New speaker hiss on Marantz 5200 (1 Viewer)

[norman_maclean]

I am wondering if anyone can help. I am by no means a home theater expert, but after reading this forum a lot last year I ended up with a Marantz 5200, JBL Northridge speakers, and a Sony Sub.

When I first hooked up my Marantz there was considerable hiss to the speakers. I went back to the dealer and put in a dvd i had noticed it on on their example setup, and there was no hiss. I traded in my 5200 for a newer one (i had one of the first ones), and this solved the problem. I now had home theater better than any one I had ever heard. I LOVED it.

I have since moved, and reset up everything. I notice a hiss in the speakers now. I don't think it is bad as original, and maybe i just listen louder now or the speakers are closer (the rears are right on the sides of the couch practically. Is there a way for me to test if this is a 'normal' hiss or if something is wrong? Last night I watched Beautiful Girls on dvd (old dvd, only 2.0 DD track). I could hear a hiss coming from my rears the whole time..I almost disconnected them. Someone else I admit prolly wouldn't even have noticed..but since they are mine and I want the best sound it really bugged me.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[ChrisAG]

1) You need to determine if the hiss is in the movie sound track or not. Try a newer movie with a good 5.1 DD or DTS track, rather than a Pro-Logic track.

2) Since you only noticed this after moving, perhaps it is noise introduced by your AC line. Try using a power line conditioner.

 

[norman_maclean]

Your reply has me excited for determining what it might be. I have a ton of power cords back there by my speaker wire...could that possibly create a hiss? If so what is the solution I mean i have like 8 things plugged into a power strip back there. That could cause interference?

EDIT: I was talking with someone at work and they informed me you mean the actual power coming in. It makes sense the line could be bad as this is a very old house. What would I need to get for a Line Conditioner..are they basically all the same or do I need to worry about quaility etc. I have a LOT of things pluged into this outlet (phone, vcr, tivo, dvd player, xbox, tv, reciever, cable box, sub, playstation)...

Also the first time i noticed the hiss was on the lightening shattering ball THX thing on The Phantom Menace disk, I had it turned way up to demonstrate to a friend and I could hear a hiss, it was the first time i had noticed that...so i dont' think it is the dvd track....

 

[ChrisAG]

I'm not saying this will absolutely cure your problem, but perhaps you should check out an audio-grade power bar like Monster Power HTS 1000 or something similar. Stay away from $25 Radio Shack power strips.

Visit audioreview.com for consumer reviews on power bars / line conditioners. Some people say they work, others notice no difference. I would imagine it depends on how bad your neigbourhood power delivery is.

A third possibility is that at high volumes hiss is normal for the 5200.

 

[norman_maclean]

Well, the problem was the cable. I assume an issue with the cable grounding. Having cable company fix it is not an option as I live in a duplex and we split the cable a ton of ways, and the other address is actually where the bill goes to.

I saw some threads on this and i think there is a nice little adapter that might work. Will try it. For now just have to unplug the cable when watching a dvd...