My XITE is "physically" producing a high pitched hiss!?

[petal]

I recently became the proud owner of an XITE-1 and I still am, but I’ve noticed a small problem with my unit. It is "physically" producing a high pitched hiss!?
It isn’t loud, but it is loud enough to be heard even though I have my pc and laptop running just next to it.
The noise is at around 11Khz and then again at 22Khz, 33Khz and 44Khz and can clearly be seen at this spectral display:



I made this recording of the noise to figure out more about the problem. Around the middle of the recording I turned off the XITE and the noise stops. The noise returns when I turn on the XITE again, so there can be no question that it is the unit itself that is producing this noise.
The noise isn’t present if the XITE has been turned off for a while, but after a few minutes it becomes audible.
You can hear the recording here:
http://www.itu.dk/people/petal/planetz/XITE-noise.wav (33MB, 96khz/24bit)

I asked SC if they have experienced any similar problems – but I have received no answer yet.
Have any of you XITE-owners out there experienced any similar problems?
And does anyone have an explanation to what could be producing this noise and if anything can be done about it?

Cheers,
Thomas

[Tau]

I can confirm that... Have recently been using it with a laptop and there's definitely some sort of hiss coming from the XITE. Hadn't noticed it on the desktop, but I'll check that as soon as I can

[garyb]

that seems like some processor noise. it can be the result of ground issues with the computer power supply or the monitoring system.

on a laptop, it can often be affected by battery vs. power supply...

[petal]

that seems like some processor noise.

Do you mean inside the XITE?


@Tau, thanks for confirming my findings. Maybe this is just a result of how the XITE is constructed.

[garyb]

processor noise is always a possibility with digital products.

again, it's usually a ground issue between power supplies.

[Tau]

yes, could be some grounding issues, that's why I want to check it on the desktop again...

[siriusbliss]

If possible try plugging the Xite into a totally different wall outlet.
Or use a power strip that has a filter on it.

My Xite is dead quiet - BUT the surrounding neighborhood power line leveling is questionable since I can sometimes hear neighbors' power tools through my power line.

Greg

[petal]

ok - I shifted out the power-cable to my xite (which came with the XITE), with one that is also grounded, like the rest of my system.

It did make a difference, but the high pitched hiss didn't dissapear, although it changed a bit in character.

I'd like to get this kind of noise confirmed from more XITE-owners, before I settle with "this is something I'll have to live with".

Anyway, thanks Tau and Gary for pointing me in the right direction of a solution to this small issue. I was afraid I had received a flawed unit.

Cheers,
Thomas

[petal]

If possible try plugging the Xite into a totally different wall outlet.
Or use a power strip that has a filter on it.

My Xite is dead quiet - BUT the surrounding neighborhood power line leveling is questionable since I can sometimes hear neighbors' power tools through my power line.

Greg

I'll try a different wall outlet on a different phase.

Unfortunately I don't have the option of using a power strip with a filter.

hmm... A dead quiet Xite. Mine is definitely producing a noticeable hiss.

Thanks for the suggestions and the report Greg!

[petal]

I tried a different wall outlet with nothing attached to the Xite, same story though. It is still producing a high pitched hiss.

[garyb]

i just wrote this big long thing before i realized, you mean PHYSICALLY, not in audio in the machine.



yeah, that's normal.

[dante]

Dont worry, it will disappear with age

[petal]

Dont worry, it will disappear with age

... I've noticed that already. I can barely hear the noise with my right ear - My left ear though still tells the tale...

[petal]

i just wrote this big long thing before i realized, you mean PHYSICALLY, not in audio in the machine.



yeah, that's normal.

I suspected that you hadn't realized it was a physical noise

Still grounding the Xite actually made a small difference in the way the hiss sounds. Now it's more rounded and not as distinct sounding.

Maybe I have just found the inner voice of my new baby

[garyb]

mine's not very loud, but it makes noise. is yours in a case or semi closed rack? it makes a big difference. just listen to those dsps idle...

[petal]

My unit is not in a case or a semi closed rack, it's just standing on my table. I like to reach out and feel the heat of my new love...

Thanks for all the feedback guys - As I said in the beginning of this thread, it is a small "problem". As long as this is normal behavior I can live with it.

Now I can get back to making weird noises myself

[dante]

Mines in a rack, and absolutely no detectable heat coming from it. Maybe coz its a 'D' w/ only 10 chips. Well theres no detectable latency either but maybe thats coz theres only 4 x 21369 DSP's for the electrons to travel thru just like that other unit that has no detectable latency

[djmicron]

i have had similar problem and solved it by not connecting the ground of the laptop power supply.
If the laptop runs only on battery, the problem disappear.
maybe this can help you too.

[petal]

Well, I'm not running the Xite on a laptop, so it's not a solution for me.

I'm afraid that I'll have to live with the Xite-hiss for now. Creating "pure" and clean power here where I live right now is not really an option.

My main worry was that something was wrong with my unit. Now I believe that this is either a problem with my power, grounding or simply just the sound of the DSP's grinding away on heavenly sounds

[djmicron]

sorry, i misunderstood your problem.
You mean the noise is phisically coming from the xite box?
Don't know if S|C added some cooling fan inside of it, mine is silent.