Grainy static noise when adjusting amp volume

[jaxwired]

Sometimes when I adjust the volume on my NAD C355bee amp I hear a grainy static noise from the speakers. I've heard other's report this with various amps, but I've never had this problem myself. Anybody know what causes this? Should I care?

Thanks,

-Jax

 

[nads]

this is a new amp?

on older amps corrosion on the volume control can do this.

 

[Anonymous]

It's the volume pot. Needs a clean.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Sometimes turning off the source component and rotating the volume control back and forth a few times will self-clean it.

Otherwise I'd suggest dust, cigarette smoke or airborne moisture has got in and caused the problem, and it may need a clean, as suggested - best left to a service engineer if you're not confident, or possibly the replacement of the volume potentiometer.

 

[jaxwired]

Since I got this on ebay with no warranty about 2 years ago (it was new in a sealed box), I don't know how I would have it serviced. I'll try the self cleaning approach.

BTW, I never noticed this until the last few days when I switched speaker cable and speakers. Also, the new speaker cable uses bananna plugs on both ends and my old cable had spades. Does any of this alter your diagnosis?

BTW, I don't smoke, have no pets, and my house is pretty darn clean if I do say so myself (I'm a bit of a nut about it. )

 

[Andrew Everard]

No, the cables shouldn't have any effect on this problem. Try the self-cleaning approach, and if that doesn't work it'll be a case of finding your nearest NAD stockist and getting some idea of the cost of having it checked over.

 

[Anonymous]

I get this too, and have done since I got it (brand new), doesn't bother me.

maybe your example is worse though...

I have been hearing some distortion when playing music (and not adjusting volume) the last couple of days.

I suspect my new I/C, nothing else has changed, hmmm...

 

[Anonymous]

Pmaninit:
I get this too, and have done since I got it (brand new), doesn't bother me.

maybe your example is worse though...

I have been hearing some distortion when playing music (and not adjusting volume) the last couple of days.

I suspect my new I/C, nothing else has changed, hmmm...ÿ

Put the old interconnect back and see if the distortion disappears.

Have to say, though, unless the cables were poorly manufactured, the distortion is more likely to be coming from the amp or, though this is less likely, if you've been running at high volume levels, the speakers.ÿ

Is the distortion in both channels? ÿÿ

 

[matengawhat]

never come across distortion with interconnects - either they work or don't and then all you get is silence - run them with my kit which is prob just short of £10,000 with no issues up until day before sent them to you - what is the distortion you're getting?

Interesting read your post about bit rates - i would put it more down to the AE or the bit rates you are transferring cds at or buying downloaded tracks at - maybe they are now just showing failures elsewhere in your system

would get your volume pot checked though as thats not right - rokasn had an issue with a few amps recently as they had a different batch of volume pots and they were slightly bigger or something and were picking up noise or something.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, missed that, it won't be the interconnect as its optical. Try plugging in a CD player if you have one and see if you get the distortion, as that should rule out the source as contributing to the problem.

I'm with matengawhat and still think the amp is the most likely culprit.