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Since about three weeks ago, my Roland HP-3e digital piano has started producing this horrible white noise static. I hoped it would be the speakers, however when plugging in headphones, I hear the same noise which makes playing really frustrating.. any advice?

Hello,

Are you sure this noise wasn't there before?
When you plug your headphones, you still hear the noise... but where? in your headphones or thru the speakers?
Does the noise increase/decrease with the volume level?
Can you rate the intensity of this noise on a scale from 1 to 10?

Is it possible you were plugged in somewhere else before this sound started being produced, or have you plugged in something on the same circuit recently that may cause interference, such as a fluorescent light?

Try plugging into an outlet that you know is on a different circuit for troubleshooting - it doesn't have to be a permanent place for it, but that will help narrow down whether it's a problem with the DP or the circuit itself.

The noise was never there before, I've had the piano 2-3 years.

When I plug in the headphones, the sound then plays through the headphones and stops coming out the speakers.

The noise does not increase/decrease with volume level.

The intensity of this noise I would say was about a 7, however it seems to have a mind of its own and can fade to about a 3 temporarily - still somewhat distracting when playing, hard to concentrate properly.

I haven't changed anything to do with the inputs or outputs, the sound just suddenly started one day and I can't recall the source or the reasoning behind it - at the time I was convinced it was a problem with the headphones wire, however the static plays from the speakers when no headphones are connected, I have also used another pair of headphones to test it and the problem is consistent.

That's not normal, contact your dealer.
Good luck
SK

It would be useful if you posted a link to a recording of the noise.

Ian

Are you trained in electronics? Probably a capacitor or dry joint or ...

+1.

If it doesn't change when you move the "Volume" control, it's probably somewhere in the power supply or power amplifier circuitry.

If you don't know what you're doing, get a service person to look at it. That probably means opening the case . . .

. Charles

Thank you all for the advice, I'm going to message Roland and see what they say

Just curious, is that noise really white, or more like a low pitch 50/60Hz noise?
The latter case indicates a ground-loop issue, which is something not from the piano.

In my case it unfortunately presents when I use a low impedance earphone; by switching to a high impedance headphone it is virtually gone, thought it should still exists.

Charles Cohen and stamkorg, what does it mean if the static increases/decreases with the volume control? I am currently trying to fix my digital suzuki piano, but cant seem to figure it out.