Solved AUDIRVĀNA (and other audio related chitchat)

badrobot · Mar 20, 2023

Dru2 said:
Thanks for the suggestion but this hum is new, and my system has been the way it is forever. Also, as said, even moving the speakers and having nothing connected, the hum is there. So yeah, something in the speaker, and not in how it's connected and setup.

Oh, and no matter the option, I don't need to return or destroy anything. In fact, I was explicitly told I could keep the old ones. That's actually perfect, since my Altec Lansing active speakers from 1998 finally died last month. Now the old A5+ speakers can replace the Altecs on my backup system, and the new A5+ will replace the old ones. Perfect

the only difference in my case is that I didn't pay for the replacement so destroying the old didn't really matter. I could throw it away but I didn't. I sold it for $150 and made a $100 after spending $50 for replacement speakers from Dayton audio.

Dru2 · Mar 20, 2023

Yeah, you were fortunate to not have to pay anything, but given my case, I'm still getting a fair deal. Happy with that

And I've gotten plenty of great deals and free stuff. Plus, I seem to be lucky in that area anyway so I'm good

badrobot · Mar 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
Thanks for the suggestion but this hum is new, and my system has been the way it is forever.

You mentioned the hum is on passive speaker? Is that correct?
It seems that you are ready to spend your money but a hum may not be a serious problem. A bad cable coming from the amp can also cause the problem. But if that doesn't solve it, by all means, buy a new set or buy just one passive speaker. Audioengine should be able to replace just the passive speaker (for a discounted price) like what Kanto did to me. But Kanto sent it to me for free eventhough they already replaced the entire set.
I had a problem 5 years ago when the tweeter on the passive speaker of my YU6 stopped working. Kanto sent me a new passive speaker right away. But then when I opened the passive speaker with tweeter issue, I found out that the cable connector just totally slipped out and I just pushed and locked it back in and it's fixed. Now I have an extra passive speaker doing nothing.

Dru2 · Mar 21, 2023

badrobot said:
You mentioned the hum is on passive speaker? Is that correct?
It seems that you are ready to spend your money but a hum may not be a serious problem. A bad cable coming from the amp can also cause the problem. But if that doesn't solve it, by all means, buy a new set or buy just one passive speaker.

Thanks dude

but two things first...

1) I'm never of the habit of telling anyone how to spend their money, cause no one is going to tell me how to spend mine.
2) Hum may be ok with you, but I find it annoying, and why my decision if necessary.

Anyway, if you read/re-read my post, you'd see, I did test without anything connected. And still, it's the active speaker that's sending a signal causing the hum in the "passive" speaker, even though the "active" speaker is dead silent. Even the tech support person agrees this isn't normal.

badrobot said:
I had a problem 5 years ago when the tweeter on the passive speaker of my YU6 stopped working. Kanto sent me a new passive speaker right away. But then when I opened the passive speaker with tweeter issue, I found out that the cable connector just totally slipped out and I just pushed and locked it back in and it's fixed.

It's been suggested by the tech to open the speakers to check for anything weird. I just hadn't gotten to it yet, but I'm 99.9 sure I'll find nothing there as the speakers work fine, except for the low hum in the passive speaker, which gets masked by the music playing through it.

All that said, I have zero issues with paying the reduced priced for a brand new "pair" of speakers with full warranty, if required. That's far below what I would pay for a set of speakers anyway. That's me

At any rate, when I get the chance later on, I'll open both speakers to check for issues before final decision and post back

badrobot · Mar 21, 2023

I did not mean a hum is okay. What I meant is it may be an easy fix ("not a serious problem"). I didn't say it shouldn't be a problem.

You keep saying this to me:

"I'm never of the habit of telling anyone how to spend their money, cause no one is going to tell me how to spend mine."

I was only repeating what you already said or implied of doing.

Dru2 · Mar 21, 2023

badrobot said:
I was only repeating what you already said or implied of doing.

First off, I meant no offense. I'm just sort of "touchy" whenever someone suggests I spend my money another way. But yeah, I get you're just posting suggestions. All good

And yes, my intention is to pay for/replace a "humming" speaker system. It's also why I buy premium cables, and speaker wires. Why I obsess over cable routing the way I do. I'm currently sitting at my desk as I write this and all I hear is a loud hum buzzing in my right ear from a speaker without any music playing. Its like those overhead florescent lights that buzz all day when powered on. You don't notice it when its noisy in the area, but it's damn annoying when all is quiet

Anyway, I do find it odd the "passive" speaker has the hum, while the active speaker is dead silent. I would have thought it'd be the other way around.

Oh, and Audioengine will only replace / sell as a pair, not individual L/R speaker when sold as a "pair". I'm good with that anyway, cause I want a pair of new speakers, not one new, and one old. Nor do I do refurbished. That's me.

Hope we're still cool ?

badrobot · Mar 21, 2023

Of course we're cool.
I am just touchy also when people misinterpret me.
But just to remind you, in any forums, people will tell you or suggest anything regarding any topic. Probably including options for any purchase. Not necessarily telling you what to do with your money. After all, it is not about the money. It is about getting to the bottom of the issue whether you listen to the suggestions or not.

Dru2 · Mar 21, 2023

badrobot said:
Of course we're cool.
I am just touchy also when people misinterpret me.
But just to remind you, in any forums, people will tell you or suggest anything regarding any topic. Probably including options for any purchase. Not necessarily telling you what to do with your money. After all, it is not about the money. It is about getting to the bottom of the issue whether you listen to the suggestions or not.

You are correct. But that's also the one rule I have that's a pet peeve of mine... even when someone else is doing it to another.

Anyway,... Audioengine A5+ Passive speaker (Right)...

Audioengine A5+ Active speaker (Left)...

This is the frontside of the power amp. Audioengine will send you this entire unit for $100 bucks...

Amp backside...

Looking over everything I couldn't find anything wrong or loose. And there are no swollen capacitors.

badrobot · Mar 21, 2023

So, you are just replacing the amp? Or getting a new pair?

Dru2 · Mar 21, 2023

Though it's cheaper to just replace the amp, I could still end up not solving the issue if it turns out the passive speaker IS the issue. So yeah, going for the new pair, this way I know everything is new. Plus the 3-year warranty.

And these will just replace my Altecs that finally died after 25 years

Edwin · Mar 25, 2023

Dru2 said:
Are you guys getting any hum from your speakers when powered on, music playing or not, but particularly when nothing is playing?

No hum here.

Dru2 said:
Thoughts?

It's a mystery to me!

Edwin · Mar 26, 2023

An extremely rare pressing of an extremely rare collection of music:
Virgil Fox plays The John Wanamaker Grand Court Organ

I got extremely lucky and snagged it for 4 bucks, somewhere in North Carolina...

The History of the Wanamaker Organ

Dru2 · Mar 26, 2023

Edwin said:
An extremely rare pressing of an extremely rare collection of music:
Virgil Fox plays The John Wanamaker Grand Court Organ

View attachment 56441

I got extremely lucky and snagged it for 4 bucks, somewhere in North Carolina...

View attachment 56442

The History of the Wanamaker Organ

Impressive. I can appreciate its importance

Edwin · Mar 26, 2023

Dru2 said:
I can appreciate its importance

My father, may he rest in peace, purchased a copy of the original pressing back in 1968, which I still have!
I found this second pressing, about 10 years ago, in the States.
I will forever treasure them and, the memory of my father, who instilled in me the love of beautiful music!

The following piece, from that album, I always dedicate to my father...

Come sweetest death, come blessed rest,
take my hand, and gently lead me on.

It is probably the most moving piece of music on earth!