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scw000000
1
Mar 20, 2019
Just received the headphone and I'm really confused about the amp... Is it supposed to have background noise even I'm in a quiet room and turning the ambient sound control to minimal? I'm pretty sure that the amp is designed to be turned on because it sounds horrible without amp. But what's the point listening to the headphone with background noise in a quiet place? I'm pretty it's not coming from my PC because I also test it on my IPOD, and the issue still exists. (Though when using with IPOD with amp turned off, it sounds much better on PC, I still don't know how I supposed to work with the amp.)
(Edited)
ergopower
35
Mar 20, 2019
scw000000IF I understand the description on the Santa Cruz website correctly, with the amp turned on, there is an input from the microphones to the amp that is controlled by the slider on the side. At one extreme, the resistance between microphones and amp is high enough that no signal comes through, so you hear nothing from the microphones. At the other extreme, the microphones are fed full-strength into the amp and summed with the music signal from the amp-in jack. I don't know which way the slider works - have you tried it both ways? It would be good to do so with some external noise source so you know whether you're hearing the microphone input or not. I suppose even with a low level of external noise, there is the possibility of some kind of noise arising from the internal circuitry, but that indicates a defective unit or just a poor design. With the amp turned off, it's a straight pass-through of the signal from your PC or iPod. The amplifier is there both because some headphone outputs are pretty weak and it should improve the sound, and to allow ambient noise to be mixed in when you need to hear something around you. This is really important to me, I'm really considering joining the drop. My usage case would principally be to use them for SPL attenuation at concerts. If the microphones/amp circuit is adding self-generated noise as well, that would be a deal breaker. Hope you can try this out before the drop ends.
(Edited)
scw000000
1
Mar 20, 2019
ergopowerI tried both ends - the other end will just make the noise louder so I'm not really happy about that.
scw000000We're sorry to hear that you're having trouble. With the lower cable disconnected from a music source and the amplifier turned on, you should be able to move the sliding volume control up to hear your surroundings and down to mute the microphones. If you are hearing noise from the amplifier in the down position, it may not be powering up correctly. Remove the battery, clean the contacts (battery and battery compartment) and replace it. If you are still having trouble you can call our office and we will try to walk you through a solution.
scw000000
1
Mar 20, 2019
SantaCruzAudiowhat should I use for cleaning it? The down position you're referring is probably move the slide to the side which has 3.5 mm jack. And that issue still exist after I cleaned it with cloth. It's sounds like white noise with small volume - although it's relatively small compared to the music, you can still hear it.
(Edited)
scw000000Alcohol on a Q-Tip. Include the battery, gold contacts in the cap and the spring contact inside the battery compartment. The batteries were new and sealed but it could be below 1.5 volts.
ergopower
35
Mar 21, 2019
scw000000Did you solve the noise problem with the additional cleaning? I passed on the drop this time around, if you got it completely resolved, I might consider next time it appears.
scw000000
1
Mar 22, 2019
ergopowerI don't have alcohol or any electronic cleaner at hand so I have to buy it online... But according to the retailer it's not supposed to happen? I'll give you update once I got it.
Solmus
0
Mar 23, 2019
SantaCruzAudioI have cleaned mine, just as you've said... and I am still getting the noise. I want to love these, because they sound beautiful... except for the noise, which completely nullifies all of the good points. I live in Australia, so I'd rather not have to send them back. If anyone has a working solution, please let me know.
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