axiomofchoice
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- Jun 24, 2024
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I know this is well worn as a general topic...but here goes...
I purchased a used Michi X3 integrated amp about a month ago, and only recently noticed a faint hum or buzz coming through the speakers. One speaker hums a little louder than the other -- I can just hear the louder one from like 2 feet away, while the other I can only hear with my ears right on the speaker. It seems to be the amp itself, as I unplugged everything connected to the amp (besides speakers and power) and it still hums (that rules out ground loops), and if I swap the speaker cables on the back of the amp, the humming swaps speakers (that rules out speaker cables and speakers). I'm plugging power directly into the wall, and have tried different outlets on different circuits (including a dedicated 20amp circuit), and different power cables --- same effect. The hum is at a constant volume, regardless of the volume setting on the amp. It stays the same if I switch inputs. The speakers are KEF Q11 Meta (not super sensitive -- 89db rating).
I otherwise am happy with the amp, and since it took me over a month to even notice this, I can almost certainly live with this -- I can't hear it at all from my usual listening position, at least given the background noise in my listening space, even when the house is at its most quiet.
This is truly a "first world" problem, I know...
I'm really just wondering what causes this type of thing. I mean, I think my testing clearly implicates the amp (do you agree?), and an amp like this should not be doing this. Maybe the amp is faulty or because I bought it used something is wearing out? Hopefully the issue will not get any worse (and become an actual problem).
Any thoughts? Thanks! ...and happy new year!!
I purchased a used Michi X3 integrated amp about a month ago, and only recently noticed a faint hum or buzz coming through the speakers. One speaker hums a little louder than the other -- I can just hear the louder one from like 2 feet away, while the other I can only hear with my ears right on the speaker. It seems to be the amp itself, as I unplugged everything connected to the amp (besides speakers and power) and it still hums (that rules out ground loops), and if I swap the speaker cables on the back of the amp, the humming swaps speakers (that rules out speaker cables and speakers). I'm plugging power directly into the wall, and have tried different outlets on different circuits (including a dedicated 20amp circuit), and different power cables --- same effect. The hum is at a constant volume, regardless of the volume setting on the amp. It stays the same if I switch inputs. The speakers are KEF Q11 Meta (not super sensitive -- 89db rating).
I otherwise am happy with the amp, and since it took me over a month to even notice this, I can almost certainly live with this -- I can't hear it at all from my usual listening position, at least given the background noise in my listening space, even when the house is at its most quiet.
This is truly a "first world" problem, I know...
I'm really just wondering what causes this type of thing. I mean, I think my testing clearly implicates the amp (do you agree?), and an amp like this should not be doing this. Maybe the amp is faulty or because I bought it used something is wearing out? Hopefully the issue will not get any worse (and become an actual problem).
Any thoughts? Thanks! ...and happy new year!!