Does your amp buzz? Audiolab DC Blocker & DC Block 6 review

[@thinkIndependent2024]

Absolutely products like this work !!DC Blocks work I make my own, The Cambridge SWITCH MODE POWER SUPPLY typical only needs EMI/RF I also customized for each type in my racks for all my systems. Remember Ceiling Fan controllers can aslo generate hum if not updated and on or near the same breaker group. Also on older Amps will hiss and hum when the filter Capacitors age.

[@MisterChibs]

@@thinkIndependent2024 That’s cool you made your own DC blocker!! I’ve learned a lot about this problem. Ever since I moved here Iv’e been able to isolate every weakly shielded power supply. Power bars, the power brick from a lazyboy. Sometimes I get humming in my recordings if my camera is connected to the mains. Such an eff’n PITA! 🍻

[@bobb.9917]

Where have you been??? We miss you! 😀 Hmmmm…I have not experienced any amp hummmmmmmm…here at The Jersey Shore……..but if I do…you taught me to take a 🔥flame-thrower🔥 to that pesky amp! Just added an Iris to my Pontus II… This hobby is FUN when we go up a notch!!! 😀😀😀👍🏼

[@MisterChibs]

@@bobb.9917 I’ve been here all along listening to music 😅 Got a new DAC to review but it needed 500 hours of burn in so I made this PSA vid in the interim. Congrats on your new Iris! Make sure to use i2s into the Pontus for another notch up in SQ! 🍻

[@bobb.9917]

@@MisterChibs hmmmm I am curious about your new DAC! Me: Roon Server (Qobuz)->Volumio Rivo (LPS)->USB->Iris-> I²S-> Pontus II. Short Audiophile USB & HDMI (I²S), Cables. Noticeable improvements in my system! 😅 It’s FUN when we make the right choices! In the beginning my choices were UGLY! 😂

[@MisterChibs]

@@bobb.9917 It made an appearance in this video. Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE. I have a lot to say and still making notes! 👍🏻

[@bobb.9917]

@@MisterChibsoh…YES…I saw it in your vid…I have my Pontus for two years..I love it. (am firmly invested in the original FPGA Firmware v 1.0)… I am basically very happy with the sound of my system in my room. I was looking for a tweak..possibly an after market Venus…and the I decided on a pre-owned Iris. Cheaper and easier to get to basically the same place. I'm happy with that decision…but as I was researching The Holo Spring 3 KTE kept coming up! I found two direct comparisons of the DAC to my Pontus II (without the Iris). Quick Take: One reviewer said that the Holo was "fuller", and one reviewer said it was "more detailed"…not as full-bodied as my Pontus? WTF. 😊 It looks like a very well built, incredible, "more user friendly" DAC! Lots of them on the used market at this point, too! I am very curious as to what your experience has been! 👍🏼

[@MisterChibs]

@@bobb.9917 stay tuned 😎

[@Staybrown11]

I have terrible power at home. Every transformer has buzzed (some more than others). I installed the Audiolab DC blocker and no more buzz. Did it limit power? Did it limit dynamics? Not sure. I don’t have a treated room but this DC blocker was the solution to my transformer buzz.

[@MisterChibs]

Glad to hear. I doubt clean power going to your amp will have any negative effects at all. 🍻

[@mkcraghead]

All of this talk about clean AC made me wonder, can you measure the amount of DC in your home? If so, how? It seems that if someone were considering adding a device to clean up their AC it would make since to verify that the AC was dirty in the first place. Thanks for the great video.

[@MisterChibs]

@@mkcraghead I think an electrician can measure DC on your lines. The weird thing is it’s not always consistently happening. So I didn’t always notice my Hegel humming but when it was, it was obnoxious. Thanks for watching! 🍻

[@MisterChibs]

@@mkcraghead I think an electrician can measure DC on your lines. The weird thing is it’s not always consistently happening. So I didn’t always notice my Hegel humming but when it was, it was obnoxious. Thanks for watching! 🍻

[@stevemurrell6167]

Getting rid of buzz and hum by blocking DC isn't the only function of this unit.....the improved quality power supply will also improve the SQ of one's audio equipment. Pity you didn't review that side of things.....which is of more importance to most music listeners.....but yes, a great unit, extremely happy with mine.

[@MisterChibs]

I did mention this in my review. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience with yours!

[@carminedesanto6746]

Guelph Hydro…that looks interesting… I guess you put your finger on it ..if you can hear it …it’s too much! Great video as usual.👍 Btw,are you doing Audiofest in October?

[@MisterChibs]

Thanks man! Will probably be there in October. 🍻

[@JamesJones-qs7rr]

Great videos I’ve watched a few of your videos because I’m 2 months into breaking in my new Cornwall 4’s. I have light static / hiss coming out of the cornwalls. One dealer who tried to talk me out of the cornwalls mentioned hiss is typical from the cw’s? So I’m thinking of buying the puratin 156 power purifyer based on all rave reviews on KZbin to see how it will help? How are you liking your cornwalls? What subs are you using and do they integrate well with the cw’s? I have a large home theatre style sub with LFE only and it does not integrate well with the cw’s, likely due to the high efficiency of the klipsch Keep up the good content!

[@MisterChibs]

@@JamesJones-qs7rr thanks James! if I put my ear right up to the CW’s, it’s normal to hear some hiss. Never from where I sit though. Cornwalls are amazing (obviously 😂) and I’m scratching my head on why a dealer would try and talk you out of them. What was his reason? As far as subs, I use a pair of SVS SB2000 Pros. What I like about those is I can dial in settings from where I sit. Getting them to where I feel happy took a while and sometimes changes without me having to get up (which is so underrated)🍻

[@JamesJones-qs7rr]

Thanks for the reply I’m in Vancouver area and more than one dealer of klipsch heritage tried to talk me into their sonus faber or b&W. Based on KZbin reviews like yours I took a chance on the cornwalls and got a great deal from the Burlington, Ontario dealer. I’m impressed by the dynamics they have, but still waiting for the 400 plus hour breakin others speak of. On my shortlist of next gear to try is AGD amp, gallion tube amp, and luxman or accuphase. Currently Using a McIntosh Pre and Rotel 2 channel amp and sounds pretty good. Biggest challenge in this hobby is convincing the wife. Even my kids take pokes at me. Everyone hates the look of the cornwalls in my house. 😂 Keep up your content, it’s good stuff!

[@MisterChibs]

@@JamesJones-qs7rr thanks man! I demoed a nice pare of Sonus Faber. Build quality was better and they sounded great but the Cornwalls were what I connected with on a whole other level. Make sure you’re able to demo the amp before you buy. Pretty much anything can drive them but CW’s respond really well and differently with good electronics. 🍺

[@alpro3714]

Blocking Humms is one thing, getting clean sound improving AC is ideal. But good products are expensive, and, regarding Audiolab, it is "not really affordable" but, as you mentioned, your quality power cables do not even connect. May I recommend you try better power "filters" such as Puritan PSM156 or, if you can get one of the best, Inakustik? I was able to try the Inakustik AC4500 for a week and it just transformed my entire chain...It was not even subtle... and, no Humms

[@MisterChibs]

Thanks for the suggestions! I’m open to trying out either of those in future. Not a lot of info on this stuff. Maybe because everyone’s power situation is so deferent. An other reason could be power conditioners and dc blockers aren’t as sexy as speaker / streamer / Amp/ DAC reviews. For now at least I’m happy to get rid of the DC!🍻

[@alpro3714]

@@MisterChibs It would just suck to buy the relatively expensive Audiolab DC Block-6 and find out that by buying a much better product (yes not sexy at all) it would solve all your issues, improve you sound greatly and render this one obsolete

[@MisterChibs]

@@alpro3714 There’s always a bigger fish 😉

[@CM-dw3gh]

Im considering changing the cheap capicitors in the audiolab DC Block. But doubt itl improve sound, just last a bit longer

[@MisterChibs]

@@CM-dw3gh Interesting. Let me know if you do.

[@CM-dw3gh]

@@MisterChibs will do cheers

[@chuckmaddison2924]

I had a listen to Paul at PS Audio and he said that if you have " DC " the power company will swap the transformer. He was talking typically of about 500 mV to 1 V. Which here I am isn't much at our 260V or even US 115V. From what I remember the US transformer outputs 2 phases and neutral to the house with 240 between phases. We have lot of homes 3 phases and a neutral at 440V between phases. The 3 is optional and handy. As DC cannot go through a transformer I'm starting to think its more of an error in the transformer giving a variation in voltage measured from neutral to the phases. Where I am with mostly over head power to the house, a lighting strike can be devastating to all your electronics, so a trap is essential.

[@MisterChibs]

Thanks for chiming in. I’ll have my electrician read this over and try and explain to me 😅

[@chuckmaddison2924]

@MisterChibs Should add with an error if we consider both sides of the wave as " equal " then the we would shift the zero point one way to make equal and so that point would now be a volt or so.

[@alpro3714]

I forgot, your hum could also be coming from your TV and related items. If you have cable (internet or TV) you can try a coax noise filter. Disconnect your TV and computer related products from your amp and if there is no hum, your problem is most likely video/computer related. Use a separate outlet for your amp away from the other equipment.

[@MisterChibs]

Didn’t mention in the video but one of the steps I tried to trouble shoot initially was unplug a whole bunch of stuff including the TV. It was definitely DC. Thanks for the suggestion though!🍺

[@hclandscapes]

I have been seriously considering this audio lab dc blocker but was concerned that my Hegel H190 which is rated at 150wpc would run into problems with the audio lab dc blocker as they recommend amplifies up to 150wpc

[@MisterChibs]

You’re good with the regular DC Blocker. That’s what I’m using with my H190.

[@hclandscapes]

@@MisterChibs that’s good to know as some people have suggested that it might not be suitable for my H190, I see you have bought a H390 ! Last time we chatted you said you wouldn’t get a 390 , how are you getting on with it in comparison to the H190?

[@MisterChibs]

@@hclandscapes oh I love the 390! I’ve got the DC Block 6 on that system. My thoughts on H390: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6PKkI2XiKmaiqssi=dCKs8y6470FQZlWl

[@hclandscapes]

@@MisterChibsthanks for the link, it’s just made me even more tempted to buy the H390 now especially as it’s on sale due to the H400 recently being released. The H190 works very well on my B&W 704s2 that can be a bit bright sounding with certain amps but the smooth and slightly warm nature of the H190 solves that problem. I have heard some say that the 390 is a bit brighter than the 190 , would you agree with that?

[@MisterChibs]

@@hclandscapes did you hear that from the same people that told you not to use DC Blocker with H190?🤣 Jokes aside, 390 is not at all brighter than the 190. Try and demo with your setup and I think you’ll be happy. 🍺

[@dajikbatarang1]

Every amp had noise? The electrical grid in your part of town must be really dirty. I dont I’ve heard any hum/buzz from amp ive had in my room. Im on Toronto hydro as well 😊

[@MisterChibs]

Super dirty!! I’m jealous🍻

[@aussie8114]

DC can’t be the only reason amps hum. I had a top of the range Sony AV amp that started humming very loudly. My present Denon AV amp doesn’t hum at all, nor does my stereo amp. Some amps are poorly made.

[@MisterChibs]

@@aussie8114 perhaps not the only reason but it was DC in my case. I have a feeling that the H390 being larger and better made was the reason it didn’t buzz as loud as the H190. If you still have that Sony AV amp, it would be interesting to test with one of these.

[@aussie8114]

@@MisterChibs No it went to the recycling centre. I’ve had Marantz, Onkyo, Sony, and Denon. Sony was the only one that developed a very loud hum from the transformer. The Marantz and Onkyo simply died on me. The Denon has been excellent.

[@thinkIndependent2024]

DC is just one of many possibilities loose wires on any outlets can also cause noise, other equipment on the same leg or just components inside the Amp. But with the previous equipment problems you may want to confirm your electrical is solid, but that would need a skilled technician .

[@MisterChibs]

@@thinkIndependent2024 Good electricians aren’t always easy to wrangle. I’m still waiting for mine to replace some busted fixtures.. RICHARD!! 🤣