Solved AUDIRVĀNA (and other audio related chitchat)

badrobot said:

I ordered this programmable USB volume knob to add to my setup. The Stream deck volume pad is not cutting it for me. I still want a physical volume knob to adjust the system volume of my PC

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This arrived today.
It is exactly what I was looking for. Plug and play. Easy access volume knob and programmable extra 3 keys. Default as next track, previous track and play/pause.

badrobot said:

... volume knob and programmable extra 3 keys. Default as next track, previous track and play/pause.

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You're supposed to have all that programmed into your mouse!

Edwin said:

You're supposed to have all that programmed into your mouse!

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I do have it also programmed. But sometimes I find it too slow to turn down the volume with the mouse buttons. I even have volume control on my Stream deck as you can see.

badrobot said:

I find it too slow to turn down the volume with the mouse buttons.

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I have the Volume in the horizontal scroll wheel at 60% free spin, play/pause, previous/next is in my Gesture buttons...

I think you're covered though!

Just for nostalgia sake...

Edwin said:

Just for nostalgia sake...

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Minimalist.

Edwin said:

Just for nostalgia sake...

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Minimalist...

Edwin said:

Just for nostalgia sake...

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My sister didn't want the turntable back, so I dragged it out and cleaned it up a bit...,
... it's fun...

Edwin said:

My sister didn't want the turntable back, so I dragged it out and cleaned it up a bit...,
... it's fun...

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Mine is in the storage... I had to put it away when I re-arranged my home office.

badrobot said:

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Good album!!!

badrobot said:

Let's call it an International Hardware Replacement Month.
My home mesh network is "choking up". My devices get disconnected here and there. I mean it is not the mesh's fault. I just have too many devices I think. But yeah, I will try a mesh upgrade and

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If you guys are still using a non-wifi 6 router, I strongly recommend to upgrade now.
These little TP-Link Deco is even faster than my ISP supplied gigabit router. Always above 600Mbps on wifi!

badrobot said:

Mine is in the storage... I had to put it away when I re-arranged my home office.

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So is mine. I'll break it out when I find a place for it and get a new cartridge. Not a priority at the moment though.

Some clear vinyl I forgot I had!
There's a certain warmth to some recordings on LP!

The Stream Deck has endless possibility. Truly, it is not just for streamers or podcasters. It can make your digital life so much easier.
I was able to integrate different hardware and software to a single button to do what I want to do. In this case, I was able to assign one button to play FLAC files (from my NAS) per artist/album either through the PC or Chromecast audio connected to the Kanto YU6 speakers. Just a single press of button to play the music I want. So nice!

(Sorry the audio quality is very bad in this clip. It's either the phone I used or the website itself that degraded the audio.)

@Edwin, @badrobot,

Are you guys getting any hum from your speakers when powered on, music playing or not, but particularly when nothing is playing?

My Audioengine A5+ speaker has a hum in the left speaker right speaker (passive), while the active (powered) speaker is dead silent. That even disconnecting everything, moving them to a different place, connecting L &R speaker and powering one, in the hum is still there.

I searched the issue online and found there is some noise, known as "white noise" inherent with "active" (powered) speakers, but a hum is another matter and denotes interference or failing electronics.

That said, I called Audioengine’s tech support, and they did confirm there is a little bit of “white noise” in active speakers, though it should be so low to only be heard when placing your ear right near the speakers. Hum on the other hand does indicate an issue.

With that…. and kudos to Audioengine here. Why?

Because my speakers fall out of the 3-year warranty (had mine for 9 years), I’m not eligible for free replacement. However, they did offer two choices, which considering my warranty status I feel is very fair. The first offer is, I could buy a replacement amp for $100 dollars. Replacing the amp is very simple – remove back, a couple of screws and connectors. They did provide a video and its nothing I can’t handle.

The second offer is $125 dollar credit towards another speaker set, including the still available “classic” (which I have) A5+ speakers.

The classic A5+ are still $399 new, and with a $125 dollar credit would cost me $274.99 flat (they absorb taxes, and shipping is free (Fed Ex ground). I don’t have to send to old ones back, and the news one will have their 3 year warranty. The only thing the require is the serial number from the old speakers should I take the replacement route. The replacement amp only comes with a one-year warranty.

Consider, I’ve had these speakers for 9-years, 6 out of warranty, I think both options are fair, though the $125 off is the better dear, because I get new speakers at a reduced price.

Most companies would have been “sorry, out of warranty, nothing we can do” and don’t offer you anything other than purchasing a new item with NO discount. Here Audioengine is saying, even though your product is out of warranty, we can still offer you something to take care of you. That’s a big plus for me. +1 to Audioengine

Thoughts?

I confirm that there is a slight white noise but no hum on my Kanto YU6 passive speaker on any input mode (RCA, aux and opt).
The hum is probably caused by a ground loop which happens when a device is interconnected with several cables. You might want to try plugging in your speaker and DAC on separate power source (in case you have them plugged in on the same power block or extension). I highly doubt your A5 speaker is defective. You just need to figure out what is causing the ground loop problem.

Kanto also took care of my problem after 2 years of using the Kanto YU5 speakers that I purchased from Amazon. The YU5 speaker amp stopped working (back in 2018). They did not ask for more proof. All they asked me to do is to completely destroy the YU5 and they will send me an upgraded model YU6. So I sent a picture of a "destroyed" YU5 speaker with RMA number.



They did not ask me to send back the destroyed speakers so I was able to recycle the speaker baffles and installed a replacement speakers on it and sold it "as-is".

Then they sent me an upgraded YU6 speakers, not only once, but twice.

Thanks for the suggestion but this hum is new, and my system has been the way it is forever. Also, as said, even moving the speakers and having nothing connected, the hum is there. So yeah, something in the speaker, and not in how it's connected and setup.

Oh, and no matter the option, I don't need to return or destroy anything. In fact, I was explicitly told I could keep the old ones. That's actually perfect, since my Altec Lansing active speakers from 1998 finally died last month. Now the old A5+ speakers can replace the Altecs on my backup system, and the new A5+ will replace the old ones. Perfect