Hiss

[bensilb]

Hello

I have a question about a hiss I am experiencing. It is louder in some CD/DVDs at higher volume levels. Is this normal? Is it possible that the recording is to blame? I have a pretty good receiver. I am wondering if something is wrong or I I just to damn pick. I previously had a Sony STRV444ES and the hiss was horrible. It is not as bad now, but it still exists. My room size is also very small and I have a lot of full outlets all on one circuit breaker. Not my design!!!

Here is my system:

Sony Trinitron 27" TV

Klipsch RC - 3 Center

Klipsch RF - 3 Mains

Klipsch Synergy Rears

Yamaha RX-V1000

JVC super VHS VCR

Sony DVP-S530D

Sony TCWE425 Tape

Sony CDP-CE345

[Mighty Favog]

I'm not gonna say that this is definitely the problem source but it's a "maybe". Unfortunately cd's are not created equal. Some were engineered better, used better equipment, recorded at different output levels. For instance, the Steely Dan cd that gets talked about quite often on this BB was art in itself. It was well engineered on damn good equipment and has a rather strong output (loud) level. The stronger the output signal the more chances it will reveal all and any imperfections in the source recording. See if you can pin-point wether the hiss increases or decreases with a stronger or weaker output signal. Here's a hint: Most cd's made from older (more than 15 years) analog tapes will more that likely have a weaker output. Other than that possibility the only thing I could say is that the sensitivity of these speakers is so high that they can/will reveal more imperfections in equipment. If that is the source of the hiss then unless your willing to go with separates (pre-amp, amp, tuner etc.) I wouldn't fret it too much. If your using the receiver for an HT set up, going with separates can get rather pricey. To go along with that there are some receivers that are better than others when it comes to what you hear. The BB may be of some help but it's real hard to find someone that has the exact equipment you do to make a comparison.

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Tom

KLF-20 Mahogany

Carver Receiver MXR-150

Yamaha PF-800 Turntable/ Sure V15 Type V Cartridge

Carver TL-3100 CD

Yamaha K-1020 Cassette

dbx 1231 EQ

dbx 3bx Series Two (mothballed)

H.H. Scott 830z Analyzer

Monster Interlink 300 mk II

Original 12ga. Monster Cable

dbx 200 (mothballed)

dbx nx-40 (can't believe I still own this thing! Mothballed)

Technics R&B Series SB-7 (mothballed)

Technics R&B Series SB-3 (mothballed)

Yamaha NS-W2 (mothballed)

SAE 5000A (mothballed but perfect shape)

[bensilb]

tblasing,

Thank you for the response. The hiss usually occurs at higher volumes. I can only hear it at a low point in the song(ex. at the beginning).

Thanks

[boa12]

bet if u switch to 2 channel mode it really goes down. then it's those noisy dsp

[WMcD]

This is my experience with HT reveivers too.

Even if the amplifier circuits are not noisy, the DSP circuitry is. Therefore, if you're in a setting without DSP, the receiver is not too "hissy". But with any sort of DSP doing even 3 channel stereo, the added circuitry is not so good as far as noise floor.

Specs on receivers may not report this sort of thing accurately.

Gil

[xr7segfault]

I've come to the conclusion that AV receivers that normal people can afford kind of suck. I got a harman/kardon AVR45, which is a huge step above Aiwa, lower end Sony and Technics, etc. I'm still not happy with it. It hums and hisses through the speakers a little bit, I can hear some bleed-through of inputs at high volumes, it makes this annoying slight clicking/popping noise through the speakers whenever I adjust the volume, the lowest volume setting is WAY too loud for nighttime listening, the digital input is slightly noisy which pretty much negates the point of having it, etc.

I scored a REAL harman/kardon receiver on eBay. It's a circa-1989 880vxi, 65 wpc RMS, lots of gadgets, and only 2 channels thank you very much. It should be here tomorrow, I'll post my thoughts on new vs. old h/k then. But I get the distinct impression that unless you spent a ton of cash, most A/V receivers are just too much of a compromise.

[boa12]

oh yea definitely, my old big ken is quite as

a church mouse compared to the new sony a/v.

& that's even comparing to the sony in stereo

mode. i've gotta get that marantz sr8000

next

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Klipsch KLF-30 (front), KLF-C7, Cornwall I (rear)

Velodyne HGS-18 sub woofer

Monsterbass 400 sub interconnect & Monster S-12 cable

Sony STR-DE935 a/v receiver

Sony DVP-C650D cd/dvd player

Sony Trinitron 27" stereo tv

Toshiba hi-fi stereo vcr

Technics dual cassette deck

Technics direct drive turntable

Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000 digital cable box

2nd room:

Klipsch RF-3 (front), RC-3, cheap little Technics (rear)

Kenwood KR-9600 AM/FM stereo receiver (vintage '75)

Teac PD-D1200 5-disk cd player

Sega Genesis game player

Sub: None yet

rock on!

[bensilb]

Thanks everyone

I was concerned that there was something wrong with part of my system. I put in a Cherry Popping Daddy CD and herd absolutely NO his. I think the problem was the show tune CD's I listen to: one was a mix with older tune and the hiss is very loud. Most of the time it is a slight hiss that can only be heard in the beginning. The Yamaha ZRX-V.E. puts out fantastic sound on the whole and I love my Klipsch Reference series. Tweeter offers a 1 year speaker upgrade deal, so I will eventually upgrade my Synergy rears.