Mixer Hiss...

So since moving house yesterday a reasonably loud hiss has started coming from my mixer out both speakers.

The hiss is there even when nothing else but the mixer and speakers are connected and its even there when all the levels are right down.

Its a bit odd, I have tried plugging the mixer into a different power socket all on its own but this made no difference.

Is it possible something has gone bung inside the mixer during the move and is causing the hiss?

I moved it in a road case mind you and it didn't get any bad knocks that I know of.

Time for a service perhaps? Its still under warranty.

BTW its and Ecler Evo 4.

Thanks.

Gain stage?

Is what its plugged into now turned right up?

I will confirm later tonight but I'm pretty sure this appears with all levels including the master at zero and nothing else plugged into the mixer but the speakers.

Also when I switch the mixer on there is now a loud crack from both speakers which I'm pretty sure wasn't happening before. Its likely to be related I think.

I suspect something inside the mixer has gone bung or there is something odd about ther power supply at my new place. It pretty much to be one of these things I think.

I just don't really want to take it in for a service and be without it for weeks on end.

Are the speakers powered or are you running them off an amp?
A buzz or hiss sound could be a simple ground loop.Try plugging your mixer in on a different power circuit and check if the hiss disappears.A different power outlet in the same room is probably on the same circuit,so run an extension cord from a far room when testing.
If the hiss vanishes when using a different circuit,you have an ground loop.
Do you run RCA or XLR cables from the mixer to the speakers?RCA's tend to transmit a ground loop.Using balanced XLR's (or even balanced TRS jacks) should stop the hiss even when everything is plugged in on the same circuit.

I would have thought that would been a hum, not a hiss for a ground loop..

You know, 50-60Hz..

well then you have obviously just been schooled

how does it feel proof? how does it feel?

=)

No. A ground loop causes a low hum. Lower than that, and we could have DC issues - which I doubt is an issue, unless we have a AD/DA in the signal path.

A hiss, is more likely to be the noise floor being boosted at some point - i.e. a mixer turned right down, and an amp being turned right up.

However, I know Rips would know this - so I have to also consider it is indeed something faulty.

It was just being polite in the way I was suggesting that Cuffs might be mistaken. That's how I prefer to work, but sometimes, just sometimes, people seem to miss my subtle tact.

Like recently -

What I said - "you know, I think those W bins might be able to put out a bit more bass - i'm sure we had more punch coming out earlier today"

What I ment ' "Something is fucked with the Club PA - there is no bass in the rig below about 100hz.. who the hell soundchecked?"

And lo.. one bin was unplugged and the other turned down... but no.. it had apparently sounded 'acceptable' to everyone for the first half of the gig..

Yeah also I thought that could be the problem.Hence I asked about the speakers-people always seem to turn them up to full power (especially powered cabs) and then feed them with a weak mixer signal.Couple that with some cheap RCA's and you'll have static/hiss blasting out the speakers.



Yeah I could be wrong that its a ground loop-haven't personally heard the problem so its only a possible suggestion .OP asked for advice and I listed only one of many possible causes.I mean he could be inaccurately describing the sound when it is in fact a hum .NZ power is 230v 50Hz so a ground loop would generally have a 50Hz hum.Although power supplies (usually step down variety) from desktops,laptops and some mixers often cause a higher pitched hiss from speaker horns

Its pretty much identical to the hiss you would hear when you have a speaker turned up too loud.

I have KRK 8's and the volume on the speaker is mid way which is 0db I think.

I have switched to using RCA's since moving but I also tried switching back to the XLR and I'm pretty sure it was still there but perhaps a little quieter.

I'll try an entirely differebnt power socket but if its not that its probably a fault within the mixer.

I have seen mention of some people having hiss issues on the Evo 4 so perhaps they have a design issue that has arisen during the move.

Definitely the mixer, must be service time.

Its sitting next to me hissing away as I type. If only it had a Dolby NR button.

Reminds me of a classic line from a Bill Bailey show which was "Never put Dolby on snake detectors. That's what we must remember".

Pure gold.

Turn the mic channel down...

Fair call.