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Buzzing sound

Andy Shaw

December 31, 2014 22:35

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Hi,

I have the HiFiBerry Amp plugged into the RPI A+ and am runnning the latest version of Volumio (1.5). After an rpi-update I have the Amp working but... there is a buzzing sound audible, especially during the quieter pieces. It's only audible when the soundcard is active, if I stop or pause the track then it disappears. Additionally, I have the volume set at just 9% as anything loader than this is just too loud in this room - granted it's late ;-)

Has anyone else experinced this buzzing noise, and if so, is there a fix? FWIW, I have tried two power supplies, the current one is 12V/2A.

Many thanks!
Andy

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5 comments

• 0
  
  Andy Shaw December 31, 2014 23:03

  Just to add to this.. hi-res audio (24bit 88khz) is completely buzz free. All 16bit 44khz emits a pretty loud buzzing sound.
• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team January 02, 2015 08:09

  Hi Andy,
  
  unfortunately I can't say what it is. However as the Amp supports only 44.1 and 48kHz, the 88kHz file will be downsamples to 44.1 or 48kHz by Volumio.
  Can you login to the system an check the mixer settings with the command
  
  amixer
  
  Best regards
  Daniel
  
• 0
  
  Andy Shaw January 02, 2015 16:46

  Thanks Daniel,
  
  Amixer gives the following:
  
  root@volumio:~# amixer
  Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 248
  Mono: 224 [90%]
  Simple mixer control 'Channels',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 248
  Front Left: 194 [78%]
  Front Right: 194 [78%]
  
  I do love the performance of the Amp, just a bit unsure about long term use based on the buzzing. To be clear, the buzzing is only audible when a track fades in or out. At normal volume the music drowns out the sound.
  
  The only other reservation I have is around bass performance. As mentioned elsewhere in the forum, the default sound from the Amp is flat. My preference is for a bit more bass but there doesn't seem to by any software (that I've found) to tweak the levels.
  
  Thanks again
  Andy
• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team January 02, 2015 17:39

  Hi Andy,
  
  try reducing the Master volume by
  amixer sset "Master" 75%
  and then increase the volume in Volumio.
  I guess you are using software volume control?
  
  Best regards
  Daniel
• 0
  
  Andy Shaw January 02, 2015 17:45

  Oh wow! Yup, that's pretty much cleaned things up.
  
  Thanks Daniel :-)