I recently acquired a pl-ir from reverb. It has consistent hissing noise on the headphone output and I noticed today while using it today that when using the headphone out and ir loader the DI amp output signal is audible along with the IR signal. when this occurs the background hiss in the headphone output has a slightly out of phase sound as well.
To confirm what I was hearing I recorded a short track first using the XLR IR output into my focusrite interface and garage band. I then removed the xls cable and connected a guitar cable from the headphone output to the interface and recorded a second track. the difference between the headphone output and IR output is quite dramatic with the DI sound very clearly heard on top of the signal with the IR.
I’ve had this same issue with two separate PL-IRs. The first one I bought had a consistent, audible hiss when plugged into the headphone jack that never changed in volume regardless of IR level. Basically, it sounded like I was wearing closed-back headphones and had left a sink running somewhere. I contacted Fryette support, and they responded quickly saying it sounded like a bad headphone jack and to send it in for repair. I opted to send it back to Zzounds for an exchange though since it fell within their return window. It took three months, but I just got the second one a few days ago and it has the exact same issue. Consistent, intrusive hiss. It is not horrible, but I play at low to moderate volume through headphones a lot, and the hiss is distracting to me. I’ve also seen another post on the same issue in the past, so at this point I think it must be a byproduct of the design. Others may not mind it, but I’ve decided to send it back again for a refund this time. I was really hoping to use it for the headphone effects loop (my Master Lead 50 doesn’t have one) and the Fryette cabinet IRs, but yeah, I can’t tune out the hiss.
Wanted to share so you’d know you’re not the only one with this issue.
Great demo! This really helps; the XLR sounds really amazing. I hear what you mean about the headphone output. I guess you get the same “trebly” tone when listening to the headphones, too?
@RoHaiJr thanks for sharing your experience. I make sure the shop is aware of this history. Sorry that was your experience.
While we get very little feedback about this, it does pop up from time to time.
We did a mod for one of our customers to address this. Basically, the mod involves jacking up the IR out level . This forces you to turn down the front panel IR output level which drives the HP out. That eliminated the fixed bleed you are hearing.
It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these, but I can check into it and see what was done.
Let me know if you’d like to know more about it.
Hey Dan, Thanks.
Yes that’s correct. When using headphones the same unprocessed treble signal is very audible and quite fatiguing on the ear as well.
@DavidPhelge Is this normal behavior for the headphone out on the PL-IR? There’s noticeable background hiss as well but that I can live with but the bleed over from unprocessed amplifier output is pretty rough on the ears.
I may be interested in the fix or mod to correct it if that’s possible.