[jcflox]

Bad grid
Lot's of switched power supplies
Modern dimmers

And lots of other things that can make a transformer hum.

I went ahead and ordered a CMX-2, as it was in stock and many folks have indicated it may resolve the issue.

As you said, since both Tyr have the same hum, doesn't seem likely to be a problem with the units themselves, but rather whats feeding them.

I will hopefully have my answer Friday.

Side note: I havent noticed issues with my grid power quality or other devices in my home causing electronic noise...however, I've never had giant audio transformers on par with Tyr in my house to bring such things out of hiding!

 

[MikeVG]

So it is more than likely you have to find the answer in your local system.
1 item humming can happen
2 items humming very small chance
3 items humming, close to impossible, something else is wrong, not the gear.
Just my 2 cents.

I initially thought that too but all previous and present equipment works fine except the Tyr's. They both still hum even when removed from the stereo setup and plugged in elsewhere.

 

[MikeVG]

I went ahead and ordered a CMX-2, as it was in stock and many folks have indicated it may resolve the issue.

As you said, since both Tyr have the same hum, doesn't seem likely to be a problem with the units themselves, but rather whats feeding them.

I will hopefully have my answer Friday.

Side note: I havent noticed issues with my grid power quality or other devices in my home causing electronic noise...however, I've never had giant audio transformers on par with Tyr in my house to bring such things out of hiding!

I look forward to your findings. Previously I ordered a "Audiolab DC Block Audio Grade Mains Filter and Current Blocker" which did not reduce the hum.

​

 

[Paladin79]

All good advice.

Always power down... I've got a power panel salvaged from an assembly at work with four or five duplex outlets. The outlet for my two soldering stations has a one-hour lighting timer as power-down backup. I rarely turn it past 30 minutes, but might do that multiple times per session.

You guys are using soldering stations with iron holders right? If I was like Cowen and was producing whiskey from corn near by I might shut down more often.

 

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

Every single iron-core transformer in my home hums to some degree. My two Lokius power bricks are so loud, if the room's quiet enough I can hear them from the other end of the room. My two Tyrs hum, too, but you have to put your ear right next to them to hear it.
I live in an apartment community and share my hookup to the city grid with 99 other units. A complete clusterf#@& as far as power quality is concerned, and really not Schiit's fault. I don't like it, but it's just basic physics. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'll be interested to hear, though, if putting a CMX-2 into the system does anything for you guys. I have one. And at least for me here, it doesn't do Schiit to fix the hum. Looks kinda cool, though. I mean, it comes with a blue LED, so it must do something, right? ;p
Same goes for CMX-6, and for CMX-2 and CMX-6 in series.
Also tried a PowerQuest3, same result. Green instead of a blue LED, though, so it's clearly not as good a product.

A PowerPlant might do the trick, but I'm just way too cheap to get one. This little bit of hum that I can't hear while listening to music anyway isn't worth shelling out 10k+tax for. Plus, it might stop the Schiit gear from humming, but there's no reason for me to assume that the PowerPlant itself won't hum. It's got a seriously beefy transformer in it that will just see the same DC offset coming from the wall. Physics is still just physics.

I've got no hum in the signal — in the end that's really all that matters to me.

 

[ImagesbyMurray]

You guys are using soldering stations with iron holders right? If I was like Cowen and was producing whiskey from corn near by I might shut down more often.

Cowen's "NC BBQ" technique of soldering. Note the firm grip and precise angle, as the well tinned tip is applied to the specific location, allowing it to reach proper temperature before applying solder. A precision instrument, wielded by a masterful hand......

 

[corndog71]

EL 34's? To me it has the look of a Dynaco ST-70 mod but Sam6550A would know better than me.

Indeed it was an ST70 using the Curcio driver board (6922!)

I also built a pair of Mark IVs.

 

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

You guys are using soldering stations with iron holders right? If I was like Cowen and was producing whiskey from corn near by I might shut down more often.

A few decades back, in my early days of working on electronics, I didn't have fancy Schiit like an iron holder.
One fine afternoon, my leg accidentally tugged on the iron's cable and yanked the whole thing off the table.
Let's just say that cat-like reflexes aren't always beneficial to have.

 

[leonthebumme]

Hello,

New member here... great to be part of this forum. I thought you should know your not the only one. Both of my Tyr's were sent back today for the exact same issue. Luckily I also have a backup Aegir. Also just received a Yggy LIM that seems to have a similar hum.

Hi & welcome! Well, I wish all three of our Tyrs safe travels and successful troubleshooting. I have seen several reports of similar issues. It seems to be inconsistent from one unit to another. From one of my Tyrs I can only hear the transformer buzz within a few inches of it. The other one - several feet away. With music on it is impossible to hear. However, when music isn't playing (and the transformer hums continue whether on standby or not) it is noticeable and not a pleasant sound. I remember some Vidars having a similar issue. I think Jason said if you could hear it from your listening position, then it was louder than it should be. That's definitely the case with this Tyr.

 

[Paladin79]

A few decades back, in my early days of working on electronics, I didn't have fancy Schiit like an iron holder.
One fine afternoon, my leg accidentally tugged on the iron's cable and yanked the whole thing off the table.
Let's just say that cat-like reflexes aren't always beneficial to have.

Speaking of cats, I once had a Persian wave his tail across a candle; it started smoking like crazy. I was in the middle of an online card tournament and had to apologize when I got back cause my cat was on fire.

Finnegan knows better, he feels the heat from my soldering irons and never gets too close.
To me candles are more dangerous.

 

[dwest1023]

I look forward to your findings. Previously I ordered a "Audiolab DC Block Audio Grade Mains Filter and Current Blocker" which did not reduce the hum.

​

it was said in another forum, that possibly the the transformers need tightening. The 4 screws that hold the laminate together might not be tight enough?. I would have tried that first.

 

[cricket]

You guys are using soldering stations with iron holders right? If I was like Cowen and was producing whiskey from corn near by I might shut down more often.

Iron holders for both. My power panel is mounted in a Formica-clad plywood box. That's one step up from cardboard, isn't it?

 

[MikeVG]

it was said in another forum, that possibly the the transformers need tightening. The 4 screws that hold the laminate together might not be tight enough?. I would have tried that first.

Certainly possible but I would not want to void the warranty. Better to have Schiit make that determination and adjust if necessary.

 

[jcflox]

Every single iron-core transformer in my home hums to some degree. My two Lokius power bricks are so loud, if the room's quiet enough I can hear them from the other end of the room. My two Tyrs hum, too, but you have to put your ear right next to them to hear it.
I live in an apartment community and share my hookup to the city grid with 99 other units. A complete clusterf#@& as far as power quality is concerned, and really not Schiit's fault. I don't like it, but it's just basic physics. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'll be interested to hear, though, if putting a CMX-2 into the system does anything for you guys. I have one. And at least for me here, it doesn't do Schiit to fix the hum. Looks kinda cool, though. I mean, it comes with a blue LED, so it must do something, right? ;p
Same goes for CMX-6, and for CMX-2 and CMX-6 in series.
Also tried a PowerQuest3, same result. Green instead of a blue LED, though, so it's clearly not as good a product.

A PowerPlant might do the trick, but I'm just way too cheap to get one. This little bit of hum that I can't hear while listening to music anyway isn't worth shelling out 10k+tax for. Plus, it might stop the Schiit gear from humming, but there's no reason for me to assume that the PowerPlant itself won't hum. It's got a seriously beefy transformer in it that will just see the same DC offset coming from the wall. Physics is still just physics.

I've got no hum in the signal — in the end that's really all that matters to me.

Thanks for the info on the cmx's and such in your application...this is a tricky one to diagnose and solve for sure.

Also, heads up for anyone looking at the CMX-2 or CMX-6...the '6' model does NOT have the DC Offset Elimination functionality. Initially I had assumed they were the same, with the '6' simply having more receptacles...which was incorrect.

 

[Paladin79]

You are one glorious, insane schiithead... I salute you, sir. For my 52nd birthday, I finally picked up a Hakko soldering station, Fluke Multimeter, and basic odds and ends to start messing around with non-lethal (less-lethal) circuits.

You are a wise man and you will do well. Happy Birthday!