When I'm close to the speaker, I can hear a hissing noise, is this normal?
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A constant low level hissing noise is a normal sound associated with speaker operation. All active speaker amplifiers generate sound which is heard through the speaker elements. This is called self generated noise level, which is <5 dB A or even <3 dB A for some of the latest Genelec products. This is a very low noise level, and most active speakers on the market are not capable of producing such a low noise floor.
Hissing noise can also be caused by the sound source. It can be reduced by lowering sensitivity of monitors and increasing level of the audio source. To eliminate the noise coming from the cables or the sound source, with SAM-series you can use the monitor’s digital AES/EBU input. This input bypasses the analog signal path, effectively removing noise introduced by the analog chain.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact Genelec Customer Support.
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On mine Genelec 8330A I have the same self-noise (especially from tweeters) on Analog and Digital input. It is possible that analog input is not fully disabled, when using AES/EBU? Maybe some bug in Firmware? (8330A 2 0.2.29 1.12.3.5127)
Thank you for the good question. The input selection is automatic: when a valid AES/EBU signal is present, the monitor switches to digital; when it’s disconnected, it reverts to analog.
If you disconnect the signal cable from the speaker, you will hear the self-generated noise that all active speakers produce. This self generated noise should be the same whether you're using an analog or digital signal.
If you compare the noise levels with the cable connected—both in analog and digital modes—and find that the noise is noticeably high in both cases, please create a support ticket through this website or send e-mail to support@genelec.com. Our team will follow up with you promptly and give ideas and suggestions.
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