I recently bought the TC Electronics Spectracomp as I wanted a multiband compressor to play with. I had read hear that some people had problems with them being noisy and some didn't so I was pretty disappointed to find that when I plugged mine in it was quite noisy. The signal chain was: bass-->compressor-->audio interface-->headphones, so it could only be the unit producing the noise. The first thing I did was to go inside it and set the gain to 0 and the thresholds to max so the compressor was doing no processing at all, but when I hit the button the noise was there. It doesn't come with a power supply, so I had a look at the one I was using. It had come with a second hand pedal I had bought years ago and was unlabelled. I pulled it apart on a whim, and sure enough, it is a switch mode supply. I replaced it with one I know is linear, and the noise was gone. I've used this supply on a few different things over the years without a problem, but never on a digital effect. I'm guessing it't the AD - DA converters picking up switching noise from the supply. Whatever the case, problem solved and the compressor is fantastic. For anyone else who's had noise issues with the spectracomp, it might be worth checking your power supply before you send it back.
I just got the same compressor and have the noise problem. Since I'm ignorant on electronic stuff, would you mind providing a clarification for me -- how were you able to pull apart a power supply? And are you saying you bought a different power supply, one that is linear? If so, could you provide the brand name of the linear power supply that did the trick?
Zero noise on the stock preset from mine. It's the quietest compressor I've ever used, and it's a shame Ovnilabs refused to review it over noise issues, that as far as I can tell, don't exist.
There’s quite a weight difference between linear & switch mode supplies. Pick it up, if it feels like a hunk of iron/copper, it’s linear. If it feels like it’s an empty plastic shell, it’s switch mode.
I've had three different Spectracomps. Every one was plagued with noise making it unusable. I tried at least 5 different power supplies with each of mine including multiple CIOKS supplies and different wall warts. No go. There are much better compressors out there. I've tried a few. Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more
Been using my spectracomp using several different psu. A cheap caline cp-02, vitoos dc8, until recently an isolated psu by strumelectronics, none gave any noise issues. An advice given to me to check with the electrical installation in the house/venue where you plug it in, most of the times those are the culprits
Wow -- them's a lot of compressors. I will read through. And also try other power supplies (like a portable rechargeable Volto battery pack I just got) and see if it's quieter. Thanks for the info.
Haven't yet read all the reviews and articles posted by scubaduba (thanks for posting them), but I did try the Spectracomp compressor plugged into my Volto portable 9V power pack, and the noise is still there. The only other pedal I have (an octave pedal) doesn't have noise issues at all, with any power supply. Disappointing about the Spectracomp. Oh well, live and learn. I will read scubaduba's articles, and keep searching for a solution, which I hope is out there. I suppose I could try the linear power supply thing; maybe that's next.
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