Logitech Z-680 hiss? Has anyone been able to get rid of it?

[Flakk]

Has anyone been able to get rid of the light hiss associated with the Z-680's (which is very obvious--especially in the central speaker-- when volume is maxed with nothing playing, in a fairly quiet room)?

Apparently older control pod modules were notorious for hiss and since they have released a new version with Firmware v1.1.2 that is supposed to fix the hiss. (You can check by powering your z-680 system off then holding the input and settings buttons at the same time for about 3 seconds. It will display your System Firmware version.) Well, I have v1.1.2 and I still notice the supposedly fixed hiss. Maybe it was even worse before, i don't know. All I know is that it is still audible to me.

I'm going to get a digital coax cable instead of the analog ones it comes with, but I have a hunch that isn't going to improve hiss much or at all because I did a test: I unplugged the audio cables completely from the sound card and left the volume up. It still makes the hissing sound without any source audio or even being plugged in.

Anyone know whats up or if theres anything I can do? I like the speakers otherwise.

 

[grunjee]

I don't know my firmware version (still at work)... but I *did* get a replacement pod a few months back when they came out, so I'm assuming it's the newest one...

No, the hiss is still there. It is better than the original control pod, but still, you can hear it.

I've been using the optical input now for about a week and it has made no difference with the hiss. Pretty sure it's just something we have to live with. Next time, sorry to say but I'm going Klipsch.

 

[Flakk]

hmm, thanks.. your answers are much appreciated.. im going to do some deciding here if i will keep them or not i guess

 

[Veland]

But why are they on when not playing anything? Sure there IS a light hiss, but I hardly hear it at all without standing right next to the speaker. In a quiet room. With nothing playing.

So, if not in use, speakers off and no hiss. In use, the hiss can't be heard anyway..

 

[caddyg1]

I have versoin 1.0.3 (thx for the tip Flakk) and have been bothered by the hiss since I got them. I dont notice it much anymore but am wondering how did you get a replacement pod??

 

[krag]

I don't know my firmware version (still at work)... but I *did* get a replacement pod a few months back when they came out, so I'm assuming it's the newest one...

No, the hiss is still there. It is better than the original control pod, but still, you can hear it.

I've been using the optical input now for about a week and it has made no difference with the hiss. Pretty sure it's just something we have to live with. Next time, sorry to say but I'm going Klipsch.

Klipsch? I have 2.1 Klipsch GMX on my office rig and the hiss is the worst I have ever heard. I also have the Logitech Z680s on my home rig and the hiss is nothing compared to the "white noise" of the Klipsch 2.1s. I don't know what the Klipsch Ultra 5.1 sounds like but I am way to afraid to chance it...especially after what the 2.1s have shown me.

 

[grunjee]

Wow krag... well that's news to me... I've never owned a set of Klipsch speakers, but I remember when the z680's came out, and people started noticing the hissing problem... the Kilpsch users IIRC would say they didn't have such issues...

And I agree with Veland... I can only really hear the hiss if I put my ear right up next to a speaker. Even then, it's pretty quiet. So it really isn't a problem for me. And for the record, I have really sensitive hearing... can't stand noise. Even my watercooled rig, which most people tell me how quiet it is... it's still too loud for me.

 

[Flakk]

I really find it hard to believe when you say you have a hard time hearing it. Especially when you go on to say how sensitive your ears are.. I can hear it easily, especially with the volume at 1/2 or higher.

I find that a lot of the hiss comes from the central speaker, so I unplugged it and it helped quite a bit. Thats kind of dumb though, now I have a 4.1 instead of a 5.1 :\


caddyg1: I didn't get a replacement, I just got this version because I bought it after they changed the pod revisions. I hear you can contact Logitech and they will set up a replacement with you.. worth a try definitely.

 

[grunjee]

I really find it hard to believe when you say you have a hard time hearing it. Especially when you go on to say how sensitive your ears are.. I can hear it easily, especially with the volume at 1/2 or higher.

Hmmm, well maybe it's because my computer is always on, and does produce a constant low-level hum/drone... I haven't ever turned off my box and sat there to listen to the speakers hiss...

I do have really sensitive hearing though, believe me.

 

[Flakk]

my computer is always on as well.. i've never just sat there with the computer off and listened to the hiss lol.

i guess it's hard to explain every sound in each of our rooms.. all i know is that i hear it and its semi annoying. to each his own

 

[stan03]

well i have a hiss on mine too, but my hiss doesn't really increase that much with the volume turned up, but i usually keep it around the second lcd "box" thing. can you just turn the volume up through your Audigy and see if that helps>

 

[Flakk]

yes i maxed my volume on my audigy just so i could minimize the volume on the 680's and that helps reducing the hiss a tiny bit

you're correct, it doesnt make it THAT much worse if you increase the volume on the unit.. but it does somewhat, so keeping it low helps. doesnt help enuf tho

 

[Shaotai]

Here's my 2 cents...

I've been wanting the z680s for some time. Review after review, they were ranked the best or second to the Klipsch Pro Media and the newer Ultras.

I just checked my firmware version and I'm up to the 1.1.2 version. But as soon as I plugged them in, I noticed the hiss. Nothing was plugged in. It was just powered on. With my box on and music playing, it's really not an issue, but when I shut everything off, you'll know you left the speakers on because of the hiss.

BUT, it doesn't bother me at all. I see it as a minor flaw to one of the best set of speakers.
You get multiple inputs (digital and analog) and full DTS/AC3 decoding (works awesome, especially with nForce APU) and the power, 1000w peak and 505w RMS. Nothing can come close to that for less than $300! (I bought my from amateroffax.com, great shopping experience BTW)

I can see it buggin' people a lot, especially if they have a super silent machine. I'm running an Shuttle XPC box, so it generates enough noise to drown everything else out.

Switching to optical or coax cables won't really change anything, as the noise is generated by the amp.

Another thing to note is that I didn't notice any hiss at say BestBuy or Compusa because of the "general overall" noise in the store. It was loud enough to drown out the hiss. At home, none of that noise is present so the hiss may seem more pronounced.

 

[Mikes95XLT]

Hey guys I just caught on to this problem reading an article on ExtremeTech...

I bought my Z680's around August of last year... I have the hissing sound, but I can only hear it when my room is very very quiet. But I too have sensitive hearing, and it bugs me sometimes, cause I don't like turning the speakers on and off, but usually do cause of this.

I've heard of people getting replacement control units, and I was wondering when they started sending out replacements, and how I'd go about getting one? And by getting a replacement, does that fix the problem?

 

[Deadly Dude]

well i dont own a set of z-680s but i do have a set of z-5300's and once u get to about 1/2 the volume they are bloody loud, so i dont see how u can hear a hiss if u are actually using them. the only time i can get a hiss out of these speakers is at 3/4 to max volume, which is just too loud.

just my 2 cents

 

[Flakk]

its not the hiss during playing that is annoying-- you cant even hear it like u said. it's when the music is off. yes, i could turn the thing off but i dont like having to.

 

[Mikes95XLT]

Exactly what Flakk said... I don't hear it at all, even when playing music loud. It's when there's nothing on that gets to me. And turning my speakers on and off just gets dang annoying.

 

[Turd Furguson]

I have noticed my Klipsch Promedia 4.1's have a slight hiss to them when my system is turned off. I am not sure if it is due to bad speaker wire connections or what.

Sorry for going off topic.

 

[Doc_Skurlock]

I really only hear it when I've got it up at half. The biggest problem I have so far is when I'm trying to watch a movie using powerdvd. My voice level is quite low, and consequently, I have to turn the volume way up on my z680's. The hiss is so bad that I can't hear the speaking, so I've resorted to wearing headphones to cut out the hiss and putting the volume at around half for movies.

 

[Flakk]

yeah its a real bummer that hiss. i just turn them off now when im not using em. can't hear it with music blasting at least :\