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2336 Views 4 Replies Latest reply: Dec 2, 2009 6:08 PM by williamcorelle RSS
PeterACM Just Startin'
PeterACM
1 posts since
Nov 3, 2009
Currently Being Moderated

Nov 3, 2009 7:45 AM

Lowdown amp noise

I have a question. I have just got a Lowdown 300 and the amp generates quite a bit of noise (I think it is coming from the fan that is used to help cool the interior. At 1 metre (3 feet) or thereabouts from the front of the unit I tested the sound with a sound meter, the sound is 37 db  (which my chart tells me is between the background noise in a library (30db) and that of a quiet office (40db) -- and closer to the latter). Placing the sound level meter at the rear of the amp gives a correspondingly higher db reading of 63 db (which is equivalent to conversational speech or an air conditioning unit).

In my view, it is a noisy amp given the background hum from the fan (I don't think it is the speaker/amp) since the sound levels above were taken when the master volume was set to zero.

My question is as follows: is the sound level I have for the amp to be expected or is it unusually noisy for this kind of amp. I know it is pretty powerful unit and hence probably does need the fan -- but I am not very pleased with the background hum it is generating.

Does anyone have the manufacturer's spec on what the ambient sound to be expected from the unit is? What are other users experiencing in amp noise? Do I have a faulty fan/unit?

Apart from the above, I like the rest of what the amp does -- in particular the way it 'emulates' certain distinct amp systems, plus the other added features. And its power!

Peter

Tags: sound, trouble, lowdown, 300, amplifier, problems
  • Rowbi Expert Line 6 User
    Rowbi
    7,450 posts since
    Nov 25, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 3, 2009 7:55 AM (in response to PeterACM)
    Re: Lowdown amp noise

    hmmm, well that sounds like a loud fan... but you have got a 300 watt bass amp.  that's some serious power of amp, so I guess it needs some serious cooling.

     

    I imagine when you're playing a gig or a band rehearsal you wont hear it, but using such a loud amp to jam at home with may be possible, but maybe that fan's designed with cooling the beast at gig volume to ensure it doesn't overheat when you need it the most.

     

    hopefully line6 will jump in and say it's a faulty fan, and you can take it back to the store for an exchange... but if not, just think about what that fan is for, and maybe it wont sound too lound any more

  • Line6Hugo Line 6
    Line6Hugo
    6,332 posts since
    Apr 8, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 10, 2009 4:48 PM (in response to PeterACM)
    Re: RE: Lowdown amp noise

    +1 to Rowbi's response

     

      The fan on the LD300 Pro is audible if you are in a silent room as it has to be powerful enough to cool the 300 watt amp.

     

      My recommendation would be to compare it to other LowDown 300 amps at a Line 6 dealer to see if it is the same.  I know I can hear the fan on my LD300 if I put it in a silent room.

     

      You will have a pretty hard time hearing that fan if you were playing a gig with it.

     

      Regards,

     

      Line6Hugo

  • Line6Andy Line 6
    Line6Andy
    4,345 posts since
    Jun 5, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2009 3:28 PM (in response to PeterACM)
    RE: Lowdown amp noise

    Hello,

      It's been a couple of days since we've heard from you. We're going to assume your question has been answered and close this thread. If you still have questions please feel free to open a new question with us and we will answer your questions accordingly. Thanks!

  • williamcorelle Just Startin'
    williamcorelle
    1 posts since
    Apr 9, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 2, 2009 6:08 PM (in response to PeterACM)
    Re: Lowdown amp noise

    I owned a Lowdown 150 for a year or so and I always practice at home using the amp with headphones so I haven't heard the speaker since I bought the amp. I know hard to believe. Anyway, I took it to a band rehearsal because I'm thinking of using the amp at a small venue next week instead of lugging my heavy stuff. The first thing I noticed was an awful buzz when I play an E on the 7th fret on the A string and it's even worse when I play an E on the 9th fret of the G string! What can be causing this? I have checked all the screws on the outside of the amp to make sure everything is tight so I think there is something inside that may be causing this. It is only these two notes every other fret sounds fine

     

    Billy Bass 5

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