Crackle during standby

[KaraK]

I've recently updated my home set up to be Activ Linn AV5140 speakers powered by 3 AV5105 amps, everything works really well except when the bass amp is in standby (ie powered but no input signal detected) I get intermittent crackles and pops from the right speaker which is very maddening. At no point when it's doing this does the amp come out of standby so it doesn't appear to be detecting an input signal, my thoughts were along the lines of it being power related? I've swapped the kettle lead out to no effect and I've changed the socket the amp is plugged in to no effect.

Any ideas?

[itsnotarace]

That reminds me of when I was young, our record player needle used to transmit AM radio very faintly during certain weather conditions.

There must be something causing electrical interference near the speaker. Try moving the speaker elsewhere in the room. My car stereo (very old car) used to crackle everytime the windscreen wipers were going

[KaraK]

Hmm I had thought about interference (there is a network switch and a Wifi router next to this speaker if they would be suspects?) - would that still fit with the problem going away when an actual signal was going through the speaker though?

[Toffer]

Try a twisted or RF shielded speaker cable...good luck.

[Frances The Mute]

Intereference can be common with Aktiv cards. As is usually the case with any hi-fi, external components should be kept well away (wherever possible) to avoid such issues.

Linn kit using SMPS are silent.

[KaraK]

Toffer said:

Try a twisted or RF shielded speaker cable...good luck.

The thing is that the speaker cable is all cut from the same reel and the cables running to the two other drivers on that speaker have no issues?

If it comes to it I guess I'll have to try some different cable but I'm just worried about spending a fortune on all new cable only to have it not solve the issue

[KaraK]

Frances The Mute said:

Intereference can be common with Aktiv cards. As is usually the case with any hi-fi, external components should be kept well away (wherever possible) to avoid such issues.

Linn kit using SMPS are silent.

I'll try shifting the network gear away from the hifi tonight and see if that makes any difference. I'm also wondering if there could be a problem with the Activ card itself? This would explain why it's only the one channel that is affected. The cards in that amp are new so if there is an issue I should be able to get it sorted by Linn?

[Frances The Mute]

KaraK said:

I'll try shifting the network gear away from the hifi tonight and see if that makes any difference. I'm also wondering if there could be a problem with the Activ card itself? This would explain why it's only the one channel that is affected. The cards in that amp are new so if there is an issue I should be able to get it sorted by Linn?

There's not much to go wrong with the card to be fair - especially when you consider this only happens in standby mode.

Move the router etc and see how you get on, first.

[Hoover.]

no cards or anything on my system...... but thaought I had an issue with amp, after spending half the cost of amp to have it checked over and firmware updated turned out that if was neiaghbours heating system causing issue...... thaught initailly only to be when amp on, but also crackle through speakers in standbye mode.... at wits end... just hope gas gets to expensive that they switch back to electric

[KaraK]

Holy Thread Resurrection!!

I never did manage to solve this issue - moving the network gear around made seemingly zero difference. I tried changing power leads, plugging directly into the wall for that amp etc and never solved it. I just assumed that there was something in my flat/building that was causing it.

However I've now moved house and yep, you guessed it the problem is still there

Whatever is causing it surely can't be coming via the actual audio inputs on the amp as despite it being a pretty loud noise it never trips the signal detection to turn the amp "on". When in my old flat I just lived with unplugging the amp when it wasn't in use but my new setup makes that much more awkward.. so I guess I'm back to square one. Was wondering if something like this might be worth a shout?