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Re: Hum hunter. Audio Isolator.

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 6:05 am
by Hubaxe
Reply my own post. Did a lot of attempts and little things to get rid of this loud hum and buzz.
It may help some forum-mates, here is the list of actions.

1) RFI/EMI filter. I went for the cheap solution (no furmann), a schaffner FN filter housed in a small box with a in and out plug.
Used as main plug (amp, multi-effect, pedal board) it works fine and helps a lot. Make sure to get a Schaffner model with enough Amp capacity.
2) Change FX loop ECC81 and Inverter ECC83 driver valve. I took these selected valve from Tube Amp Doctor. Not cheap, but works fine.
3) Check V1 in preamp. Swapped valves, and I found one that was quieter than the others.
4) Put an audio isolator transfomer on the effect loop return (and turn up accordingly the multieffect output). As it's a lot quieter even without the audio isolator, I may use that trick only in recording situation.

Now even playing on Hi gain, the amp is quiet.

Re: Hum hunter. Audio Isolator.

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:22 pm
by Les Paul Lover
Hubaxe wrote:
Mon Jun 24, 2019 6:05 am
Reply my own post. Did a lot of attempts and little things to get rid of this loud hum and buzz.
It may help some forum-mates, here is the list of actions.

1) RFI/EMI filter. I went for the cheap solution (no furmann), a schaffner FN filter housed in a small box with a in and out plug.
Used as main plug (amp, multi-effect, pedal board) it works fine and helps a lot. Make sure to get a Schaffner model with enough Amp capacity.
2) Change FX loop ECC81 and Inverter ECC83 driver valve. I took these selected valve from Tube Amp Doctor. Not cheap, but works fine.
3) Check V1 in preamp. Swapped valves, and I found one that was quieter than the others.
4) Put an audio isolator transfomer on the effect loop return (and turn up accordingly the multieffect output). As it's a lot quieter even without the audio isolator, I may use that trick only in recording situation.

Now even playing on Hi gain, the amp is quiet.
Funny that 2 out of your 4 points are valve related.

I've found some affordable NOS ECC83 and ECC81 and out them in all my amps.
All my EL84 amps have NOS 6P14P EV power valves, my R30 has NOS RFT EL34 too.

Beside the extremely noticeable improvement in tone, the biggest surprise has been how silent these amps are now.

Incredibly quiet, regardless of volume and gain. Pretty remarkable.

Re: Hum hunter. Audio Isolator.

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 6:42 am
by Hubaxe
Agree.
Looks like the TH100 is not gentle with the ECC83. I need to get a batch of various preamp valves to play with.

The main improvement came from the EMI RF1 filter, and other stuff improved on top.