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[michael123]

Hello

I recently upgraded PC, and noticed (hard not to) high frequency noise coming out of tweeters.

Didn't have any with previous PC, where I also had MC25. On a new one, I have MC27

Only have one when playing back movies, also during pause

When playing back audio, no noise (stereo audio goes via dedicated USB DAC and separate stereo preamp)

Actually, as I write this, I will try other application

[JimH]

Try testing with audio set to Direct Sound or WASAPI.

Describe your setup in some detail.

[michael123]

Try testing with audio set to Direct Sound or WASAPI.

Describe your setup in some detail.

Audio route is OK, I don't hear any noise. Audio is going via ASIO into dedicated USB DAC, then dedicated stereo analog preamp.
Video is configured as separate zone, bitstreaming via HDMI to multichannel preamp, from there path is the same to speakers

What changed this month is that
- new PC. Faster and using switching, but passive power supply. Both were using Streacom FC5 chassis, all passive components
- new MC 27 (with license for 28)

What is interesting is why do I hear this noise only when playing back video, and during pause?
Could it be MC27 is sending also something on HDMI along the original signal? I don't know, just guessing..

I would say it is a ground loop? but why do I don't hear it when MC is not playing, and not during audio playback?
During audio playback, the same video path is used - HDMI from the same audio-pc to the multichannel processor and from there to the monitor

[michael123]

Jim

I just ran same set of movies through Windows own 'Movies & TV' app, and there is no any noise.

I also tried under my video-dedicated zone, in the audio to try DirectSound vs WASAPI, and I hear noise in both settings

When I use external Microsoft app, it is quiet, not any noise.

[tij]

When MC bitstream audio ... it does not decode anything and just sends whatever is inside movie file to receiver (so MC cannot add any npise to that)

Windows app decodes to pcm then sends it to receiver

So 2 possibilities:
1. Your settings are wrong and MC is not bitstreaming (check yout receiver ... does it display dts or dolby when playing ... movies usually have these)

2. Problem with your receiver settings ... you can also try plugging your bluray/dvd player to receiver and play disc to see if receiver is adding noise when decoding dts/dolby ... if it does, definetely receiver settings

[michael123]

When MC bitstream audio ... it does not decode anything and just sends whatever is inside movie file to receiver (so MC cannot add any npise to that)

Windows app decodes to pcm then sends it to receiver

So 2 possibilities:
1. Your settings are wrong and MC is not bitstreaming (check yout receiver ... does it display dts or dolby when playing ... movies usually have these)

2. Problem with your receiver settings ... you can also try plugging your bluray/dvd player to receiver and play disc to see if receiver is adding noise when decoding dts/dolby ... if it does, definetely receiver settings

1) it is bitstreaming 
2) what blu-ray player? What receiver?


Anyway, switched now to movies app. Will use JRiver for stereo playback for now

How bitstreaming can produce noise? The noise is not very loud, but I do hear it standing a meter from the speakers

[fitbrit]

Try NOT bitstreaming in MC, so that it replicates to an extent playback in your other programs.

[tij]

You did not read what I wrote

1) it is bistreaming (of course)
2) what blu-ray player? What receiver?


Anyway, switched now to movies app. Will use JRiver for stereo playback for now

Jim? What could be wrong?
How bistreaming can produce noise? The noise is not very loud, but I do hear it standing a meter from the speakers, and it is annoyong

I assumed your multi channel preamp is a receiver ... apparently not.

Can that preamp decode dolby and dts? If it cannot, i am at lost on how you can bitstream to it.

[michael123]

Yes, this is Classe Sigma SSP mk2, I'm using it for last 3 years

[michael123]

Try NOT bitstreaming in MC, so that it replicates to an extent playback in your other programs.

Thanks I will try that

[tij]

Yes, this is Classe Sigma SSP mk2, I'm using it for last 3 years

Well that certanly can decode dts/dolby. If you have bluray player, those bitstream too ... so connecting to your preamp and playing a movie from bluray player can test if the problem is really coming from your pc/mc.

If noise is still present while playing from bluray player ... then its very likely the problem is with preamp setup.

[michael123]

after some thoughts, as don't really care about if and why, but rather want to watch a couple of movies per week without annoying noise, I will see if I can cancel bitstreaming. On the same occasion I will implement Dirac multichannel as I just use it today in my stereo zone

Keep you posted

[tij]

Not bitstreaming is perfectly fine ... in this case MC will decode DTS/Dolby (for best quality output PCM)... you can then appĺy DSP (which is not possible with bitstreaming)

... you only really need bitstreaming if you are set up for Atmos or DTSX ... as MC cannot process these and will only output TrueHD/HDMA portion of Atmos/DTSX

[michael123]

Not bitstreaming is perfectly fine ... in this case MC will decode DTS/Dolby (for best quality output PCM)... you can then appĺy DSP (which is not possible with bitstreaming)

... you only really need bitstreaming if you are set up for Atmos or DTSX ... as MC cannot process these and will only output TrueHD/HDMA portion of Atmos/DTSX

Indeed, I have 5.0 setup

HF noise does not go away if I disable bitstreaming.
This is not funny, as I can't stand this noise.

Now watching with Microsoft own movie - background is dead quiet!!

[JimH]

Did you try the 32 bit version of MC?

Did you try setting video to both Red October Standard and ROHQ?

My guess is the sound is coming from your video driver.  An older driver might work.

If you haven't done so, take a look at "Weird Problems" in my signature.

[michael123]

Did you try the 32 bit version of MC?

Before you had 64bit.. For quite a few years

[michael123]

Did you try the 32 bit version of MC?

Did you try setting video to both Red October Standard and ROHQ?

My guess is the sound is coming from your video driver.  An older driver might work.

If you haven't done so, take a look at "Weird Problems" in my signature.

Why Microsoft app is working perfectly then?
The way you work with the driver might be different, for sure, from TV & Movies app

[michael123]

Jim

I will try standard Red October

Any other settings I can look at?

[michael123]

Did you try setting video to both Red October Standard and ROHQ?

Yes, it looks like Red October HQ generates this noise.
I played forth and back few times

@Hendrik is it in your domain? Who is going to investigate this?

[Hendrik]

This is a hardware problem on your side, nothing really to investigate. Different kind of load on the graphics card probably causes what is commonly referred to as coil whine.
Changing madVR settings to something that uses less performance could fix it. But not always.

[terrym@tassie]

I experienced a similar problem to @michael123 a few years back with a particular hardware setup, the solution (for me, may not work for you) was to use a specially 'butchered' HDMI cable with the earth connection disconnected at the PC end.
The modified cable broke a ground loop and removed the low level but noticeable 'fizzing' noise that was coming from the speakers when the GPU was under load during madvr video playback.

EDIT: You could also try disconnecting temporarily the USB DAC used for stereo playback and use the simplest possible playback chain for video to see if this helps, if it does then it is definitely a ground loop you are chasing (this is how I found my solution).

Occam's Razor would suggest that your issue is with your recently upgraded PC, not MC.

Good luck,

Terry

[michael123]

Thanks

It is still weird this thing happens

my old pc and new PC are both based on Streacom FC5 chassis, both built @ QuietPC.
old one 6th generation intel, new one is 11th. I have no dedicated graphics adapter.
new one has NVMe PCI 4 local storage, old had Samsung SSD Pro (also not so bad)
There is difference in the power supply and power - old one as i7 'T' 35W, and the new one is i5 65W, and I had an external linear power supply, now I have passive switched power supply from streacom that resides inside the box.

The load on the new PC is single digit even when I play DSD256 that is downconverted to PCM and then fed to Dirac VST..

Maybe there is some small HDMI 'cleaning' device?

Ahh, yes, the new PC is HDMI 2 and the old one is HDMI 1. However resolution is 1080p as my monitor is still an old one

Maybe I should try a new HDMI 2 cable?