"Shortest Way" SW51 Amp Impressions (Simple SET Amp)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Hands, Jul 12, 2019.

  1. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    I haven't. Noise/hum at even the lowest levels drives me nuts so I would have noticed it right away.
     
  2. Erroneous

    Erroneous Friend

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    Could be your source I think. What's your DAC and what are you feeding it with?
    Could also be dirty electricity. Have any dimmers on that circuit?
    All kinds of fun things could be happening once you introduce tubes into the system.
    Could also be the tubes themselves. Have any others you could swap in?
     
  3. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    Yea for sure, could be a TON of things. Zampotech has been helping me identify what's going on. It's also worth mentioning I'm having problems with an Asgard 3 and Bifrost 2 transforming humming/buzzing (I've tested this at a friends house and it still does this, so that eliminates my power being the problem). I've tried different tubes, the only time the hum in my headphones isn't present is when the amp is turned on with no tubes inserted. I've also tried this on an outlet at my home that runs directly to my power board with nothing else, while everything else is turned off.

    I can put my ear against the transformer housing on the SW51+ and hear a buzz, how about you guys?
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2021
  4. jnak00

    jnak00 Friend

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    Yes, mine has a slight hum through the headphones. I just figured a tube amp might be a bit noisy. I can also hear a ticking sound through the headphones as the tubes warm up.
     
  5. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    Ok, cool. Maybe i'll try a Furman power conditioner, I tried a DC Blocker with no luck.
     
  6. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    You've tried it on various outlets and others' homes but just for shits and giggles, have you measured your mains for DC?
     
  7. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    I have not, I bought a DC blocker from ATL audio and that didn't help.
     
  8. Erroneous

    Erroneous Friend

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    I have a speaker amp with humming/buzzing transformers (though nothing comes through the speakers). After trying the ifi power cleaners I kinda gave up. I figured I either need complete power regeneration, which I think is about $1,500, or I need to live with it - which is not hard to do since it's not coming through the speakers.
    I think you can go deep down the rabbit hole of your power situation if this small hum is really that bothersome. Or you can tune it out and enjoy your amp. I think it's probably related to power in some way though.

    Edit: I realize you say that you've eliminated your power as being the problem because the issues still present at friends' houses. Perhaps your power situation caused real problems with your gear that now persist because the gear now has problems. The whole power thing is a bit of a mystery to me. Perhaps someone with more experience can weigh in.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2021
  9. Pancakes

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    Speaking purely statistically, you have 3 pieces of gear with the same problem (A3, BF2, SW51) - the likelihood of all 3 having the same issue directly from the manufacturer (two different ones) is not zero but right next to it. Something's going on with your power and potentially causing damage - hence the continued problems after taking to your friend's house. I'd call the power company or an electrician to check everything.
     
  10. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    Maybe it's the same problem? I can't really tell. A3 and BF2 the transformers hum loudly, doesn't come through the headphone one bit, it could just be the type of transformers Schiit uses that doesn't play well with NZ electricity. With the SW51+ I hear a noise floor with headphones on. I've had three electricians out and they've said everything is normal. But yea, I'm not eliminating that something is going on with my side of things, seems likely. But like @Erroneous saying, this can be a very deep rabbit hole to go down, $230 for a DC blocker and I'm at about as far down as I want to go, maybe trying out a conditioner.
     
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  11. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Gotcha. Sucks. Next piece of gear you buy, try it at someone else's house first. If it's all good, take it home and see what happens.
     
  12. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    I will say though, the SW51+ is damned good. It tickles my ear like nothing else I've heard.
     
  13. HotRatSalad

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    I miss my SW51 but it did have hum non of my other stuff does. I don't go crazy have one clean outlet and a cmx 2. I plug BF2 and Jot 2 into it.
     
  14. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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  15. Dzerh

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    My SW51+ doesn't hum.
    Someone from NZ mentioned in some other thread recently that he is keeping voltage down below 220V and it eliminates hum of Schiit transformers.
     
  16. Zampotech

    Zampotech Friend

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    By the way yes. If an increased voltage is applied to the transformer from the mains, then its magnetic circuit will be close to saturation and will emit a parasitic electromagnetic field. This field can cause buzzing and background. If you use an adjustable autotransformer, then you can bring everything back to normal.

    [​IMG]

    We have such a 500 watt autotransformer that costs about $70
     
  17. mdr30

    mdr30 Acquaintance

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    What if you turn off your mobile?
     
  18. Lycos

    Lycos Acquaintance

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    Mine is dead silent on both outputs. I tried HD800, Atticus, VC and iem (Moondrop Blessing 2).
    I'm from Aus and runs on 230V.
     
  19. Mordy

    Mordy Acquaintance

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    Mine is completely silent even when I turn up the volume to ear splitting levels (without music playing) when used as a preamp. My other two tube amps are quiet at normal listening levels, but will always produce noise when the volume is turned up very high. I really enjoy a completely quiet tube amp!
     
  20. EternalFury

    EternalFury New

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    I received my SW51+ unit a few days ago.

    First, as I told @Zampotech, it was remarkably well packaged and traveled intact from Russia to Colorado.

    Here are a few pictures to illustrate this...

    https://mega.nz/folder/3BwRyIJY#bGo4vGQ7_xS7F1JLoPpaNw

    End result: Not a single scuff or scratch, even though the corners of the box were quite worked up.

    Then, there is the quality of this amp. A lot has already been said and I don't feel competent enough to add anything that hasn't already been said.
    It's a great amp and I don't think you can do better for less than twice the price at least.

    So, thank you, @Zampotech, I will recommend you!
     

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