Static Noise on Power Amplifier in Aux Input - Is This Common?

[Sovon Halder]

So either my ears got hyper sensitive somehow to nuances in audio frequency or my WXA-50 got damaged. Should an amp produce static noise of any kind, on passive speakers?

My Desk Setup: Mac Mini M1 + WXA-50 + 3020i Pair (with 3.5mm to RCA & Nakamichi banana plugs w/ 12 gauge spool)

I quite literally HEARD the static noise, for the first time today. I thought it was an outside noise and ignored it at first, but then when I went close to the speakers, turns out there was indeed a noise coming out of the twitter. It boggles my mind as to why this is the first time I'm listening to the static. I've been using this since August 2020 and at the time I was in a very quiet place too, compared to where I am right now. But never before; weird. So, here are things that I observed, and did to find out why it might be happening (while playing nothing).

1. It's barely audible from normal desktop sitting position but the noise is there; if I'm in a quiet room and wxa50 has -10db or higher, you'll hear the noise. Specially if you switch to bluetooth from aux, you'll feel the speakers suddenly went quietER.
2. The noise increases as I turn up the volume on the wxa-50 and it's not the aux-rca cable either cause I unplugged the aux cable from mac mini. Interestingly, the noise is tripled when there is nothing connected in the RCA input. But bluetooth input the noise is significantly reduced, like 1/3rd. And for optical it's the quietest (like almost non existent noise) So it's not the fault of the speakers either I guess.
3. I turned off every electrical equipment including lights in my house to see if this issue is due to an electrical fault somewhere else. But the noise remains. For the past 5 months, I've noticed that sometimes when a fan or light in another room is turned off, there is a noticeable crack/pop in my speaker. Not exceptionally loud but loud enough to startle you when you are sitting alone in a quiet room.

The fact that the speakers are not dead silent even when my computer is turned off is bothering me. Again, the noise isn't too much to interfere with daily tasks but with aux input it's really annoying me, and I can't figure out why I haven't noticed this before. If I touch the 3.5mm end of the 3.5mm to rcacable (rca connected to the amp), there is a strong tingling/vibrations.
I'm using an outlet from the wall that is grounded and using a Honeywell surge protector that shows "Protected" in a green dot. Despite that, I discovered this noise today.

Even right now, I have the max volume on WXA-50, and nothing playing from the computer side - there is a significant hiss / static noise going on.

What is this? And how do I get rid of this?

 

[BrianBaughn]

It's possible something has deteriorated in the amp and is causing it. Only way to check that would be with another amp.

Have you tried using ground lift adapters? Seems counterintuitive but my setup (active speakers) had a noise once that disappeared when I used ground lifts.

 

[Sovon Halder]

It's possible something has deteriorated in the amp and is causing it. Only way to check that would be with another amp.

Have you tried using ground lift adapters? Seems counterintuitive but my setup (active speakers) had a noise once that disappeared when I used ground lifts.

I though this was a GOOD mid range desktop amp; it nearly cost me 600$, how can something just deteriorate in less than 6 months; is this a common thing? Also I don't know anything about lifting grounds.

I just came from a friend's house where I took both the amp and a 3020i speaker.

I tested the amp on a Edifier passive speaker - SAME THING. Hissing noise when AUX is selected on my amp despite the fact - there was no input at all on the amp. And tested S/PDIF as an input - no noise there. Tested different outlets in his house also - always same results. So I'm quite confident that it's not the speakers & the noise is being caused by the amp and the amp only.

Now the question remains - is this level of noise omnipresent in all Yamaha amps of similar kind or should I look for a service centre?

 

[BrianBaughn]

I though this was a GOOD mid range desktop amp; it nearly cost me 600$, how can something just deteriorate in less than 6 months; is this a common thing? Also I don't know anything about lifting grounds.

I just came from a friend's house where I took both the amp and a 3020i speaker.

I tested the amp on a Edifier passive speaker - SAME THING. Hissing noise when AUX is selected on my amp despite the fact - there was no input at all on the amp. And tested S/PDIF as an input - no noise there. Tested different outlets in his house also - always same results. So I'm quite confident that it's not the speakers & the noise is being caused by the amp and the amp only.

Now the question remains - is this level of noise omnipresent in all Yamaha amps of similar kind or should I look for a service centre?

Yep. Appears to be the amp. You'll have to do the research on Yamaha amps.

Ground lift adapter:

Cheap and worth a shot.

 

[Sovon Halder]

Yep. Appears to be the amp. You'll have to do the research on Yamaha amps.

Ground lift adapter:
View attachment 1713355
Cheap and worth a shot.

I can't find one in local websites, Indian market that is. Also isn't this thing do the opposite of what should be done?
Besides my wxa-50 came with 2-Pin plug, so isn't that already ground lifted?
I have to read up a bit more on what these things do. I'll do it tonight.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I didn't know the amp was a two pin plug. You mentioned being in a gounded outlet in your OP.

A ground lift on the amp won't accomplish anything, in that case.

You already checked it in another building so it would seem it's not some interference particular to your home…which can happen.

I don't know how extensive your testing of different cables has been. Do it if you haven't.

 

[Sovon Halder]

I didn't know the amp was a two pin plug. You mentioned being in a gounded outlet in your OP.

A ground lift on the amp won't accomplish anything, in that case.

You already checked it in another building so it would seem it's not some interference particular to your home…which can happen.

I don't know how extensive your testing of different cables has been. Do it if you haven't.

I don't have any other cables.

I just want to know if any other WXA-50 owners have any sort of static noise on resting device now.