• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

sansui 881 background noise - cyclical ticking sound

S

special_20

Active Member
so I have a Sansui 881. I decided to recap it earlier this summer and it had been working fine. Over the weekend, I sat down near my speakers while no music was playing and started hearing a persistent ticking/flapping sound. It's not a hum but a cyclical ticking sound. If I had to guess it's at 2 cycles per second. It's on all my inputs and if I increase the volume, the volume of the background "noise" increases. It's pronounced enough to notice during regular music playing and is driving me slightly crazy (since I now know it's there and am listening for it).

Any clue as to what it might be? An likely culprits of areas I should be rechecking? I've dealt with hums, pops and distortion on this amp, but this sound is a new one on me.
 
Register to hide this ad
I changed relais on my 771... that's the only thing I did hear ticking... but:
  • As its on all channels, are you sure its from INSIDE the amp?
  • Do you have installed an electronic device close to the amp?
I realize that even the electronic current of my table lamp and of course the cell phone heavily disturbs. Sometimes I do youtube videos and post them here to make people "hear" what I try to explain in words...
 
Some of the older gear picks up line noise from the powersupply more than other gear. Could be ripple or other noises in your powersupply or other appliances like washing machines or fridges. Or yes, it could be cellphone/tower noise.
 
So the amp is on a power strip and yes, there is a lot of other electronics nearby (TV, turntable, DAC, chomecast, squeezebox etc). I do have a powervar line conditioner in another system. Perhaps it's worth a shot plugging that into this system. Alas, not a trivial bit to move around but will try later in the week and report back.
 
It could be picking up interference or it could be a bad internal ground, like a wire you failed to reconnect, or it could be motorboating. First, find out if the problem is in the unit or external. Try disconnecting all the cables from the rear and then see if you still get the noise. Maybe you could move the receiver to the garage and try it there.
 
Last edited:
Well, I opened it back up and tightened the grounds and reflowed the solder connections to the big caps. On the bench she's running quiet now. Still need to plug it back into the main rig to confirm. Thanks for the advice guys!
 
Hi, did you solve the problem? I have the same noises in both cahannels of my Sansui 881, and they are caused by my power line LAN network...
If I disconnect the power line modules the noises stop...
 
I had similar issues with my 2000x and found out that the “cyclic feedback” was due to a bathroom exhaust fan on the same circuit in an adjacent room. If it happens when you bring your unit back in, try a different outlet that is on a different circuit breaker.
 
I have several customers that have had cyclic noise issues because their Wi-Fi modem was too close to their stereo system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom