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Double Bass Headway EDB-1: XLR out noise?

J

jebo

Apr 25, 2009
109
10
#1
Anyone else have an issue with the XLR out on the EDB-1 being noisy? I don't often have to use the XLR out on the unit but I just finished a theater gig where I was running it into the PA. With the ground lift off it sounded like bacon frying in a pan. With the ground lift on it was a lot better but still noticeably noisy.

Anyone know how to remedy this (if there is one)? This is an amazing pre-amp and I have never experienced any other issues with it.
 
#4
I also had a gig a couple of months ago with a setup that was exactly like yours, XLR-out on EDB-1 into PA. I also had to lift the ground switch because of the noise. I also had to turn down the gain and master volume to get a good sound. Could it be that your EDB-1 output was too high for the PA? What pickup are you using?
 
#5
jebo said:
Anyone else have an issue with the XLR out on the EDB-1 being noisy? I don't often have to use the XLR out on the unit but I just finished a theater gig where I was running it into the PA. With the ground lift off it sounded like bacon frying in a pan. With the ground lift on it was a lot better but still noticeably noisy.

Anyone know how to remedy this (if there is one)? This is an amazing pre-amp and I have never experienced any other issues with it.
Click to expand...

I had a similar problem last year, when I used the Headway with a QSC K8, to run the bass FOH for a show. Our sound man, who knows his stuff, mentioned that it was producing some white noise, that he had to EQ out. I was using my Clevenger EUB, for that particular gig. I'm not sure if there's any way to remedy this.

A similar thing happens when I use the DPA 4099B into the Headway. I assume that's because it's only providing 18 volts to the phantom.

Ric.
 
#6
Jebo, greetings, this is Gordon from the US distributor of the EDB-1. You absolutely should not be getting this kind of noise out of the xlr jack, why don't you give me a call at 1-800-930-1955 and we can figure out exactly what is going on. Every setup is different and every pickup serves up a different set of parameters so the problem might be in there but I doubt it. The first thing I think we should do is assume that there is something wrong with the XLR output, it's very rare that we see this but it does happen. Give me a call and we will do some work and get this cleared up for you.
 
#7
I just got an email from the engineers back at Headway in the UK and it turns out that they immediately knew what was going on. Here's what they said: " ...this happens usually because the soundman feeds the XLR into a mic level input as opposed to a line level. Tell your customer that the XLR on the EDB-1 is LINE level NOT mic level". This should solve the problem, if it persists give me a call and we will try another tack. The lesson here is when in doubt, blame the sound guy. :>)
 
#9
Vic Koler said:
I don't have any experience with that particular pre-amp. What I do know, and have experienced, is that power supplies are prone to noise introduction in the audio path. Unplug the power supply and try it running off a battery. If the noise is gone, you've identified your problem.
Click to expand...

+1 that might be the issue. Just as an aside, I was using the batteries when the sound man informed me that mine was generating noise. Fortunately, it hasn't been an issue since then. For the record, the Headway EDB-1 uses two nine volt batteries. I think that the EDB-1 is a good value at it's price.

Ric
 

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