Beolab 20 noise problem

from my experience all active powered speakers have a noise floor which means you can hear it with the distance depending on your hearing. In the past ai have been able to diminish it a bit through a combination of using a good source component (DAC or amp) and power cord and cables. However, you can minimize the noise not eliminate it. This assumes the amps on your speaker isn’t damaged...

My three year old MKII 20s make no noise. I have then connected to a Core and a BV7. I have never heard a noise and after reading this thread, listened to them. Even standing right next to them I hear no noise regardless of volume level.

Edited.

 

Thanks for respons, friend of mine has beolab 9 so i could try setting them up at him and compare if it is any difference on the noise. 

I agree with jaffrey. I hear from all active speakers a slight buzzing noise on high frequency. It’s like a background whisper noise. I first noticed it on Beolab 8000 years ago, and then on all active Beolabs. And announcement speakers at train stations etc.

I have had a pair of BL9 (last year manufacture) and I could hear this noise pretty well from my couch even - but my hearing is extremely good. It blends out when playing music but it’s noticeable if they are on or not when nothing is playing. I now have BL20 and the noise is there but much lesser. Not surprising since they don’t share the same hardware. Beolab 9 has A&B amps for tweeter and mid whereas Beolab 20 has IcePower and another kind of DSP before that.

I used to run my 20s wireless and thought maybe this would make the noise less noticeable. I however changed to powerlink by cable due to wireless instability 4/10 times of use (one speaker didn’t turn on or would turn off). I haven’t noticed a big difference in noise. I tried to not think about it the first days because I didn’t want to change back to wireless. And I haven’t noticed it like with BL9 yet either. It’s there but not to much.

The speakers in my Avant 55” are also active but have a much lower noise floor. I can not hear them being on and not playing from my couch.

Beolab 8000 is also not that loud, bl9 is louder than both.

But the sound you’ve heard from your beolabs, maybe it’s an issue if it’s loud. But if it’s this faint low river water flow kind of noise then I think it is normal.

I would surely check my power wiring layout to eliminate potential ground loops before spending on fixes. My cottage was renovated twice so I have dealt with the mysteries of what goes on behind the walls. In my case it cost me for 2 longer power cables and a long-cabled surge protector to get all my kit on one circuit, but the hum has been gone for a long time. Not bad.  http://www.gbaudio.co.uk/data/ground.htm 

You can get hum when electronics are on different power circuits, have dealt with that in the past. Ground is not always at the same level on different circuits. But I think the OP is talking about hiss, the kind of random white noise resulting from random thermionic noise in most electronic circuits. I can't hear it in my 9s or 8000s, but then I'm also old and don't have the HF hearing ability I had in my youth, back when ultrasonic burglar alarm sensors felt like ice picks being shoved in my ears. One of the few advantages of being advanced enough in age to be of the pipe and slippers crowd.

The only speakers I heard noise from was the beoplay s8.

The way you describe the sound michael is pretty much spot on. My friend who has bl9 got the same noise, but you have to put your ear close to the speakers too hear it. I have no problem hearing it 10 feet away. But its like you say, faint low river water flow kind of noise.

 

I dont think its ground related. Not really sure how to explain it, but im sure you know what i mean. I borrowed a transformator that split the power outlet from the ground net, but still make the outlet connect to ground. The bl20 doesnt have a powersocket that connects to ground so i think it even doesnt mather. Not really sure though.