I was wondering if anyone else has experienced a popping or clicking noise in their speakers with digital sources on their 990. I notice it when I change channels on digital or HD TV. I notice it when I turn on xbox 360, or the dvd player. It will also make the noise for no reason, meaning while I'm watching a show in HD or playing a game on Xbox (and not actually changing the source). It doesn't seem to matter whether it's a coax or optical source. I haven't noticed it while watching a movie, only when changing the source to the dvd player. It's not a loud noise, just a click or small pop in the speakers.

There's the relay click when changing inputs, but that doesn't sound like what you are describing. If I had to guess what you're hearing, it sounds like your 990 is un-muting the digital circuit just as it locks on to the digital input's format and you're getting a little pop as it locks. That signal lock process would happen any time the signal format changed (switching between channels that are playing different formats, or when the format changes for commercials, or probably when new levels load in a game). For what it's worth, I've not heard that on my system.

I have it too, and after recieving a new unit, it does it too. Must be something in my speaker wiring, but I have not had the time to move the massive amount of stuff to narrow down the issue.

Might give it a shot today.

To test, it happens to me if I go between -76 and -75 in volume.

It also happens when there is a sound format change.

I don't think it's a speaker wiring issue or an issue with another component. I double checked all of my connections to make sure everything was tight, and it is. I think it's what Gonk described, but I don't remember hearing it when I first got the unit...that's what troubles me. And since then, the only new thing I added was the Xbox, and it was doing it before I got that.

Definitley no clicks here. You might have a grounding issue or something.

I too have the exact same problem. I have the H20 HD receiver and it will periodically pop during a HD show. It seems like for some reason, it is dropping the digtial signal and re-locking which causes it to pop. If you change the H20 setting (which I did because it was so bothersome) to PCM vs. dolby digital, the problem will go away. I have the same problem w/ my DVD player when it goes between the menus and previews. I would describe mine as a medium pop as it is very noticiable. I was hoping the latest firmware would fix whatever was wrong, but no luck.

are your interconnect cables between the 990 and amp factory made, maybe a loose strand on a speaker wire, can you connect just one speaker and just one related output say center channel, then try another

Yea, I pulled each speaker one by one and nothing.

To test it, you need at least on source on and running for the 990 to get a signal lock and then the -76 to -75 proceedure will produce the pop.


Interesting on the PCM to DD. What exactly am I doing when I make that change?

I checked all of my cables, and there are no loose wires or frays. It's definitely what Gonk described; it happens when the 990 locks on to a digital source. It also happens when a show goes to commercial or whe changing channels. I'm going to try swapping out the digital cable from the cable box to the 990, but after that, I'm at a loss.

Swapping the cable should not really effect anything.

I can have just the 990 and the 7700, with one component, and one speaker hooked up, and still get the same pop.

I've had a replacement unit, and did the same thing.

Pulled all the speakers, and had the same thing.

Toslink connections only from components to 990 (NOTHING ELSE), and had the same thing.


Grounded all components and amps to the same point, and have the same thing.

Thanks Jester, I guess I'll save myself the trouble then.

I have heard this as well, and also have the H20 Receiver. Perhaps it's the receiver?...

H20, as in DirectTV reciever?

I don't have one, but if I have just one component connected to the 990, it still does it.

Take your pick, they will all result in the same conclusion:

SA 8300HD
XBOX 360
Denon 3910

Again, to test you need a signal, and to get a signal, you need at least on component connected... All of the above are connected via TOSLINK only.

Even disconnected the cable from the 990 to the TV (to see the setup menu), and no change.

If it is a ground loop caused by product, I've just about eliminated all hum using the common ground (no cheater plugs).

Whatever it is, I wish it was either more common, or more forgiving. Other than that, the 990 works out well for me using the balanced connections.

Just wanted to give an update on my popping issue. It's gone !! I had been using two amps and recently moved everything to one amp. I had been using an Aragon 4004mkII for the front and an Acurus A125X5 for the center and side ssurrounds. I thought I would try connecting eveything through the Acurus since I only noticed the popping in the front channels. Since then, no popping. It seems that there is probably a ground loop issue between the two amps. Hard to figure since they both connect directly to the same power conditioner. I haven't yet tried using a "cheater" plug on the Aragon and re-connecting it to the front channels. By the way, all cables are unbalanced.

good work getting the popping sound solved.. who would have thought it was the use of two amps? Thanks for posting your findings..

I still have this problem.

I have a Monster 3250 powering the fronts/center and an Onkyo 100X2 (don't have the model name off the top of my head) powering the rear.

Pop only comes from the fronts/center...

Edit - all electronics are plugged into a Monster Power Conditioner. There is a 'grounding bar' on the amp (might be on the conditioner...), but I'm not familiar with using this.

i've heard that sometimes if an amp comes on after the pre amp. it may give a popping sound... some people use a delay to avoid this happening.

funny, but not all systems have an issue with this. I've never had any issue of amps popping. For some reason it appears the Marantz MA500 amps i use have some kind of 2 or 3 second delay before they kick on. and i don't get any kind of popping at all.

The popping sound we're talking about (at least the one I'm referring to) occurs when the 990 'loses' or 'picks up' a signal. For instance, if I'm watching Cable and I channel up a few times, I will generally hear a pop each time the audio from the new channel is picked up. I noticed the same behavior when using components other than the cable box.

It's not terrible, but enough to be annoying...

I used to have the pop when changing channels. Fixed it by replacing the balanced audio cables, between the 990 and 7500, with un-balanced.

Cost me $140 worth of balanced cables to find out that a balanced connection between the 990 and 7500 creates this poping noise. Outlaw should have told me this before I wasted so much $$.

kgt is your cable box audio going right into the 990 pre? what kind of box is it? how do you have it hooked up?

Interesting to see that kgt is using two amps as well.

My cable box (Comcast SA8300HD) is going right to the 990. It's either optical or coax, don't remember off the top of my head.

Funny that you mention the balanced cables - I'm using balanced on the front 3 channels but unbalanced in the rear. This 'pop' is annoying, but it's not worth buying 3 new cables at this point.

Anyone running balanced cables and not experiencing any pop?

Cheers

Edit: I suppose the easy thing to do to test this would be to swap out the balanced cables in the front with the unbalanced cables in the rear...just a matter of me wanting to go back in that zoo of wires that I have.