The Eat at Joe's Kawai K5000 Message Board Digest K5000 Display - Noise Problem ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ K5000R noise from display area Thursday, 08-Jan-98 13:03:06 Message: 131.241.53.30 writes: Please, any help. I just bought new Kawai K5000R and got a problem: there is a noise (high frequency noise, like from oscilloscopes or something) coming from the middle of the front panel of the unit (from display or from something behind it), though this is pretty low level noise, in quiet studio you can clearly hear it, audio and phone outs are OK. Is it a "normal" or unit should be absolutly quiet (mine is defective)?? Thanks. Serge serge@syl.sj.nec.com serge@syl.sj.nec.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: K5000R noise from display area Thursday, 08-Jan-98 22:25:40 199.86.47.17 writes: Now that I've checked, mine does that too. It's very quiet, tho. I can't hear it unless I turn off my computer (hard drive) and anything else making noise, then I can hear it up to 1-2' away but that's it. leiter@skypoint.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: K5000R noise from display area Friday, 09-Jan-98 04:55:30 153.37.7.237 writes: My K5000S does it too. It shouldn't be too much of a problem though, just turn off the K5000 when you're done and you want to record something noise-critical, like vocals. I'm in the same situation as Leiter though, my computer is so noisy that I don't think the K5000 whine really matters..... -Kenji ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: K5000R noise from display area Friday, 09-Jan-98 09:50:43 193.96.226.61 writes: Seems to be "normal". My K5000R does it, too. Sounds like the coil of a DC/DC voltage converter. Such a converter may be there for backlighting the LC display, so you may be able to manipulate your device in order to switch the backlight off. Jens Groh ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: Re: K5000R noise from display area Monday, 12-Jan-98 05:27:44 193.96.226.61 writes: Another idea (without knowing if it's possible): Find the vibrating coil, solder it off the printed circuit board, cover it with synthetic resin (better leave this step out if the coil gets warm when the device is on) and re-mount it using some flexible mechanical connection. Jens Groh ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: K5000R noise from display area Friday, 09-Jan-98 13:27:40 192.86.155.91 writes: Come to think of it, I get the same noise from a little blue, backlit LED display on a clock I have. I know it's that backlight because the sound only appears when I turn the room lights off and the backlight turns on. hmmmm... -Kenji ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: K5000R noise from display area Monday, 12-Jan-98 12:31:48 130.244.98.11 writes: About the noise/display problem..... This is a classic problem, anyone who has ever owned a PPG Wave 2.2 or higher knows exatly what I mean! The soloution then was (and perhaps still is!!!) to install a hardware switch to turn the backlite off in critical recording enviorments and back on again during editing, practice or live performance! PEACE LOVE & AAS!!!!! /ACE ace@mbox311,swipnet.se ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: Any else hear noise on the K5000S??? Friday, 30-Oct-98 03:20:55 195.33.8.131 writes: Unfortunately, the K5000 does make a noise of it's own, even when not played. This is (I strongly suspect) because of the voltage converter circuitry that provides power to the display's backlight. It seems to have a whacky transformer in it that makes the noise you hear. If you really need to it to be dead quiet, you might be able to switch of the backlight power circuitry, but I myself am a bit reluctant to open the case and fool around with the circuitry inside. (Especially since the voltages in this part are probably higher than in the rest of the machine) If you're braver than me, have a go at it. (In fact, I did once own a K5 that switched the backlight off by itself, that was only one of the minor reasons I traded it in for a K5000S) Kees ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: Re: Any else hear noise on the K5000S??? Friday, 30-Oct-98 07:45:57 194.172.230.108 writes: Kees, I'm sure you're right. Bobby L, you may want to try to damp the transformer's vibration, maybe with some glue or so... Jens Groh ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: "K5000 Display - Noise Problem": further info? Tuesday, 08-Dec-98 01:14:22 209.61.75.168 writes: My kurzweil K2000 has this same problem, the LCD sends out a non-musical tone. It's most pronounced when the unit is first turned on. After a half hour or so, it is much quieter. I think that backlit LCD technology is still poor. Many synth displays also suffer from a loss of contrast over the years... Adam Smith ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------