OT: M-audio speaker crackles

NickHope wrote on 7/17/2009, 11:35 PM

I've got a pair of M-Audio Studiophile AV-40 speakers (I won't call them monitors) that I'm using with my laptop while I'm in Bangkok for a few months.

They sound pretty good but as they're ageing (about 6 weeks now) I'm noticing worse and worse "crackles" as I turn the volume knob. It happens particularly at lower volumes and tends to stop when I stop rotating the knob, but sometimes not completely. It's a sort of "interference" noise rather than sharp pops.

I already took a first pair of these back to the shop for this reason and exchanged them a couple of days after buying them, but now this replacement pair are even worse.

I can make the noise go away for a while by rotating the volume control backwards and forwards for a while, but then it comes back, so I guess it might be some sort of static build-up?

There's no earth connection here in Thailand, but there's no earth pin anyway on these speakers.

Any thoughts on how I might fix this?

Thanks!

Comments

ushere wrote on 7/18/2009, 12:04 AM

i'm certainly no expert, but it sounds like cheap rotary controls. try some wd40 (applied carefully!).

alternatively, see if you can bypass the vol. control entirely and control from laptop output.

farss wrote on 7/18/2009, 12:41 AM

CRC 2-26 might be better than WD40 if you can source it.
The way most kit is built these days getting anything inside the 'pot' can be difficult.

Bob.

Dach wrote on 7/18/2009, 5:38 AM

I don't have an explanation, but I can relate to the problem. I have a pair of M-Audio DX4 (may be wrong on the model, not in front of them at the moment). After about 4 years they started doing the same thing. Just moving the knob slightly creates the distortion. Very annoying.

Chad

PeterWright wrote on 7/18/2009, 5:49 AM

I've got a pair of BX5's, had them for 5 years, and they are wonderful - clear, clean sound.... but I must admit, I rarely change their volume settings, so if their knobs are dodgy, it hasn't yet manifested itself.

NickHope wrote on 7/18/2009, 6:27 AM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I also have a pair of BX5's and they've never had this problem, but they do have an earth pin. There is apparently no earth in Thailand but that might be dissipating static somehow.

Maybe I should try earthing the cabinet somehow?

Or alternatively it might be nothing to do with static.

musicvid10 wrote on 7/18/2009, 6:38 AM

It's dust in the pots.
Don't use WD40 because it coats the contacts.
Many hardware or electronic component retailers carry electrical or tuner spray under various names. Spray the inside of the pot (should be a little hole) working the controls back and forth, then spray again. Try to avoid plastic surfaces that may be affected or discolored by the spray.

If your handy with a soldering gun you can replace the pots yourself.

farss wrote on 7/18/2009, 6:40 AM

The earth is very unlikely to have anything to do with it.

Why do I hear noise when I turn the volume control?

Bob.