PS Audio P10 Questions - Buzzing & Brightness

[Grasshopper]

OK, so I found a local deal on a PS Audio P10 I couldn't refuse, so I brought one home yesterday.

I made quick work firing it up, and gave my system a listen.

My first surprise was for the first time, I heard a not so pleasant high frequency audible buzzing coming through the tweeters of my B&W Signature 800's.

I was really hoping the noise floor would be lower, not higher with the P10, so I am curious what I could be doing wrong.

I connected my entire system to the P10 (MC402, C2300, Mac Mini, Wyred4Sound Recovery, Oppo blu ray, Onkyo AVR, and a small amp powering my center channel.)

For two channel listening, only the Mac Mini> W4S Recovery > C2300 > MC402 are on.

Previously, I had the MC402 connected right to the wall, and everything else on an inexpensive Fuhrman surge protector strip. Under this setup, I never had any buzzing/humming coming from my speakers.

Now with the P10, I suppose I was expecting to be blown away out the box, but thus far, I have a few questions:

-What could be contributing to the feedback through my speakers?

-What is to be expected during the "burn-in" process?

My initial impression is I am pretty sure I hear more separation. I can crank the volume louder than I ever had before and I can tell there is less distortion.

On the other hand, the music sounds more analytical to my ears, and much less musical. Sounds like it has been "sanitized" or something. It also sounds brighter, which is not a welcome change as I prefer a warmer sound.

(For what it's worth, my power seems to be pretty decent with only a 2% THD and not a ton of variability coming from the socket. The P10 shows the power leaving the unit at a .2% THD.)

I let it play all night to accrue some hours. No change in sound with 10+ hours.

Before making this purchase I read several reviews that almost all universally praised the change right out of the box, so I am curious what experience fellow AA'ers with the P10 can report.

Thanks in advance.

[j3brow]

I have owned (2) P10's in the past. I never had an issue. High freq buzzing and brightness is not normal operation.

I would unplug the Mac Mini and try playing the oppo only to see if the buzzing is related to the computer.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by j3brow

I have owned (2) P10's in the past. I never had an issue. High freq buzzing and brightness is not normal operation.

I own more than a dozen P10's in multiple systems; Jason is right, high freq buzzing and brightness is not normal operation.

[Grasshopper]

Thanks for the responses. I'm curious what could be contributing to the buzz and brightness.

[audio bill]

Since you mentioned that your connected gear includes an AVR, do you by any chance have a cable TV feed connected to that receiver? That's a common cause of the buzzing that you've described, so if the answer is yes I'd suggest disconnecting it and seeing if the buzz disappears. If that works then what you need is a ground isolating transformer for the cable TV feed.

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by audio bill

Since you mentioned that your connected gear includes an AVR, do you by any chance have a cable TV feed connected to that receiver? That's a common cause of the buzzing that you've described, so if the answer is yes I'd suggest disconnecting it and seeing if the buzz disappears. If that works then what you need is a ground isolating transformer for the cable TV feed.

I don't have any cable connection. Avr only comes into play for blu Ray duty.

[mtroo]

I had a similar issue with a P5 and if I recall correctly it was the Apple Airport router. Plugged this into an APC power strip and the problem disappeared.

[jdandy]

Jason.......I suggest you begin some basic process of elimination. Start by unplugging the nonessential components one at a time. If you get down to the last pieces of gear for the 2-channel setup and the noise is still there try powering the Mac mini from the wall. If you still have the high frequency noise I would return the P10 to the dealer and ask for a different one.

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jason.......I suggest you begin some basic process of elimination. Start by unplugging the nonessential components one at a time. If you get down to the last pieces of gear for the 2-channel setup and the noise is still there try powering the Mac mini from the wall. If you still have the high frequency noise I would return the P10 to the dealer and ask for a different one.

Dan,

Good advice. I will try and carve our some time to do a little process of elimination.

It's just a little strange that the buzzing wasn't an issue with all the components on the same circuit via a much cheaper surge power strip.

[JMD]

Jason

When it comes to audio components and power changing anything and the resulting noise that can occur is not all that strange. Take Dan's advice and either remove pieces one at a time or start with just the MC402 and add pieces until the noise occurs. There is a culprit likely in the mix somewhere or that PS-10 has an issue.