Plugged my new Rio into the home amplifer today, and theres a LOT of background noise (when the volume on the Rio is high, and low on the amp.)

When its playing a quietish song, it really gets on my nerves. Will this improve when installed in a car? I can put up with it at home! Could it be interference from the mains adapter?

Have you listened to those same mp3s using another system? A lot of mp3s that you find on the net were converted using poor hardware, and sometimes the background noise is in the mp3. Also, I am sure you know this, but you didnt have the empeg turned up past 0dB did you? That could cause audio problems.

The noise is there even when the player is paused, and the mp3s sound perfect when I use earphones. It must be coming from the player itself, or maybe interference mains lead?

Have you tried using the same cables and inputs you are using for your Rio on another signal source? What do they sound like?

You could try powering it from a car battery or some other true 12 volt DC source before going to the trouble of actually installing it into a vehicle. If you still get the noise, that would eliminate the power source from the equation.

Yeah... I tried the same cables from my portable minidisc into the amp - perfect.

Try using a battery as your power supply and post the results.

Probably a ground loop - make a ground connection between the case of the empeg and your amp to see if it makes any audible difference (better or worse). If so you will probably find that ground loop isolators will be a fast and eays solution (or read the FAQ for the "right" solution).

Rob

I'll do that. Cheers

Well, when the MKII's dropped in price, two friends and I bought three MKII's.
There where different mains adapters with them, two of them is noisy as h....

the thirds is just perfect. Found this out as I continued to use my MKI mains
adapter when I got my MKII. Might be that you have such a main adapter.


Rob: If you're reading this, any chance of swapping the two adapters I got with noise in two without??

TommyE

It does seem to be better with a battery - LOADS better.

And Rob... should the 2 RCA sockets at the rear of the Rio be loose? There seems to be a lot of give in them - vertically.