Hi folks,

My Toshiba DVD buzzes through my speakers when the transport is moving. The level of the buzz is constant and does not change with preamp volume changes. It stops when the disc is paused or stops.

Best I can describe it is upper mid-pitched. Almost sounds like a switching power supply or other digital noise.

I am using the digital out of the Toshiba into the digital in of my pre/proc.

It does not do it on CD's with the analog outputs.I don;t think this is any kind of ground loop. Frequency is much too high and it stops when the disc stops.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

-=Bob=-

Bob, first of all, if the player is still under warranty, I would take it in without a moment's hesitation.

The puzzling thing is that it only happens when the disc is spinning, but doen't vary with the volume control. My guess is that the receiver is picking up interference directly from the player, chassis to chassis. Can you temporarily move them farther apart, or at least in different relative positions?

If you want (or have) to troubleshoot this yourself, I'd start with the interconnect: optical or coaxial? Whichever it is, can you try the other?

Also, you should try the usual process of elimination: your player connected to another receiver, another player connected to your digital input, etc. (have a neighbor with theater equipment?)

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Thanks for the reply, Larry.

The units are reasonably far apart - in 2 different bays of a 3 bay rack. So I don't think its a proximity problem.I am using coax and have never tried toslink. I may have to pick up a cable tomorrow to try it.

I'm out of warranty, so trying to eliminate all other possibilities before taking it in or living with it until the next upgrade 8^)

I have tried RDAT with digital coax to the pre/proc and that is very clean, so I think I can eliminate that device. It sure "feels" like its in the DVD.

And, unfortunately, no access to another player or pre/proc.

I'll have to see if Toslink makes any difference.

And, I agree it is odd that it is constant level and only while spinning. But I think the DVD mutes the outputs when it stops or pauses.

BTW, I have been using the "Long Ago and Far Away" scroll of text at the beginning of the Phantom Menace to test. It is always there and no audio to mask the noise through my speakers.

-=Bob=-

Probably a ground loop problems between the chassis...what is your grounding scheme for your system? Is each device plugged into the same circuit or dedicated ciruit's to each rack with an isolated ground returning?

Sounds like a fairly large system that would require a dedicated technical grounding scheme. Using the Toslink would probably solve your probs as Larry said.

All components are plugeed into two Mosnter power conditioners that go to one circuit.

I really doubt its a ground loop. If it were, it would do it on both dig and anolog outs and with any kind of disc in the player. It does not do it on CD, or HDCD or 24/96 discs. Just DVD and just the coax out.

I will try Toslink today and let you know, though.

-=Bob=-

When you say buzz,do you mean hum?A ground loop is a low freq hum(60 cycles).You said you were using text to test-does it buzz with no text?
Dave

Its not 60Hz. More like 1kHz or so.

Since yesterday, either I was wrong or it has changed, but it is now volume setting dependent. It is also very noticeable in those few moments when switching chapters. Just before and just after the audio mutes.

I did try a Toslink today and no change. Just the same as the coax.

-=Bob=-

Bob, I have to go back to the "try another player and/or receiver" method of narrowing down. You need to know whether it's the player or receiver.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Not many people have spare recivers laying around...LOL

Matt, I know, but the point is that Bob has to find out whether the noise is coming from the player or the receiver. Substitution is the only sure way.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

This message was edited by Larry Fine on 12/17/01 17:47.31.

You're right, of course, Larry. But unfortunately I don't have access to either piece and if I did it would be a major hassle to swap a piece of gear from the racks (see [Link: well.com] to see what I mean). That being said, I would do it if I had the gear available.

What is confusing me right now is that it does do it with Toslink, which points to the problem being the Parasound proc. But then, it doesn;t do it with coax digi from the RDAT, which points to it being the Toshiba DVD. Toshiba has a worthless 800# for tech support. Parasound doesn;t reply to emails very often. And I can't find any mention of a similar problem on any of the chat boards or from a search.

I'll keep trying to find the problem though. It is very irritating.

-=Bob=-

Parasound has me running some tests right now and thinks it might be in the DSP engine of the pre/proc. They had me check DTS and I hadn't thought to do that. It does whine with DTS as well. So now I have it isolated to anything 5.1, bitstream and either coax or Toslink. Anything anaolog out or 2 channel is fine.

Still not sure which device is the cause, but getting a little closer.

-=Bob=-

Ok. Just arranged to borrow another DVD player.They're both going to be Toshibas, so I hope this isn't a generic Toshiba problem that most people just have not noticed.

I'll report the findings in about 2 hours or so.

-=Bob=-

Ok, this Toshiba, although a different model, has the same whine as previously described.

So this leaves me with three conclusions:

1. All Toshibas have this flaw though few people ever notice it.

2. The Toshiba is somehow having a compatibility problem with the Parasound.

3. The Parasound has a problem.

Does anyone have a feeling for which it might be? Being the second owner of the Parasound, it is out of warranty. I hate to send it in and have them try to track down a subtle problem like this, but may have no choice unless someone has heard of a Toshiba DVD player problem like this before.

-=Bob=-

Hi Bob,

These are 2 possible options for you to try.
1. Go and buy a cheap DD/DTS receiver and try it. If the buzz isn't audible then the problem is the Parasound. Then take back the Receiver (Not the most honest option out there, but it is doable)

2. If you have a local dealer by you that is authorized to repair Parasound, see if they will loan you a pre/pro or receiver to test the buzz with the premise that if it fixes the buzz then you will a)buy an upgrade from them or b)have them fix the Parasound.

Personally I think option 2 is your best bet as most dealers are willing to work with customers....Tony