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Eden WT-550 Hum Issues

dugnsuz

dugnsuz

Feb 16, 2007
27
53
#1
Hi All - I know this issue has been done to death over the years but gotta ask!!!

Just purchased a new Eden WT550 for a bargain price $599AUD
Assembled in China model 750W @ 2 Ohms version

Got it home...set it up through 8 Ohm D410XST, turned it on without bass plugged in, EQ Flat - there is a noticeable hum when the master is turned up. Hum goes when master turned down.
It's not really bad like a major fault - noise floor just seems higher than i expected (silent!! LOL) The amp sounds brilliant when playing too - really punchy and articulate.

Just wondering is this 'normal' ie do other WT550 owners have the same low hum or wasn't it a bargain after all??
Good news is its under warranty but from googling the problem, it seems like this might be how this amp model behaves!
Cheers
Doug
 
#3
Both things you describe happen with my (new to me) wt400. I put some good hours on it in a short time and I've come to believe that the noise floor and close proximity feedback are just inherent to the amp. As soon as my bass is more than a foot away from the amp, the feedback noise disappears. I gotta say that I really enjoy the tone, great tone indeed.
 
#7
Mine is us made dated 98. It's not the worst noise floor I've heard from an amp but it certainty isn't the quietest. I was right on top of it while holding my (active) bass when i heard the feedback noise, not a position id be in while playing. Hope all is well with yours as I really like mine. I just found your comments in your original posts very much the same as my initial experience with my amp.
 
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#12
Well, this has been a saga!!
WT550 went back to shop late Sept - went on a warranty trip from South Australia to Victoria where the tech who looked at it said fixing it was above his pay grade and sent it to an experienced Eden tech in Perth, Western Aus. (This amp has seen more of the country than I have!!)

Nearly 2 months later I'm told the experienced Eden tech can find nothing wrong with the amp on the bench.

It is now being sent back to South Aus - on hearing this news I contacted the Eden sales distributor who (not knowing I was the owner and probably assuming I was from the music shop that initiated the repair) said "Oh no, not that bloody WT550?" LOL - you've gotta laugh sometimes or you'll go mad!

Got the number of Eden guy in Perth and gave him a call...got a "they all hum" explanation and then his thoughts on the design of the WT550, which was not complimentary at all!! No LOL-ing now!!

See how I feel about it when it gets back - was the hum not that bad? Is this a design flaw particular to the WT550 as the tech implied??

Bugga!! (LOL)
 
#13
Obituary: WT550 was deemed to be a financial write off, so I got my $$$ back - shame, I’ve got a soft spot for the Eden tone.

Ordered a Genzler 800 and looking forward to some serious tone from that beastie
 
#14
dugnsuz said:
Obituary: WT550 was deemed to be a financial write off, so I got my $$$ back - shame, I’ve got a soft spot for the Eden tone.

Ordered a Genzler 800 and looking forward to some serious tone from that beastie
Click to expand...
Too bad about the Eden but let us know how the Genzler works out.

I’m keeping an eye on that one too so I’m interested in what your tone report will be on it.:)
 
#15
Heavy Blue said:
Too bad about the Eden but let us know how the Genzler works out.

I’m keeping an eye on that one too so I’m interested in what your tone report will be on it.:)
Click to expand...

Received the Genzler today - had an hour or so to play with it - first impressions are very good.
Playing into 8 Ohm Eden D410 XST (400W from amp) - loads of power, clean channel is pristine and the contour control works beautifully as described by many reviewers. Unlike the Enhance control on Eden amps, the contour has lots of usable positions on the dial, and the tone never seems to get lost in both modern and vintage settings.
Drive channel is perfect for me - tubey through to a growl which gets throatier as you dig in. Very nice and 'musical' too - doesn't get into Darkglass territory but we knew that!
So, believe the hype - great amp, solid construction and lovely punchy bass tones straight out the box.

One unexpected feature - the Aux In!
I've been trying to sell my Eden Navigator WP100B preamp as I thought I'd have no need for it after buying the Genzler and I was looking to give away the pre/power amp heavy lifting!
Plugged the WP100 into the Aux channel by way of experiment - this acts like a 3rd channel if I use an A/B switcher pedal...Ch A in to the Eden then into 'Aux In' on the Genzler and Ch B straight into the Genzler.
The tone from the Eden is not affected by the contour or eq section of the Genzler only using the Class D power section of the unit - same great punch as the Genzler tones. Wow!!!
So effectively I get the Eden tone that I lost with the stuffed WT550 and the Genzler clean and dirty channels too! Will need a latching pedal to jump between the Genzler channels, but that's a $40AUD pedal

All this and I'm only a couple of hours in with Genzler - great amp, great tone.
 
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#16
I bought a WT 550 recently myself. I know the hum you are talking about. Its not loud at all but its part of function of the amp. For the sound it gets I can live with it. Its way too low for me to have a concern. In addition I don't use the direct out and rather have a direct box no matter what amp I use. Again about the hum I have heard it from other great amps using transistors and/or tubes. Every amp has a flaw. I have heard and have class D amps and I would take the EDEN over what I heard so far. Not saying its the best transformer/Tube amp but the design of these amps I like the sound better than class D.
 
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#17
Retrospectively I wish I had kept the WT550 as I recently discovered an ‘amp whisperer’ locally who I’m pretty sure would have made the thing sing.
As it was, once in the warranty system I was advised it was un-repairable (which I seriously doubted), but a full refund was offered so I put it towards a Genzler amp.

If a WT550 crossed my path in the future for a good price I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it - fantastic punch and tone
 
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#18
Bassist30 said:
I bought a WT 550 recently myself. I know the hum you are talking about. Its not loud at all but its part of function of the amp. For the sound it gets I can live with it. Its way too low for me to have a concern. In addition I don't use the direct out and rather have a direct box no matter what amp I use. Again about the hum I have heard it from other great amps using transistors and/or tubes. Every amp has a flaw. I have heard and have class D amps and I would take the EDEN over what I heard so far. Not saying its the best transformer/Tube amp but the design of these amps I like the sound better than class D.
Click to expand...

The noise did get louder. Brought it to a great shop II know. Changed the caps and now its silent.
 

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