wingnut4772...I share your pain. I was talking with Steve on Friday of last week (he is very good) and I believe that I have three seperate problems: The first is the popping, like you describe above. The second is a loud thump when I turn on / off the system and the third hisssssssssssss.

Based on Steve's advice, I fixed the thump! You need to have your ICBM always on. Don't switch it on during power up or down. Also I have a Paradigm crossover circuit that also liek to stay up all night...

the popping sounds are last on my list. Hopefully you will all figure it out soon.

the hisssssssssss, is a wierd one. I was pretty certain that it was NOT 60 cycle hum, but I am not sure now. I pulled EVERY wire out of my system and began to build it up from the speaker back. So I had the speaker connected to the amp. That's it. Turn on the power and HISSSSSSSSSSSS.
I tried all of my amps (Outlaw M200's X 2, Marantz MA200 & MA150's X 6). Funny thing is that the Outlaw and the Marants MA200 are rock solid quiet in this test. It is only the MA150's. I will be trying to see if the AC power has been swapped (out of phase). I had this happen a long time ago, but since we have polarized plugs, I did not think of this until now.

The reason I bring this up is that this extra (voltage, whether AC or DC) may be contributing to the issue of the popping. I do nto think that it is the only source for the popping, but may be a primary culprit.

I will know more in a day or so....

Talked to Steve this morning (Monday AM) and got some things to try out.

Won't be able to get to them until Wednesday.

I'll let everyone know,
Lee

Update: 2 problems.

First, nothing wrong with my custom cables.

1. I have two Toshiba SD-4900 DVD players. Both of them cause a POP when switching from PCM to DD. Installed an old Sony 8500 DVD player with both coax and optical audio, no POPS on either output.

Off to visit my favorite a/v store. Was thinking about a new DVD player for the HT anyway. The 4900's both work great on the 32" direct view upstairs, one can be a spare.

2. A grounding issue on the SAT feeds to the HD Tivo causing the same POP when switching from PCM to DD. Disconnected both SAT feeds and played back some recorded video, both PCM and DD, no POPS until the SAT feeds were hooked back up. The grounding blocks are a rats nest. OTA, Cable (broadband) and 4 SAT feeds. One hooked to the pipe from the underground power, two hooked to the grounding rod and three not hooked to anything.

Got the 950 dialed in. Using the Cirrus (sp) for 7.1. Sounds pretty good. Watched/Listened to Eagles Hell Freezes Over (DTS) and John Fogerty Premonition DD.

Lee

Lee44,

Can you talk a bit more about the grounding problems and your solution(s)?

I have VOOM + Comcast cable + HTPC all in there as well....

dgwing

I find that my Sony Dvd/SACD player and my Sat. are giving me the most problems too but I am not in a position to replace them and really don't want to. I have Voom also...how do I check the ground on this and if it is incorrect can I fix it? Steve is replacing my 950 but I am not convinced that will solve the problem.

I've got to call Steve in the AM again.

Not doing so good. Bought a new Yamaha 550 DVD, did the same thing. Exchanged it for a Sony 775 DVD/SACD, did the same thing. Store took it back but didn't want to do this again so they loaned me a VERY NICE Yamaha 2300MK2 DVD/SACD/DVD-A, same thing. What a sweet unit. I don't even know what it costs, got to be expensive.

All had coax and optical digital audio. Went through all the isolation things, multiiple/multiple times.

Poked my old Onkyo 787 (used as a pre/pro only) back into the rack and everything works, got the Tosh 4900 DVD back in too. All back to original. The Tivo and the 4900 are not popping.

Spent 14 hours today, haven't slept since 4pm yesterday. Giving up for now.

Very frustrating, I know these things work, too many people have them and are happy.

Might just be my overall setup,
Lee

I know your frustration. I can't isolate anymore. I hope the replacement takes care of it . I have hope since I never had this before with virtually the same set up but just with a diferent receiver and we seem to be the few with this problem. My Onkyo was cool as a pre/pro too but I sold it so I can not place it back for now. The 950 sounds so much better so I would hate it if it just was not compatible with my set up for whatever reason. I am not looking forward to shipping this one back . Do you think that our speakers are ok?

I was pretty careful with the volume but did pop them a time or two. I don't think I hurt anything.

As to the SAT/Cable grounding. Our power is underground. I found that the cable guy when he upgraded our coax used the underground electrical conduit. Two of the SAT feeds are properly grounded to the ground rod, two were not grounded at all, looks like they were grounded to the rod but came off.

Of the four legs of the SAT feed, one going to the Tivo in the HT and one going to the Tivo upstairs were not grounded.

I'm correcting all the grounds later today. I don't think the cable coax was not a factor in this, it does not go into the HT, only into our office and is used for braodband internet only. But I'm still correcting it.

Lee

I also notice that I get the 'static cling pop' when I am doing channel calibration. The white noise goes from one speaker to the next with a little pop to send it off. And for some strange reason, sometimes when I touch my cd player I get a little shock-like static electricity. Not always but that is something that I definitely took notice of. Again, never had this with the Onkyo.
If the replacement 950 does not fare any better, I am afraid I will have to say adieu for now and get another pre/pro. Any suggestions for one that will match with my 7100 so I can begin researching? Just in case

i went through the "touch it get shocked" scene, can't say this will help the pop problem you have but should cure the shock woes.

http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000543