Need inexpensive ICs with superior shielding


Looking for something in the Signal Cable Analog 1 or 2 price range. I'm using the Analog 1 now to feed my rear speakers in a HT setup. They were fine with my previous actives which were used in the back. I've since replaced them with EmotivaPro Airmotiv 5 and I'm now getting hum from the speakers. Disconnecting the ICs shows that the speakers themselves are dead quiet. Also no hum when I have the ICs connected but turn off the MC preamp. Never had noise or hum in the last speakers and the setup is otherwise exactly the same. I'm wondering if the gain in the Airmotivs is greater than in the older speakers and it's now amplifying the hum that may have always been there. Would ICs with improved shielding help me here?
tonyptony

Showing 3 responses by tonyptony

Thanks all. After some experimentation it seems it may not be the IC after all - or the grounding, for that matter. The ICs (with its current routing maintained) when connected directly to the line level source which normally goes into the MC preamp results in no hum coming from the speakers. Since all my sources are connected to the same power conditioner I figured it also isn't a grounding problem, but for kicks I lifted the ground on the MC preamp - no difference. Since my MC preamp has both analog and digital inputs I tried one of the digitals for this source - hum went away.

So if this source's analog out produces no hum when connected directly to the speakers, and it does when connected to the MC preamp's analog (but not digital) inputs - and it doesn't appear to be a ground problem - I've decided to contact the manufacturer and see what they have to say.

Reubent, I did also try your suggestions and there was no change.
- and it doesn't appear to be a ground problem -

...buuutt it is. It's the new power cord I'm using on my PS Audio PWD. I was previously using a cord where I lifted the wire to the ground pin because of a ground hum problem with this DAC. I completely forgot about that when I replaced it with a different cord - the ground hum is only audible on my front speakers when you're right up in front of them. Apparently on the active rears it's much more audible. Sigh.