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electrical shocks in my left ear trouble shooting...

post #1 of 14
2/20/09 at 3:57pm
Thread Starter 
Maybe not everyone look in the Ultrasone thread and I am not at all sure it´s my PRO 900 that is the problem anymore.

I got some problem after applying Kees mod with getting a couple of very short buzzes not very unlike what you get with static electricity... But also a bit like what you get when touching a cow fenche ...

Generally got it when putting them on then it was fine. and maybe getting one little tickle but not more then once every hour maximum. Tried to fiddle a bit with keeping my amp powered on as always. I then tried to connect my headphones directly to my Elite PRO and didn´t got any tingles... then I connected them to my DAC/AMP and I did get the shocks after a while... I also noticed I could provoke them by moving my head up and down... (could do that as much I wanted before while not creating this problem even when connected to DAC/AMP...

Then after 4 short consecutive buzzes no sound!!! Connected directly to the soundcard headphones are fine. then connect from soundcard to amp works fine so it´s not the amp.

So it looks like it´s the DAC but how can it send electrical shocks to my left ear? Doesn´t it just output a signal to the amp. hard to believe that it can send electrical currents that can give you jolts like this? Maybe it´s the headphone that killed the DAC in the first place?

I tried both optical and coaxial on it. The led shows it gets a signal but it doesn´t send any out to the rca outputs obviously.

I will run them through my computer. I haven´t got any spike since then either but only run them for about 20 minutes after this episode.
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post #2 of 14
2/20/09 at 3:58pm
Have you done anything wrong lately? Could it be GODS FURY???
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post #3 of 14
2/20/09 at 4:11pm
Thread Starter 
I don´t know I think I love my headphones more then god ... 11th amendment I suppose.

the DAC I should mention is relatively new. But still don´t see how it can cause such symptoms even if it´s malfunctioned... Hope for some DIY with experiences with this.
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post #4 of 14
2/20/09 at 4:57pm
Does the wire rest on the floor over a carpet? If so, try moving the wire over it. Does this increase the discharges? If so, it's very likely electrostatic growing into the wires that uses your ears to discharge. I have some phones which have that "feature". Try moistening the wire with a wet cloth, usually helps to decrease the electrostatic charging.
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post #5 of 14
2/20/09 at 5:16pm
Thread Starter 
No nothing like that... Anywhere what about the theory about volts somehow going backwards and killing the DAC... Is it even theoretically possible?

And it´s possible that a DAC can give signal that causes this behaviour? I am no electrician I haven´t been able to replicate the tingles from my soundcard as of yet. But as mentioned very infrequent so doesn´t proove it as of yet though...
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post #6 of 14
2/20/09 at 5:30pm
It's happening because you've become ground. There must be some kind of short where your ear is making contact with the signal, and you're becoming a faster path to ground than back through the amp. If you can open up your headphones, look to see if somethin is loose, where your ear might be making contact with the driver. Also check to ensure your amp is properly grounded.
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post #7 of 14
2/20/09 at 5:40pm
What Erik described sounds scary.
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post #8 of 14
2/20/09 at 6:06pm
Thread Starter 
Well my Canamp just have a standard euro schuko plug. There is no ground plug to attach some wire to which the Elite PRO has. The wall plug is grounded for sure and I even run a Supra LORAD filter device now too. I have had my Canamp for several years and didn´t have that issue with these or any other headphones before... No problem with the DAC either for the first two weeks or what it´s I got it. May just be a coincidence that it started to show symptoms after applying the Kees mod of course.

And I haven´t got it one time since I attached my headphones just through my amp so the signal path should be as long if it´s that?. As you say it does happen when you try to force your ears to touch the driver to try to provoke it. But as mentioned generally you only got two but last time 4 and then the DAC died...

If it ever happens again I will try to remove the cotton wool in my headphones. But if the wires to the driver touch the metal casing I would get no sound at all I was told?

Otherwise if it´s just my DAC afterall how can it cause such behaviour?

edit: I just had a brainfart I connected my rca out on my DAC back to my soundcard DAC does work still... Gonna open up my headphones tomorrow again see what happens...
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post #9 of 14
2/21/09 at 7:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
It's happening because you've become ground. There must be some kind of short where your ear is making contact with the signal, and you're becoming a faster path to ground than back through the amp. If you can open up your headphones, look to see if somethin is loose, where your ear might be making contact with the driver. Also check to ensure your amp is properly grounded.
This is it. May it be electrostatic or just very wee shorts from a bad contact in your DAC, amp or cans, it's your ear becoming the shortest path to ground.
If using the X-Fi into the Heed doesn't produce the discharges, but adding the DacMagic into the equation does, then opening the DM and looking inside for something wrong is what I'd do.
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post #10 of 14
2/21/09 at 7:20am
its also possible that its your RCA cable....
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post #11 of 14
2/21/09 at 8:23am
Thread Starter 
Well I have a Keces so you don´t even have to open it but I don´t really see anything wrong. Will get the Valab next week so will try that one as well.

I wondered if it´s the diodes in the 900 that maybe caused the no sound syndrome detecting these jolts as to high of a signal? I haven´t noticed them really effecting volume n any way though. I guess the sound would come back as soon as you disconnect it? Even though I want to remember switching back and it didn´t work then either.

RCA cables is new from BlueJeansaudio. so may be that as well then.
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post #12 of 14
2/21/09 at 8:24am
Thread Starter 
dp
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post #13 of 14
2/21/09 at 9:04am
You should try your headphones on backwards as well. See if it is in the right ear then.
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post #14 of 14
2/22/09 at 4:10pm
Thread Starter 
I now removed the foam and run for two days approx now seemed to fix it. Either it pressed the wires towards the metal plate I suspect or made them cross eachother is some theories... Or simply the wool vibrating against the plastic casing causing static electricity when moving your head fast dunno
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