables are switched. Everything is spaced about a 2'. There is no router in the room, and I've removed all Hue bulbs from the room. When I connect the Skoll directly to the Gjallarhorn, the hum goes away. A cheap Iphone app says the hum is at 72Hz.

I'm not seeing how this can be anything other than the Saga, but Schiit is telling me that it can't be since there's still in issue when it's in passive. They said I can pay to send it back but shouldn't expect anything different.

Any thoughts for this newbie?

 

[HalSF]

Have you tried any other input source into the Saga 2 besides the Skoll phono pre-amp — a DAC or CD player perhaps?

I have a Saga 2 with inputs from a Darlington photo amp, an SMSL DAC, an Oppo disc player, and a cassette deck, and the Saga connects via balanced cables to a Fosi ZA3 power amp. Dead quiet, clean sound.

 

[RavioliMeNorth]

phono is the only thing I have it for. I can try to find something random and see.

 

[RavioliMeNorth]

I wonder if XLR cables might help?

 

[Redacted]

Sounds like a common or garden ground loop.
If so, XLRs (by which I assume you mean using differential or 'balanced' connections, as opposed to just a connector type) probably wont help.
I know nothing about the spec of the units, but I assume you have have tried flipping any "ground lift" switches.
The basic thing is that you may well have two pieces of kit that have a signal ground connected to mains earth (or 'neutral' on older, two-wire systems), such that you have what is basically an antenna passing through mains wiring, picking up AC mains. One problem can be one or more incorrect or faulty mains converter device (wall warts). This is a well-known problem in the guitar community too, where pedals are used with some wall warts.

 

[RavioliMeNorth]

No lift switch on this thing. Button for passive, low gain, high gain. Button for input. backside has 4 RCA inputs, 1 XLR output, 1 RCA output, AC port, and on/off switch.

I'm not sure I understood all of that, but everything is plugged into the Furman SS-6B-PRO and I've swapped out the wall wart with another component that used the same one. Would that address the problem that you thought it might be?

I've read about issues with how schiit grounds the chassis.

 

[HalSF]

No lift switch on this thing. Button for passive, low gain, high gain. Button for input. backside has 4 RCA inputs, 1 XLR output, 1 RCA output, AC port, and on/off switch.

I'm not sure I understood all of that, but everything is plugged into the Furman SS-6B-PRO and I've swapped out the wall wart with another component that used the same one. Would that address the problem that you thought it might be?

I've read about issues with how schiit grounds the chassis.

Assuming the wall wart swap was for the Saga 2, do you still have the original power brick for the Saga 2 to re-try? And maybe try plugging the Saga 2 power directly into an AC wall outlet, without the Furman?

It doesn't seem like you've definitively isolated the Saga 2 as the hum source quite yet? If the Saga 2 is faulty, Schiit should offer help (though you may have to spring for the shipping). But you really want to be sure about the hum source first.

 

[Timcognito]

Most turntables have ground cable so try touching it to some screws on the back of some of your devices with everything on and only one thing on at time

 

[RavioliMeNorth]

Assuming the wall wart swap was for the Saga 2, do you still have the original power brick for the Saga 2 to re-try? And maybe try plugging the Saga 2 power directly into an AC wall outlet, without the Furman?

It doesn't seem like you've definitively isolated the Saga 2 as the hum source quite yet? If the Saga 2 is faulty, Schiit should offer help (though you may have to spring for the shipping). But you really want to be sure about the hum source first.

I swapped the wall wart and swapped it back. No change. Plugged into wall out alone and wall outlet alone with HumX. And then tried running an extension cord to another circuit in the house. No change, unfortunately.

Not isolated for sure. But if I plug the phono preamp directly into the Gjallarhorn amp, no hum. As soon as I plug in the Saga, it comes back. It might just be amplifying another problem, but it's weird because it does it even when the Saga is in passive mode.

Schiit said I could try sending it back, but didn't think they'd be able to help.

 

[RavioliMeNorth]

Most turntables have ground cable so try touching it to some screws on the back of some of your devices with everything on and only one thing on at time

My Orbit doesn't have a ground, but still tried a few different things with the ground of the ground loop insulator.
Ultimately, unplugged the TT and still had the hum with no change.

 

[Redacted]

Or - sell the Schitt gear, and buy a Chinese unit instead, possibly with as good or better numbers, or features, that works - spend the profit on more music and live shows!

 

[RavioliMeNorth]

Or - sell the Schitt gear, and buy a Chinese unit instead, possibly with as good or better numbers, or features, that works - spend the profit on more music and live shows!

I feel like this is solid life advice, not just for my audio equipment.

 

[Redacted]

Most turntables have ground cable so try touching it to some screws on the back of some of your devices with everything on and only one thing on at time

That in itself may cause a ground loop.

 

[Redacted]

I feel like this is solid life advice, not just for my audio equipment.

As a Brit, I know nothing about Schitt gear. We're wary of any triumph of marketing over engineering over here, and I cannot imagine anyone buying a brand called Schitt outside of the US - for obvious reasons - it's kind of taking the piss! Maybe like buying a brand of thong called "Blisters". Just sayin' - I'm sure the kit is wonderful.

 

[RavioliMeNorth]

I replaced the Saga with a different brand, and all good now. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[woppinger]

We're wary of any triumph of marketing over engineering over here,

A few of my friends who've owned MINIs over here in the US (one of which went up in a ball of flames on the side of the highway - she got herself and her cat in its carrier out just in time) sure wish they hadn't fallen for the marketing, and would have preferred better engineering...

 

[Redacted]

Yes, Minis are not my cup of tea - they are basically BMW 1-series these days, with a different body style, but the word "mini" implies "small" and nothing else; I can't see any other interpretations of the word. They are are not that small either! The original Mini of 1959 was, in the context of the day, a far better car than the current BMW version.

 

[Mart68]

A few of my friends who've owned MINIs over here in the US (one of which went up in a ball of flames on the side of the highway - she got herself and her cat in its carrier out just in time) sure wish they hadn't fallen for the marketing, and would have preferred better engineering...

Our roadsides are littered with their burned-out hulks. Seriously though the modern version was designed by an American for a German company.

 

[Redacted]

This is getting weird. Schitt is a pretty specific branding that does not play well as a spoken word. I don't see where Mini or BMW fits in the train of thought above.

In the UK we had a car (it was actually an Opel) called a Vauxhall "Nova". They changed the name (to Corsa) because it means "no go". This, I understand....

 

[Mart68]

This is getting weird. Schitt is a pretty specific branding that does not play well as a spoken word. I don't see where Mini or BMW fits in the train of thought above.

In the UK we had a car (it was actually an Opel) called a Vauxhall "Nova". They changed the name (to Corsa) because it means "no go". This, I understand....

In the case of the Nova it really only mattered in Spanish countries and was accidental. 'Schitt' is entirely deliberate. All their marketing is light-hearted. They've done well, really, to create a new brand and establish it convincingly in a very mature market.