ISonic Spin Noise
pchongba
Posts: 1
Hey Tech support and Polk enthusiasts, got a problem here.
I purchased an ISonic in December and very much like its sound, size, and features. However, I use it in a very quiet study with no background noise, usually to listen to light classical music.
The unit, however, makes noise that I find really distracting. It sounds like the internal operations of the CD spinning, and noise occurs at at a steady rate, probably about 200 pbm, with the spin of the disc. Its best described as a continuation of a CD's usually "spin-up sound."
While its unhearable for louder music (which just covers it up), it is constant in the background and during silent moments, it is pronounced. You can also hear it when the disc is spinning but there is no sound and/or you mute the ISonic.
Further, if you pause music, you hear it then as well.
In hoping that it was a defect in the particular model I had, I returned it and just recently received another unit. The same noise is made. I am wondering:
1) Has anyone else else had this problem?
2) Is it possible that it is an indiv. unit defect, and Polk just repackaged the same unit I returned after not noticing (or do they always ship out a new one, regardless of why its returned)?
3) Is there any way to stop it.
Again I really like the ISonic, but its hard to tranquilly listen to music when you constantly hear that cd spin sound.
Thanks for any an all help!
Phil
I purchased an ISonic in December and very much like its sound, size, and features. However, I use it in a very quiet study with no background noise, usually to listen to light classical music.
The unit, however, makes noise that I find really distracting. It sounds like the internal operations of the CD spinning, and noise occurs at at a steady rate, probably about 200 pbm, with the spin of the disc. Its best described as a continuation of a CD's usually "spin-up sound."
While its unhearable for louder music (which just covers it up), it is constant in the background and during silent moments, it is pronounced. You can also hear it when the disc is spinning but there is no sound and/or you mute the ISonic.
Further, if you pause music, you hear it then as well.
In hoping that it was a defect in the particular model I had, I returned it and just recently received another unit. The same noise is made. I am wondering:
1) Has anyone else else had this problem?
2) Is it possible that it is an indiv. unit defect, and Polk just repackaged the same unit I returned after not noticing (or do they always ship out a new one, regardless of why its returned)?
3) Is there any way to stop it.
Again I really like the ISonic, but its hard to tranquilly listen to music when you constantly hear that cd spin sound.
Thanks for any an all help!
Phil
Post edited by pchongba on
Comments
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no I hear the same spin & the problem I'm having is cd's skipping, some of my older one's are the problem. Seems there is not good error correction on the unit...
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Phil - stand right next to most DVD players and you'll hear the same noises. When I listen to an I-sonic from the same distance my DVD player is from me while watching movies, its not noticeable. If this isn't the case, then yea, there's something up with the drive.
Larry - did you upgrade the DVD firmware yet?Brian Knauss
ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk -
no firmware update?, it's fairly new does it still need an update & how do I get it?
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I wondered the same thing. Also along the same vein I was wondering what kind of error correction the unit had. I'm on my 3 unit & I still have a skipping problem & no different cd's everytime & I've used the firmware. I wonder is the error correct for cd's isn't as good from a dvd standpoint...
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Larry - the original DVD firmware had some skipping issues. As we discussed before, call up CS and go through the DVD firmware upgrade procedure and that should cure any issues.Brian Knauss
ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk -
still skips dispite update...different cd's at different tracks & also hear a clicking sound from the dvd drive...I've pretty much lost confidence in it dispite it's good sound...
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I returned the Isonic (my 2nd) for the last time. This is one very seriously good sounding machine...when it works. I think Polk needs to rethink the dvd-cd drive as it's casusing problems to more than just one customer and they need to change venders. I have cds that play fine everywhere BUT but the Isonic where they skip...just my 2 cents...
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I too, am on my second ISonic. It has the firmware update. I have had on- and-off again CD player trouble. Either purchased discs or CD-R's spin and spin, don't play and then the system shuts off. After ejecting and re-loading several times - then the unit finds the disc and plays it. It skips, etc. and makes terrible whirring noise.
Another poster said when it works it's great - when it doesn't, it's annoying.
I think the whole player needs to be scrapped and replaced. -
I've had about ten I-Sonics--I own three but I've had each of them replaced two or three times for various problems: e.g., total failure; low CD volume; loud hum; and particularly loud CD transport.
All of them have exhibited the same "ticking" sound from the CD transport. It is particularly annoying when listening a low levels.
Another irritant of the transport is that it will not play the redbook layer of hybrid SACDs. -
I've had about ten I-Sonics--I own three but I've had each of them replaced two or three times for various problems: e.g., total failure; low CD volume; loud hum; and particularly loud CD transport.
All of them have exhibited the same "ticking" sound from the CD transport. It is particularly annoying when listening a low levels.
Another irritant of the transport is that it will not play the redbook layer of hybrid SACDs.
Since my post here in April - I have had THIS THIRD UNIT replaced at the beginning of the month. Ken from customer support told me that they have finally isolated the problem with the CD drives - it was a part substitution made by their suppliers who put in an inferior something or other. Ken thinks that the problem may indeed be finally solved as they are now "putting in the right parts". This new unit (the fourth) is working fine and hopefully that is the end of this saga.
It's a great sounding unit and I hope that Polk can now move ahead. Luckily, Polk has been nothing but quick and fast with their replies and replacement units. Anyone out there having problems - please contact customer support - you will not find a better company to respond to your problem! - John -
Since my post here in April - I have had THIS THIRD UNIT replaced at the beginning of the month. Ken from customer support told me that they have finally isolated the problem with the CD drives - it was a part substitution made by their suppliers who put in an inferior something or other. Ken thinks that the problem may indeed be finally solved as they are now "putting in the right parts". This new unit (the fourth) is working fine and hopefully that is the end of this saga.
It's a great sounding unit and I hope that Polk can now move ahead. Luckily, Polk has been nothing but quick and fast with their replies and replacement units. Anyone out there having problems - please contact customer support - you will not find a better company to respond to your problem! - John
Thanks for the info, John! So there's no more "ticking?" If that's the case, I'd be thrilled. Do you have any hybrid SACDs? I'd like to know if the new transport can read them.
Dana -
No - there has never been any ticking in any of my units. At least nothing that I noticed.
I think I may have one SACD somewhere in the house or my daughter does! I will try to fish it out and report back to you Dana - I have company coming over (AGAIN!) today and will try to find the SACD tonight! Cheers.Thanks for the info, John! So there's no more "ticking?" If that's the case, I'd be thrilled. Do you have any hybrid SACDs? I'd like to know if the new transport can read them.
Dana -
Find me another company that will give 4 or more replacement units to the same customer no questions asked. Only Polk would do something like that.
Kuds to Polk CS for getting the issues resolved. I wish my parents bought one of these units instead of their Blose Wave. -
You are quite right - I don't know of too many companies that would have been so kind to me as Ken at CS and Polk Audio were to me. NO questions asked. Ken's only concern was that he wanted me to have a unit that worked. I just happened to have gotten several replacement units in the lot of how many that did not work properly. That's usually my luck anyway!
Again it was the CD transport system that had problems - not the sound of this unit. Polk has said this CD transport system problem has now been resolved. So far so good with my new unit.
And yes - I own two (2) Bose Wave radios and there is NO comparison. The Polk beats the crap out of the Bose unit. Presence and bass response are phenomenal.BaggedLancer wrote: »Find me another company that will give 4 or more replacement units to the same customer no questions asked. Only Polk would do something like that.
Kuds to Polk CS for getting the issues resolved. I wish my parents bought one of these units instead of their Blose Wave. -
Dana - I am finally getting back to you. NO - the I-SONIC does not play SACDs. I finally found mine and put it in and the I-SONIC does not recognize the disc. Sorry!:(No - there has never been any ticking in any of my units. At least nothing that I noticed.
I think I may have one SACD somewhere in the house or my daughter does! I will try to fish it out and report back to you Dana - I have company coming over (AGAIN!) today and will try to find the SACD tonight! Cheers. -
Thanks for checking! I guess you can't have everything.
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Another of my three I-Sonics has been acting up and will soon be sent back to meet its maker.
This one began acting up a month or so ago by displaying "Demo Mode" for no apparent reason while I was listening to AM radio. It locked up and wouldn't do anything until I pulled the plug. Then it would still show "Demo Mode" on occasion but still function.
Now, the other day it developed a loud hum on all modes. I narrowed it down to the XM mini-tuner. When I unplug XM the hum goes away. I tested the same mini-tuner on my other I-Sonics and neither of them hum.
So I fired off an e-mail to Polk. This is my third or fourth replacement.
Is it just me?
Update: Took it home from my office to make certain it didn't have a disc in it. Plugged it in and all I got was a loud hum and display where about half of all pixels were on. The tray won't open and now it's completely DOA.
Called Polk and spoke with Ken Swuager who acknowledged that the problem it that their manufacuter made unathorized substitutions of parts. I'm returning two of my three units this week. One more to go!
I'm hopeful that this will finally solve the issue. -
That rots. So far my unit has been behaving. Maybe I should cross my fingers and toes from now on. Hope I don't develop the same problem.
I am getting to know the people at the UPS shop very well ...:eek: -
I had the same loud, long CD "spin up" noise on a unit I purchased back in late 2006. Didn't try to use it again until just today- and now all I get when I power it on is a blank screen and a loud hum. Completely non-responsive.
Although out of warranty, I will call customer service soon...
