luthierwnc Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 Hi all, I have another thread going but this is mostly unrelated. I'm getting a wicked combination of high-pitched squeal and hum from the HXFX plugged directly into a Deluxe Reverb from the mono output. It happens at all times. With a guitar plugged in at any volume. With nothing plugged in. Any patch. No patch. It does pass a signal and the effects do work. I did a factory reset, changed outlets, no help. Usually they are both plugged into the same power conditioner. A guitar straight into the amp is as quiet as a tube amp gets. I am using the power supply that came with the unit. I got this new when it came out ago and never used it until now so it is well out of warranty but looks brand new. It's never been abused or left the house. Any ideas or is it a write-off? Thanks, Skip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 High-pitched squeal + hum sounds like a ground issue. The HXFX gets connected to ground via the cable to the amp input (or return). Make sure the amp is grounded. Test the amp's GND continuity between the input ground and power cable ground with a multimeter. Check without the power conditioner. Check in a different room / power outlet. Check with a different amp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Is the HXFX USB connected to a computer? Try unplugging it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luthierwnc Posted November 25, 2023 Author Share Posted November 25, 2023 The reset seems to have gotten it. Wondered if I'd dropped the baby on its head. I'm still working my way through the manual and the Pilot's guide trying to separate instructions for Helix, Stomp and HXFX. Thanks for your help. sh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luthierwnc Posted November 25, 2023 Author Share Posted November 25, 2023 It is a ground loop between the USB ports. I've gone through a lot of posts here and elsewhere and it seems a USB isolator is the answer. For extra credit, what is the state of the play on those devices? They range from twenty bucks up ten-fold. Thanks for the help, Skip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 On 11/25/2023 at 10:24 AM, luthierwnc said: It is a ground loop between the USB ports. I've gone through a lot of posts here and elsewhere and it seems a USB isolator is the answer. For extra credit, what is the state of the play on those devices? They range from twenty bucks up ten-fold. Thanks for the help, Skip IF the isolator you choose works, it might only work until you add something else to your USB array. That was my experience. My solution was to place a simple Hum Eliminator - $20-$30 on Amazon - between the Helix and powered speaker. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luthierwnc Posted November 25, 2023 Author Share Posted November 25, 2023 Thank you rd2rk. Cheaper than that; I just brought my laptop in from the kitchen. With all the thousands of nuances you'd think Line 6 would add a control called "So using HX Edit doesn't sound like the drive-up window at Bojangles". Like most 'stepping a rake' episodes I did learn something important. This was going to be the brain of a wet/dry/wet pedalboard. For home practice there isn't much reason not to use the native distortion and modulations. There is still a lot to absorb about creating snapshots and maneuvering around the buttons but it's there. Again thanks to everyone who has chipped in. It's appreciated. Happy Holidays, Skip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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