noise from XLR to RCA converter

[Nick B]

My Hattor Big preamp has all RCA connectors and My Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra Class D amp only XLR. So I was just using inexpensive gold plated adapters and the system sounded great. Leo from Orchard Audio makes an active XLR to RCA converter and a member here kindly sent me his to audition along with some XLR cables as I have never bought any. I've just always preferred RCA and the cables aren't as expensive either.

Well, I received the converter today and carefully hooked it up. With the volume at 0 on the Hattor in either active or passive mode, I get a slight and strange noise coming out of the speakers. It sounds a bit like a frequency sweep as the noise varies. Needless to say, I sent Leo an email asking what is might be. Leo offers this active unit and AVA offers an active unit too. The good quality passive units I've found and mentioned to me by another member here are a Jensen and one from Pine Tree Audio. If they were all to sound equally good, I'd opt for the passive units as it saves me from another cable and it saves an outlet on Dave's UberBUSS.

So I'm curious if the issue can be resolved....

[Jack]

If you haven't already turn off the amp, preamp and convertor and reseat all of the cables.  Also make sure you're not crossing an IC and PC somewhere in this new setup. Since this unit just came out of another system and wasn't making any noise I doubt it's the issue.

[Nick B]

Leo

If you haven't already turn off the amp, preamp and convertor and reseat all of the cables.  Also make sure you're not crossing an IC and PC somewhere in this new setup. Since this unit just came out of another system and wasn't making any noise I doubt it's the issue.

Leo got back to me very quickly on this and it could be unshielded cables or even a ground loop in spite of the fact that this doesn't sound like typical AC noise hum.

The strange thing is that my system appeared to be dead quiet before I inserted this device and I don't think any of my cables are unshielded. I also plugged this into Dave's UberBUSS. Anyway, I will try various cable combinations and see if I can get this device working properly?

[rollo]

Try going back to what cable you used before the noise. If no noise then it is the new cable set up.
charles

[Nick B]

Try going back to what cable you used before the noise. If no noise then it is the new cable set up.
charles

Life in the audio world can be so annoying sometimes. I tried taking Leo's converter (kindly loaned by Evan) out of the UberBUSS and just plugging it into the wall. That didn't help. Then I disconnected my USB cable and went back to the Neotech silver/gold coax. The noise was still present. As my loaner XLR cables were on the short side, I had to keep the converter on top of the Starkrimson Ultra amp. All my cables are shielded and very good quality and sonically very pleasing. So I just didn't want to screw with it anymore and I put the gold plated adapters back on and audio bliss returned. Jack recommended a transformer based passive converter from Pine Tree Audio in Massachusetts and I will probably get it. Jensen transformers and I can choose connectors which would likely be the AECO silver. Same $300 price as Leo's and owner Jesse was great to deal with.