[thecrow]

  My thoughts:
1. You should try cleaning the contacts to stop the popping.
2. Use Caig De-Oxit. It is better than WD40 for this application.
3. DeOxit is designed to evaporate quickly and leave no residue that can attract more dirt. WD40 is designed to leave a lubricating residue.
4. DeOxit does come with a straw.
5.  You might not need to take the attenuator out to clean it. Before taking it out you can try to clean it while it is still installed.
- Open top of amp.
- Spray DeOxit contact cleaner into the attenuator. I few quick blasts releases a lot of cleaner.
- Move volume control knob back and forth through the full range. Do this a few times as you are working the cleaner in between the contacts.
- Spray the attenuator with the DeOxit Gold and turn the knob through the entire range a few more times. The Gold will help stop dirt from accumulating. 
- Give it an hour or so to dry. You can keep wiggling the knob as it dries. 
6. If this doesn't work, you can remove the attenuator and clean more thoroughly.

 
the wd40 i was thinking of was "the specialist contact cleaner" which may be similar. But i assume you have had success with the deoxit gold so i take that on board
 
whats the likelihood of it working without removing the attenuator. would the pop only be coming from the centre or could it be elsewhere? i ask as i'm not sure how this all works or even why the pop exists - if you can shed some light on that that would be of interest too
 
thanks

 

[parbaked]

   
the wd40 i was thinking of was "the specialist contact cleaner" which may be similar. 
 
whats the likelihood of it working without removing the attenuator. 

That WD40 might be OK but use Caig DeOxit if you can get it.
It is MUCH better and more proven than any other brand.
 
There are two DeOxit products, D5 and Gold. 
D5 is the cleanser.
Gold is the protector.
You use the D5 to clean, then apply the Gold to preserve and protect.
This should last longer than cleaning alone.
 
These products are designed to penetrate. You shouldn't have to remove the attenuator and pry the sides apart to clean.
Just apply liberally and turn the knob to work it in.
 
Since you don't know what you are doing or how things work you will likely break something if you try to remove your attenuator and pry it open.

 

[thecrow]

  Since you don't know what you are doing or how things work you will likely break something if you try to remove your attenuator and pry it open.

lol
 
i was just going to follow instructions
 
 
thanks for your info - and method
 
i'll suss it out
much appreciated

 

[RubyTiger]

Something I've been told. Do not use Pro Gold in the insides of components, cables and places where you can not reach. One headphone cable manufacturer told me he would void the warranty of anyone using it on his cables connectors. That's connectors with internal parts like the one's used for HD800's, Audeze or any other types that plug in.  I would suspect rca's as well. I like Pro Gold myself and never had a problem but it does leave a film that could hold dirt and gum things up.
 
Just saying.

 

[MIKELAP]

Taking whatever cleaner you want saw this   on Burson site   http://www.bursonaudio.com/burson-ha-160-stepped-attenuator-maintenance/

 

[thecrow]

I'll take these ideas and contact Burson about them.

I may even just work around it and leave it as it is

Thanks

 

[Richartist]

Hi PetarCV,
 
I experienced the same back ground noise when using my new Virtuoso ESS, not really a hiss but more of a white noise always on the background. It was not there with my HD650, but always there when the Virtuoso was used as a pre-amp. I could here it clearly and I mean sitting 4+ meters away from the speaker. It was a disappointment against my previous Conductor. As much as I enjoyed the remote and the (to me) more refined sound, it annoyed me to hear that noise through the quiter passages of songs. I experimented with several power-filters and cables but without any result. Then I remembered the gain switch on the back of my Bryston power-amp and I switched it from 2V to 1V and the noise stopped! So I think it must be a senstivity thing.
 
Regards,
Richard

 

[AlanU]

  Hi PetarCV,
 
I experienced the same back ground noise when using my new Virtuoso ESS, not really a hiss but more of a white noise always on the background. It was not there with my HD650, but always there when the Virtuoso was used as a pre-amp. I could here it clearly and I mean sitting 4+ meters away from the speaker. It was a disappointment against my previous Conductor. As much as I enjoyed the remote and the (to me) more refined sound, it annoyed me to hear that noise through the quiter passages of songs. I experimented with several power-filters and cables but without any result. Then I remembered the gain switch on the back of my Bryston power-amp and I switched it from 2V to 1V and the noise stopped! So I think it must be a senstivity thing.
 
Regards,
Richard

I think your describing the impedance of the Headphones that creates this "noise". 
 
I use HP that do not have this issue your describing so I'm happy with the more refined DAC in the Virtuoso.  What I find is that my tube buffer (burson dac > tube buffer > Burson Analog "I" input) provides extremely black backgrounds compared to using the Virtuoso direct "U" setting. "Most" Digititis is eliminated using my tube buffer but there's always room for improvements.

 

[thecrow]

Hi everyone.

All done. Used the wd40 as that's what I had at home.

You think I could wait 24 hrs to use something else? No way.

Burson audio pointed me to that link using the method/wd40 as above and that I just needed to pull the knob.

Pop gone. For now. I'm sure it will come back later as these do. But easy to do every few months or so.

Many thanks.
Peter

 

[parbaked]

Burson audio pointed me to that link using the method/wd40 as above and that I just needed to pull the knob.

Pop gone. For now. I'm sure it will come back later as these do. But easy to do every few months or so.

Many thanks.
Peter

Cool!
Please confirm what you did to solve the problem.
Did you remove the knob AND pry it open exactly as in the Burson link.
Thanks!

 

[thecrow]

Yeah. I followed the instructions on that link. Was no major dramas at all.

I had to email Burson to find out how to remove the knob. Which was just slide it off. Who would have thought????

 

[bnana]

there's something I'd like to ask.
 
is the back ground noise from virtuoso amp section?
does noise exist in line out?
thanks

 

[Cran]

New burson conductor virtuoso user here.
 
Configuration:
iMac Late 2012
Intel Core i7  3.1 GHz
Memory:    16 GB
Fusion Drive
AKG K812
Audirvana plus 2.1.1
 
I heard very very subtle hiss sound in shop, but the sound was so good that I decided to accept it.  But I heard nothing at home.  No background noise bothered me at all, at least to my ear.  Why the difference?  I don't know.
 
But Audirvana plus 2.1.1 with this setup bothered me a lot.  The sound is just too bright and bass not there, no matter how do I tweet the setting.  Caused me a lot of fatigue.
 
I was at the moment of nearly gave up and switched back to iTunes alone.
 
UNTIL I DISABLED ITUNES INTEGRATED MODE.
 
Everything back on track.  Mid and bass is back.  Sound is more rounded, analog and sweet.
 
This is the photo

 

 

[Richartist]

I found the noise to be only in the pre-amp section, and not present with my HD650. But definitely there with almost all amplifiers I tried (Linear Acoustic, Job 225, Bryston). I got it under controll when switching senstivity from 2V to 1V on the Bryston. The other amps unfortunately don't have that possibility.
 
I will mail Burson about this though, as this means I have to stick to Bryston (...someting I can live with . But it means you have to be carefull in matching the amp.

 

[Chik0240]

  I found the noise to be only in the pre-amp section, and not present with my HD650. But definitely there with almost all amplifiers I tried (Linear Acoustic, Job 225, Bryston). I got it under controll when switching senstivity from 2V to 1V on the Bryston. The other amps unfortunately don't have that possibility.
 
I will mail Burson about this though, as this means I have to stick to Bryston (...someting I can live with . But it means you have to be carefull in matching the amp.

I think that's because the HD650 is not ultra sensitive, thus not making the noise audible, but pairing it with a sensitive amp will amplify it and make it audible..
seemed that the virtuoso is actually better than the old offering in case of not so sensitive phones with the more percise volume control, but the higher noise floor make it less than ideal to operate with more sensitive phones which the old conductor or the soloist (SL) can do