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27" IMac (Late 2009, EMC 2309) Inducing Degrading Static Into Home/Studio Wiring

491 views · Published 12 January 2018 · 5:30 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: millstap · 2018 · Music

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There are many YouTube videos addressing this problem.  I thought I would add mine for good measure.  This is a follow-up to my recent video on using a good line conditioner like the Furman or Tripp-Lite to filter out RFI/EMI interference.  But what if the interference is something other than RFI/EMI?

After adding my Furman M-8X2 line conditioner, I still had some static so I thought I would try another line conditioner to filter out the residue.  I bought a new Tripp-Lite Isobar8 Ultra to compare the two products.  I did a video on the comparison but I did not succeed in minimizing the static further so I scrapped that video.  

I submitted a product complaint to Tripp-Lite thinking their product filtered absolutely no EMI/RFI.  In the two days waiting for their response, I discovered that it may be an issue with my IMac that is not EMI or RF interference.  

You can hear what I discovered in this video.  The purpose of this video is to make you aware that there are other electrical elements that can degrade your guitar tone and your stereo.  I went through a painstaking, all day troubleshooting process to try to pinpoint the problem.  I went through two calls to Apple Support which were fruitless.  The hardware tests they wanted me to do will not run on my IMac and as of now, I cannot reset my SMC (System Management Controller).

As far as I can tell from reading many forum posts on the same issue, it is hopefully either a bad power supply (PSU) or an LCD inverter inside the computer.  The PSU seems to be fairly easy to replace on my own for $140.  I will attempt to do that first.  Then maybe the LED/LCD inverter.  

I'll keep you posted on what I find because some of you may be having the same issue and it is not an option to have to turn off your computer in the studio when that is what you are recording on.
  
https://www.amazon.com/iMac-Intel-2309-Power-Supply/dp/B01MTVKDZV/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515779339&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=IMac+PSU+EMC+2309

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