Expensive mistake - Viewsonic 22" LCD

[Kiwiburger]

I just bought bought a Viewsonic 22" LCD for mixing, and now that i've installed it in my quiet studio, it's so fking noisy it can't stay.

I thought my monitor speakers were bad for hum, but at least I can turn them off for tracking. My fanless PC is in the room next door, because the 3 Seagate Barracuda drives are too noisy. But this screen, sounds like an electric drill. Not just a low buzz, but a much higher pitch. I've got crappy old CRT monitors that aren't this loud.

Damn it.

Does anyone know of good LCD monitors that are low noise? I want the option of tracking in my control room, which is very quiet by design. My preamps and converters don't make any significant hum, and i'm prepared to turn off the monitor speakers and track with headphones. So the video monitor is the loudest thing in the room at the moment - bloody ridiculous, but sadly true.

(Anyone recording in a house with a noisy PC probably won't know what i'm talking about. Noise masks other noise. But I can't tolerate noise in a room with an open mic.)

[Diablo]

Ouch! That sucks. I, too, love to track in my control room and I truly hate gear that buzzes and hums. I'm currently using Fuji 19" monitors that are dead silent, but there's no guarantees with any monitor, seeing how parts can be swapped out at the factory at will.

It sounds to me like the AC transformer is the problem. If I were you, I would take apart the monitor and try to tighten down the transformer better. Use some red Loctite on the screws and maybe some epoxy to hold it in place. I had a Furman headphone amp that buzzed and that fixed it.

Good luck and please report back if you find some large monitors that are silent.

[the russian]

Do you have balanced power a la (Equitek?)

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

I just bought bought a Viewsonic 22" LCD for mixing, and now that i've installed it in my quiet studio, it's so fking noisy it can't stay.

I thought my monitor speakers were bad for hum, but at least I can turn them off for tracking. My fanless PC is in the room next door, because the 3 Seagate Barracuda drives are too noisy. But this screen, sounds like an electric drill. Not just a low buzz, but a much higher pitch. I've got crappy old CRT monitors that aren't this loud.

Damn it.

Does anyone know of good LCD monitors that are low noise? I want the option of tracking in my control room, which is very quiet by design. My preamps and converters don't make any significant hum, and i'm prepared to turn off the monitor speakers and track with headphones. So the video monitor is the loudest thing in the room at the moment - bloody ridiculous, but sadly true.

(Anyone recording in a house with a noisy PC probably won't know what i'm talking about. Noise masks other noise. But I can't tolerate noise in a room with an open mic.)

Hi

Why don't you take it back and test the replacement in the store? It sounds like it's defective.

Balanced power ain't gonna fix a broken screen... it's the HF oscillator that generates the the voltage for the back light you are hearing... not a ground buzz.

[the russian]

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

Why don't you take it back and test the replacement in the store? It sounds like it's defective.

Sounds like a plan

[Kiwiburger]

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

Hi

Why don't you take it back and test the replacement in the store? It sounds like it's defective.

Balanced power ain't gonna fix a broken screen... it's the HF oscillator that generates the the voltage for the back light you are hearing... not a ground buzz.

Thanks - I think you are right, it's not a simple AC buzz but a higher frequency. I actually have a 5KVA balanced power transformer, but i've disconnected it because it caused more problems. A sinewave inverter was better at keeping transformer acoustic hum down.

I wonder why LCD screens need a HF oscillator for the backlight? I though LED's ran on DC? Is it more like a fluorescent they have in there?

I'll try to take it back, but I doubt it's defective. I expect they are all like that (that model - it was relatively cheap). I hope a better brand is built a little better.

Something to watch out for if your buying.

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

Thanks - I think you are right, it's not a simple AC buzz but a higher frequency. I actually have a 5KVA balanced power transformer, but i've disconnected it because it caused more problems. A sinewave inverter was better at keeping transformer acoustic hum down.

I wonder why LCD screens need a HF oscillator for the backlight? I though LED's ran on DC? Is it more like a fluorescent they have in there?

I'll try to take it back, but I doubt it's defective. I expect they are all like that (that model - it was relatively cheap). I hope a better brand is built a little better.

Something to watch out for if your buying.

Hi

It's an LCD and has nothing to do with LED's. It uses an electroluminescent back light to shine through the LCD screens and that runs at a relatively high voltage. They use a small high frequency oscillator to produce that voltage and you are hearing that "singing".

I have a 19" LCD on my desk and a 17" LCD in my lab and neither make an audible noise of any significance.

Yours must be defective. Don't make assumptions that it might not be... ask around.

[js1]

Can't speak for the 22" model, but I have a 19" Viewsonic screen with my DAW, and a 26" Viewsonic LCD television. Bought them because they were cheap. Neither makes that noise - they're both quiet (and the rooms are both quiet, so the noise isn't getting masked).

js