Looking for advice. My powernode has been working well for 3-4 years but has developed a quiet, high pitched noise. When in standby, there is no sound. As soon as the device powers up the noise returns. To complicate matters, the noise changes in pitch which means some days I can’t hear it (ageing ears) but my daughter can!
I have been through the usual channels with Bluesound customer support and have exhausted all avenues. They are now advising me to send the device off for service at my expense as it is now out of warranty. The cost will be a minimum of £110 plus postage.
So, my question is, should I send the device off for repair and keep my fingers crossed that they will find a fault and keep the cost of repair to a minimum? Or should I cut my losses and invest in a new streamer? If I go down the new device route what would you recommend?
Sounds like coil whine. This is often regarded by manufacturers as normal to a certain level. But as it apparently didn’t happen in the past with your device, it may be fixable, but the price will probably be higher than 110 in the end.
A new streamer or a streamer/amp as the Powernode is?
I’ve had BlueSound replace an out of warranty PowerNode that developed nasty noise on the subwoofer output, but it was maybe 6-9 months out, not several years…
Had they not done it, I would have gotten a Wiim for the same use case. Now there’s also EverSolo Play that looks quite intriguing if the power is sufficient for you.
Do people feel 3-4 years use is reasonable for an item at this price? Personally I expected a few more years before failure. Disappointing and makes me feel I should look for an alternative.
For me it is still not clear what makes the high pitch noise. Is it the Powernode itself, or is the high pitch is coming from your speakers. This can make a big difference in resolving the issue.
Kind regards, Frank.
The noise is coming from the speakers. The noise stops when the Powernode is off. There is nothing else connected to the Powernode. Just speakers (Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G) and of course ethernet. If I unplug the ethernet the noise continues. If I try different power sockets the noise continues. Unfortunately I don’t have other speakers to try. Hope this clarifies.
Thank you Mike. I thought the sound was coming form the Powernode itself, and than it would probably have been de powersupply in the Powernode. But if it is from the speakers, than this is another story. Is it from both speakers, or just from one speaker?
In any case, changing the speaker, even just as a test, is not necessary. It is not a problem of a passive speaker. They just translate the outgoing signal of the Powernode into sound.
Personally I think the capacitors at the output of the Hypex-module are not inside the specs any more.
So I presume that changing those capacitors would do the trick. Of course, this is not that something anyone can do, but a reasonable technician should be able to perform this task.
Good luck, Frank.
Thanks @Frank_M really appreciate your thoughts. I’ve decided I’ll send it back to Bluesound for repair and hope the costs don’t spiral. Fingers crossed!
@Mike_Calodoucas
Pleased to hear that they replaced the capacitors on the main audio board. Then the Powernode is again good to go for a second life.
I hope the cost of the repair is acceptable, especially if the top touch panel has also been replaced. I am curious.
Thanks for the update, Frank.
