SDS-200 Speaker Noise Again like the 536HP

[N5XTC]

by the way, the hum does not dec when u dec the volume. had i not been looking for it, putting my head near the scanner, i would not have heard it. dont hear anything on my 996p2

 

[tkowalik]

by the way, the hum does not dec when u dec the volume. had i not been looking for it, putting my head near the scanner, i would not have heard it. dont hear anything on my 996p2

That's the first thing I checked. The 'hum' doesn't get louder or quieter with the volume change. It tells me this is something mechanical like something isn't properly grounded. I can't hook up any external speaker or headphones because it is too loud.

I also hear the popping as others have described.

If the problem isn't acknowledged soon, I'll be returning and trading it for another 100.

 

[N5XTC]

That's the first thing I checked. The 'hum' doesn't get louder or quieter with the volume change. It tells me this is something mechanical like something isn't properly grounded or something. I can't hook up any external speaker or headphones because it is too loud.

I also hear the popping as others have described.

If the problem isn't acknowledged soon, I'll be returning and trading it for another 100.

i dont hear a "popping." just that slight hum with my head near the scanner. not audible when i am sitting a few feet back at my desk chair or in my recliner. fortunately. on the GOOD side, she copies the other side of the chesepeake by as well as my 436 and both better than my 996p2. so i am happy that way. she does need run around 3/4 volume. going to run her a few days (not while sleeping or when not here, just when home) and see how she does. 10 days goes fast. and i hope they mean ship back in 10, not receive. lol

 

[cpetraglia]

My feeling is that all the new SDS200's have the slight hiss/hum. It is a product of the power supply and the processor noise getting into the audio circuit. Unless you buy a high end Denon amp or the equivalent, just about anything with an amplifier will have some sort of back round noise. Some folks here want to put the scanner up to their ear and see if they hear anything. Well, so what if they do? You can't hear a thing if you use it like a normal person would. I see nothing wrong with the receiver. It works as advertised, which IMHO is quite well. I would say that Uniden finally stepped up to the plate and produced a decent radio that handles simulcast very well. Thank you.

 

[N5XTC]

My feeling is that all the new SDS200's have the slight hiss/hum. It is a product of the power supply and the processor noise getting into the audio circuit. Unless you buy a high end Denon amp or the equivalent, just about anything with an amplifier will have some sort of back round noise. Some folks here want to put the scanner up to their ear and see if they hear anything. Well, so what if they do? You can't hear a thing if you use it like a normal person would. I see nothing wrong with the receiver. It works as advertised, which IMHO is quite well. I would say that Uniden finally stepped up to the plate and produced a decent radio that handles simulcast very well. Thank you.

true, on mine your ear need be near the scanner to hear it. but, on my 996p2 and other numerous scannners you hear NOTHING. its not a deal breaker for me since i cant hear it otherwise, so far. if it gets that way, back she goes.

 

[maus92]

Just got mine in the mail and the humming is definitely there on mine. I can hear it on the internal speaker, headphones, and external speaker.

Would not be able to use headphones because it is too loud.

I sure hope there's a fix for this soon.

Hearing the hum via the headphone jack is unusual - most people only hear it from the internal speaker or from an external speaker connected to the external speaker jack.

 

[mule1075]

My feeling is that all the new SDS200's have the slight hiss/hum. It is a product of the power supply and the processor noise getting into the audio circuit. Unless you buy a high end Denon amp or the equivalent, just about anything with an amplifier will have some sort of back round noise. Some folks here want to put the scanner up to their ear and see if they hear anything. Well, so what if they do? You can't hear a thing if you use it like a normal person would. I see nothing wrong with the receiver. It works as advertised, which IMHO is quite well. I would say that Uniden finally stepped up to the plate and produced a decent radio that handles simulcast very well. Thank you.

More than likely they do have a bit of hum as has been posted. But what the OP posted is not the run of the mill hum it is unacceptable and it should be replaced by who he ordered it from or Uniden.

 

[tkowalik]

Hearing the hum via the headphone jack is unusual - most people only hear it from the internal speaker or from an external speaker connected to the external speaker jack.

You know what? I stand corrected. I had plugged in headphones to the rear jack and could hear it. That was unbearable. I now see the actual headphone jack in the front and plugged it in. Absolutely no hum on the headphone.

 

[N5XTC]

good news for me, i dont hear the hum with headphones, not at all. NOT ON THE FRONT headphone jack. IF i use the rear EXT speaker jack for the headphones, definite hum and too loud to use headphones.

is there a diff between these two jacks besides one is front and one is rear?

 

[Kevinbb]

Just unboxed mine and set it up. (#1234) Running about an hour with no hum at all with and without headphones. Clear and crisp with zero problems

 

[N5XTC]

Just unboxed mine and set it up. (#1234) Running about an hour with no hum at all with and without headphones. Clear and crisp with zero problems

try headphones on your front and rear speaker jacks. mine is non-existent on front and LOUD hum on rear speaker jack.

 

[mule1075]

try headphones on your front and rear speaker jacks. mine is non-existent on front and LOUD hum on rear speaker jack.

Don't use the external speaker jack for headphones it is meant to drive a speaker. Hence the earphone jack on the front of the unit. Besides that you could very well damage your hearing.

 

[maus92]

Got my SDS 200 yesterday from HRO. I have the hum on both the internal speaker and external speaker hooked up via the external speaker jack. Interesting, I don’t have the hum with headphones or an external speaker to the headphone jack. I would be interested to see if other owners with the hum could replicate my finding.

Your experience is typical with those who have reported the hum issue.

 

[N5XTC]

Your experience is typical with those who have reported the hum issue.

mine is same, HUM with ext speaker jack on back of radio. BUT, if i turn the scanner vol way UP and the ext speaker down low enough, i dont hear the hum. no hum using front headphone jack, either with headphones or external speaker. so, if i need run exteral speaker, i would use front headphones jack. is this a problem?

 

[tkowalik]

good news for me, i dont hear the hum with headphones, not at all. NOT ON THE FRONT headphone jack. IF i use the rear EXT speaker jack for the headphones, definite hum and too loud to use headphones.

is there a diff between these two jacks besides one is front and one is rear?

try headphones on your front and rear speaker jacks. mine is non-existent on front and LOUD hum on rear speaker jack.

Ditto here. I'm an idiot and didn't see the front jack initially.

I can hookup my Jambox to the front headphone jack and problem solved. Not a deal breaker anymore for me. It'd be nice to fix but I wont lose sleep over it.

 

[N5XTC]

Ditto here. I'm an idiot and didn't see the front jack initially.

I can hookup my Jambox to the front headphone jack and problem solved. Not a deal breaker anymore for me. It'd be nice to fix but I wont lose sleep over it.

yes, i would use front headphone jack if need run an external speaker. it does sound better with a powered external speaker, of course. one a PLUS, this scanner receives as well. i am hearing the systems on both sides of the bay. my 996p2, does not do as well. i am happy in that sense. sorry to bog the forum down the last 30 mins., just got her and want to share my thoughts.

 

[maus92]

good news for me, i dont hear the hum with headphones, not at all. NOT ON THE FRONT headphone jack. IF i use the rear EXT speaker jack for the headphones, definite hum and too loud to use headphones.

is there a diff between these two jacks besides one is front and one is rear?

The rear ext jack and the internal speaker are likely driven with an audio power amp circuit.

 

[ColdnFrosty]

Other new sds200 owners wanna chime in on how their sds200 sounds? And maybe pinpoint why the OP may be having issues

Same sound coming out of my internal and external 8ohm speaker.

 

[ColdnFrosty]

This is what I was thinking. I'm a musician as a side job. I recently had to purchase an external filter for my amp because at some gigs I would get a horrible hum on my amp when I plugged it in, but it was perfectly fine elsewhere.

I have no idea if that is what is going on here, but It should be relatively easy to test. I will check for other possible solutions, but since this does not seem to be something reported by most users, I would suspect it would be something at your house or with your unit.

I have the same problem and it is generated internally in the radio. I also filed a ticket with Uniden and provided an audio file.

 

[ColdnFrosty]

Also, I was wondering if the people that actually have no issues if its the run on the serial number. Maybe a bad batch was created

Serial # 88-001778

1757 here with the problem.