Hum from new VX-5

[KeithR]

You might have DC leakage from your power source. Quite common and can make a transformer hum.

[RLF]

Originally Posted by KeithR

You might have DC leakage from your power source. Quite common and can make a transformer hum.

Thank you. I'm not sure if the DC leakage would make it through to the VX-5? I found something that Charles Hansen said about transformer noise caused by DC offset as applied to Ayre products in another forum. I'm not sure if the DC Leakage that you mention here applies to what he says, but here it is in quotes:

"The only thing I can say is that the DC offset they speak of normally only causes mechanical noise in a toroidal power transformer, (and usually only very large ones with a low DC resistance in the primary winding). All of our equipment designed in the last eight years uses E-I transformers, which have a small air gap in the core and are immune to the effects of DC on the AC mains."

[Manbient]

Mine does this, noticed it a while back. In a totally dead silence, I can hear it from a few feet away and it's fairly noticeable when my ear is a few inches above the top. Never really bothered me much, and my amp hasn't exploded (had my VX-5 for 7 or so months now).

[RLF]

Originally Posted by Manbient

Mine does this, noticed it a while back. In a totally dead silence, I can hear it from a few feet away and it's fairly noticeable when my ear is a few inches above the top. Never really bothered me much, and my amp hasn't exploded (had my VX-5 for 7 or so months now).

Thanks for the confirmation. I am told that it is normal and nothing to be concerned about.

It doesn't interfere with the music at all and, in fact, is much quieter than the fan in my last ARC tubed amplifier. When I first got my VX-5, I just wanted confirmation that it was normal since my last SS amp was dead quiet except once in a while when something on the AC line would make it's dual toroidal transformers hum like crazy.

I am also glad to know that my VX-5 will probably not blow up 7 months from now.

[jsoeparman]

I had the same with the unit of the dealer here. The one I bought was new but modified by an update by Ayre, something to do with the transformer. This one is almost quite but still not as quite as my previous Ayre V-5.
Now after a break in of 400 hrs, the KX-5, VX-5 and DX-5 are at a great sound

[RLF]

Originally Posted by jsoeparman

I had the same with the unit of the dealer here. The one I bought was new but modified by an update by Ayre, something to do with the transformer. This one is almost quite but still not as quite as my previous Ayre V-5. Now after a break in of 400 hrs, the KX-5, VX-5 and DX-5 are at a great sound

I also have about 400 hours on my VX-5 and it is sounding tremendous with ARC Ref 5SE!

[erfurt]

A device that works beautifully to remove/reduce transformer hum:

FC Quiet Power Cord from Blue Circle Audio ... check it out.
They can also be built into a box so you can use your own power cords.

Good luck,
Fred