Jasipi Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Hey all. I've got some buzz going on when using headphones. It may be the guitar but my tech swears it's all good. I had a guitar not long ago that had no buzz with the exact same cables and everything so i don't know. Here's the thing though, it really only buzzes through headphones. When i have the POD running line outs L/R to studio monitors the buzz is hardly there (even through headphones out of the POD), and similarly when running through my Focusrite 2i4 and out of the studio monitors or headphones (out of 2i4) there is hardly any buzz. Now, even if i plug one line out from the POD into a studio monitor that isn't even being powered (but still plugged in) the noise is reduced a great deal. I tried turning off every powerpoint, light and ceiling fan in my bedroom but the buzz remains the same. The buzz is a tiny bit more quiet when i touch the strings or if i touch the POD, and pretty much disappears when i touch the screws on the 5-way switch, metal on the ends of the cable or on the headphone 1/4" jack adapter in the POD. I've been wondering if it could have anything to do with having a 2 pin power source? I don't know too much about it but from what i've read my adapter doesn't have the "earth/ground" pin. Could this be why it is buzzing? My studio monitors have 3 pin adapters so maybe that's why the POD is silent whenever they're plugged in? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arislaf Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 For sure it is a grounding issue, since when you touch the guitar it stops. Try to put the monitor from the headphones exit. And then try to plug headphones to the line out. Then you will figure out where is the culprit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasipi Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 Not sure why but if i plug a studio monitor into the headphone jack it doesn't work. If i plug headphones into the line out, either left or right it still buzzes just the same. Does this help at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arislaf Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Yes a bit! At least it is not the headphones output. That leads to: Bad headphones or bad guitar grounding or bad cable I believe it is the guitar. If u have an opportunity can you try another guitar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasipi Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 I tried a few different cables and sets of headphones, also a couple of other guitars. Though, two of the three cables were the same model, as were two of the three sets of headphones, but still all the same buzz. One guitar had single coil pickups so that doesn't help much (the buzz was about the same anyway). The other guitar had humbuckers, and was old but had about the same buzz also. By the way my guitar is an 8 string guitar with DiMarzio D-Activator 8's. The guitar i mentioned that did not buzz was a 6 string with DiMarzio Crunch Lab/Liquifire pickups. So both these guitars had fairly hot pickups and both setup and wired by the same tech. Is it normal for the buzz to change if i touch the POD? I'm still curious about whether the two pinned DC adapter is the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexKenivel Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I get the same thing no matter what I'm plugging into or with what cable, at least at my house. I'm thinking about getting a power conditioner to see if that helps.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arislaf Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I tried a few different cables and sets of headphones, also a couple of other guitars. Though, two of the three cables were the same model, as were two of the three sets of headphones, but still all the same buzz. One guitar had single coil pickups so that doesn't help much (the buzz was about the same anyway). The other guitar had humbuckers, and was old but had about the same buzz also. By the way my guitar is an 8 string guitar with DiMarzio D-Activator 8's. The guitar i mentioned that did not buzz was a 6 string with DiMarzio Crunch Lab/Liquifire pickups. So both these guitars had fairly hot pickups and both setup and wired by the same tech. Is it normal for the buzz to change if i touch the POD? I'm still curious about whether the two pinned DC adapter is the problem? I am using also the 2 pin adapter, and I don't get any buzz... I don't think it is the culprit... The thing that you touch and it stops, means grounding issue.. I would go with Alex knivels answer and get a power conditioner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasipi Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 I get the same thing no matter what I'm plugging into or with what cable, at least at my house. I'm thinking about getting a power conditioner to see if that helps.. Well if you happen to get one of these "power conditioners", please let me know if it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceatl Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Get an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator)....Power Conditioners offer very little protection at all...AVRs actually eliminate ground loops....That's what transformers do... This is what I have been using for the last more than several years. https://www.tripplite.com/1200w-120v-power-conditioner-automatic-voltage-regulation-avr-ac-surge-protection~LC1200/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexKenivel Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I walked into guitar center today asking about a power conditioner and the guy instead talked me into getting an EBTech Hum X. Brought it home and no difference. I'm going again later tonight and exchanging it for the power conditioner I wanted to originally get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexKenivel Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Power conditioner didn't work either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 It doesn't surprise me at all that the power conditioner didn't work if the HumX didn't work. They're both doing the same thing which is eliminating ground loop differences. So my guess is the problem is in the grounding of the pickups, the plug, or the cable. Or potentially in the headphone plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexKenivel Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 I'm sure that my real problem is the wiring in my house. I should take my rig to my dad's house and find out if I get the same noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceatl Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 More than you ever wanted to know about ground loops... http://web.mit.edu/jhawk/tmp/p/EST016_Ground_Loops_handout.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasipi Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Line 6 support at the moment is saying the POD has to be serviced. I'm not happy about that though.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexKenivel Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I've been told over and over about how house wiring works but I always look like a deer caught in headlights when being told. Eyes start crossing and all. A good friend of mine who's an electrican came over and poked around in junction boxes and couldn't make sense of the mess of wires in my walls. Apparently the guy who owned the house before us was a wannabe handyman did some funny work. Door frames aren't even square.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasipi Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Apparently the guy who owned the house before us was a wannabe handyman did some funny work. Door frames aren't even square.. The house i'm living in is brand new, my roommates and i are the first occupants. Line 6 also says the 2 pin DC-3g adapter is fine. I have no clue what to do about it. Whatever the case i give up, it's too confusing for me to care about anymore lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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