Vox Time Machine "whine"

[cowpunk]

I recently purchased a Vox Time Machine delay through Guitar Center. It's a pretty nice unit, but there seems to be one annoying problem. Despite multiple reviews that remark on how quiet these units tend to be, I can hear a noticeable whine with the effect in the chain (especially when the amp is cranked). I wonder if this is the typical result of powering these kind of effects (digital delays w/ buffered bypass) with One Spot daisy chains. I tried to power it w/ a boss power supply, and that lowered the noise considerably but didn't eliminate the "whine". Usually I would just exchange this unit for another one to see if I get the same result, but guitar Center does not typically carry these in-store-So, I would have to return this unit through the online store and possibly have to pay return shipping - just to possibly find out that there is nothing wrong w/ my original unit. Not ideal.

Is there anybody here who's had experience with the noise level of these delay units? Any input would be helpful. Is it time to break down and save up for an isolated power supply unit?

By the way, the "whine" I'm hearing is similar to clock noise associated w/ analog delays.

Thanks.

[vjf1968]

Guitar Center NOT carrying VOX products? Really?

Anyway, if you noticed a drop off in the "whine" it may be power related. Digital pedals take a lot of power. However, I do power a Boss Giga Delay with a One-Spot and have no problems.

[Rusrant]

I have a Time Machine that I power with a One spot. I also have a tuner, wah, phaser, 3 OD's and another delay powered from the one spot, and no whine on mine. Have you plugged in nothing but the TM, and checked that? If it is not making the sound, slowly add the rest of you pedals one by one until it returns.
That said, I would guess there is something wrong with yours, or the one spot. Hope you figure it out.

[cowpunk]

vjf1968: Guitar Center carries all the Vox/Satch pedals in-store except for the Time Machine. I think you're right about the power source.

Rusrant: Thanks for the suggestion. I tried this and got an unexpected result...
When I plugged my guitar just through the Time Machine and to the amp but left the other effects plugged into the One-Spot, I still got the noise. When I unplugged all the other effects from the One-Spot the noise would cease. I noticed that I could plug in my reverb (after the delay), but if I plugged the previous pedals the noise would return. The common factor between these pedals is a tube preamp I use for OD/Dist. When I unplug the preamp and connect the pedals together the noise goes away. So I found the source of the noise, but why does only the delay pedal cause the noise to be audible?

Edit: Upon closer listening, the high pitched squeal is still faintly present when the amp is cranked. (Though it's probably not loud enough to be heard over the typical noise of a guitar w/ passive pups.)

[vjf1968]

Probably it is amplifying the noise from the tube preamp via the buffer. Some digital effects can be squirrely when connected to other pedals. You might need to look at the tubes in the preamp.

[cowpunk]

Originally Posted by vjf1968

Probably it is amplifying the noise from the tube preamp via the buffer. Some digital effects can be squirrely when connected to other pedals. You might need to look at the tubes in the preamp.

The tube preamp has pretty delicate tube sockets that probably need to be replaced the next time I do a tube swap. In the meantime I will use a Boss PSA on the Time Machine to lower the noise. Thanks all.

[Paul in Colorado]

I have a Korg tuner on my pedalboard that causes noise when it's turned on. You didn't mention a tuner, but I've had trouble with them before.