Grounding/buzzing and android BT issues
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Hi!
I received my order today I'm very happy to start playing with it!
With a guitar plugged in the unit buzzes and has random digital screeches (like the one you get on the pocket pod for instance). It does it with all guitars I have tried (a strat with kinman stacked noiseless pickups and fully copper shielded cavities, a les paul with burstbuckers pro, an SG with noiseless P90s). When I touch the strings the buzz/screeches are reduced but still there, so it sounds like a grounding issue/defective unit?
video of the buzzing/screeching with kinman noiseless
video of buzzing with LP with humbuckers
grounding through USB on computer
grouding through USB on mainsIt is definitely a grounding issue. When touching metal parts I can feel buzz to the touch, just like when touching a badly grounded fridge for instance.
The gate on each preset masks the problem without the gate it is obvious. With high gain amps even with the gate on, when playing notes and the gate opens you can hear at rougly the same volume as the notes/chords.
I'm surprised because none of the online NAMM reviews mentionned this.
The other issue running on android 10 (one plus 7 Pro) is that I can pair to the amp over BT and stream system sounds/music to the amp, however the Spark app cannot find the amp so I cannot tweak default sounds.
I've tried factory reset several times to no avail.[update] I fixed the BT issues by upgrading the firmware
[update2] I need to factory reset the amp, delete the BT device in android and reconnect everything everytime I want to use the app :(Any idea ?
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i have humming too.
when the usb cable is in the spark and in the computer, the hum is gone. it must be a ground faultAlready made the update?
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KCFwGWG2Z4A-IzLYlkzhspJ4IuViAF4D
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This post is deleted! -
Received my new Spark yesterday! Very satisfied...... except the hum / buzz, especially with higher gain presets. Every preset I’ve tried so far is using the noise gate ..... turn off the gate and the preset is unusable! When I plug the USB cable into my Mac, the noise disappears.... so .... there must be a grounding issue? When Yamaha released the first THR10II, they had the same problem and had to replace all the power supplies!
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I have received my Spark 3 days ago and i don't have the buzz problem. I'm located in France and the AC plug cord doesn't even have the ground connected like the english one.
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OK I haven't received my amp yet, but it sounds like the amp ships with a universal 100/250v ac adaptor... and they supply the correct wall plug lead for each country.
I think the high dc output voltage can cause more grounding issues in some countries.
I think the units have been designed for countries that use neutral/earth bonding power grids, ie. most western euro countries.
If we can please state what country and state/province you're in, it would help establish a very simple pattern of grounding problematic places or if it is actually the ac adaptor that's at fault itself.
I would like to know if the transformer windings in these adaptors are double insulated. -
I‘m from Germany.
Now I'm using the AC adapter from my Acer laptop and it works without hum.🤗
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@peter-schoendube said in Grounding/buzzing and android BT issues:
I‘m from Germany.
Now I'm using the AC adapter from my Acer laptop and it works without hum.🤗
yes, laptop supplies are double insulated and have noise suppressors, that's why they cost double the price.
I somehow don't see PG supplying a laptop quality power supply, actually I haven't seen any music company supply laptop quality power supplies. -
Yes I am having the issues too.. and the bluetooth connection keeps alternating between the song function and guitar signal. Not good. Iam getting electrocuted slightly when touching metal parts.
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@shiva_adm said in Grounding/buzzing and android BT issues:
Yes I am having the issues too.. and the bluetooth connection keeps alternating between the song function and guitar signal. Not good. Iam getting electrocuted slightly when touching metal parts.
what country and/or state are you in?
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@crystalpit Same issues. Indiana, USA
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Same here ... also in the EU. Haven't checked yet, what kind of DC is needed ? 9V ? 12 V ? What's the max A and polatity ?
Cheers,
CJ -
19V, 2,5 A, Plus on the inside, Minus on the outer ring.
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@ksmichel Available on Parts Express for $9.97.
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What type of connector goes inside the Spark?
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@bigdaddy Unfortunately, that 9.95 one from parts express does not resolve the hum, grounded though it is. I was very hopeful..
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@grs Thanks for the clarification. I have been reading posts that it may not be the ungrounded power supply causing the hum. Someone posted a picture of taking the amp apart and installing a grounding screw. I would think PG would respond to these concerns.
