NES Toploader audio "buzzing" when turned on

[treismac]

Is it common for the NES Toploader to make a "buzzing"/whirling sound when it is first turned on? I just noticed it with a Top Loader I picked up at the flea market today. Then I tried the Top Loader I've had for a while and I heard it when I turned that one on too, but it wasn't quite as pronounced. The sound rises up, dies down, then it starts again. When you play a game it isn't too noticeable. I tested both Top Loaders and one of my toasters with three different rf adapters, and the issue is definitely with the Top Loaders with one being worse than the other. I shot a short video to show the problem:



Would an AV mod fix this issue?

[Rickstilwell1]

Are you using a stock NES Ac Adapter? The only time I had buzzing on a NES was when I used an underpowered 9V AC Adapter that went to my grandma's old black car shaped VHS rewinder.

Oh wait, that's a different kind of buzz than I experienced in the above situation. Mine was more of a constant loud hum over the normal sound effects in the game.

[Superman]

Are you using a stock NES Ac Adapter? The only time I had buzzing on a NES was when I used an underpowered 9V AC Adapter that went to my grandma's old black car shaped VHS rewinder.

Oh wait, that's a different kind of buzz than I experienced in the above situation. Mine was more of a constant loud hum over the normal sound effects in the game.

That's the first thing I was thinking of when I saw the word buzzing. But like you mentioned the sound is a different sound than the wrong power supply.

I have used a few different top loaders over the years, but I know none of them made that sound. Or at least not at that noticeable of a level. Unfortunately, I don't have a top loader around right now to see if it is at the lower level that was also mentioned.

[ApolloBoy]

Might be the RF modulator is slightly off. I'm positive an AV mod would totally fix that issue.

[APE992]

Might be the RF modulator is slightly off. I'm positive an AV mod would totally fix that issue.

Or maybe a capacitor replacement.

[FABombjoy]

Sounds like the audio subcarrier is out of alignment. I've never opened the modulator on a toploader, so I couldn't tell you if there is an adjustment or not. On most other modulators there is and frequently it's the only adjustment available.

Generally speaking, if you find a variable cap or slugged coil in a modulator, they are safe to adjust. Knifed and glued coils shouldn't be touched without a spectral analyzer and proper instructions.

An AV mod should clear it right up, too.

[Atarileaf]

Just tried my toploader with two known working power supplies and got the same sound as in the video above. Had to turn up the volume pretty loud to hear it but it's there. Would be interested too in a definite answer and solution to this aside from an AV mod. If it's a simple cap replacement I can get that done.

[ApolloBoy]

Or maybe a capacitor replacement.

Pretty sure that won't fix it; I remember my top loader making a similar noise when I was a kid. I've encountered the same thing with a couple of 2600s and adjusting the coil for the audio cleared it up.

[Atarileaf]

I was wondering too if there was an rf adjustment pot on the toploader that could be adjusted. I did a video and got a few responses from people who have the same issue with top loaders so it's more common than I thought.

[treismac]

Pretty sure that won't fix it; I remember my top loader making a similar noise when I was a kid. I've encountered the same thing with a couple of 2600s and adjusting the coil for the audio cleared it up.

How would I go about doing that, ApolloBoy? Is the coil pictured here with the arrow pointing at it?

I was wondering too if there was an rf adjustment pot on the toploader that could be adjusted. I did a video and got a few responses from people who have the same issue with top loaders so it's more common than I thought.

Would you mind sharing a link to the video?

EDIT:
Nevermind. Thanks, Atari Leaf, for making that video. I appreciate it. It'll be nice to help others with this issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQRoV...9x9WR73jTU-h4w

[Atarileaf]

No problem, if you read some of the comments in the video it seems to be a fairly common problem. Perhaps the cheaper parts used in the top loader have made this an inevitability with this model. I get the feeling its more of an annoyance than anything else and not a cause of concern for impending hardware failure.

[treismac]

I originally noticed the inferior audio on the Toploader with my first one, but it was the infamous jailbars that irked me the most and sealed its fate as a collectable over a system I actually use to play video games on. This second one was too cheap to pass up, so I snagged it without any real plans to retire my team of toasters. I will gladly fix it if I am given doable instructions, though.

[FABombjoy]

How would I go about doing that, ApolloBoy? Is the coil pictured here with the arrow pointing at it?

Nope, that's a generic choke used to keep noise out of the power lines.

If there is an adjustment, it would be inside of the silver modulator box.

[ApolloBoy]

IIRC, the adjustment coil is on the underside of the RF modulator which means you'll have to desolder it. I would totally go for an AV mod at this point.

[Atarileaf]

Who does these mods as I'm not nearly qualified myself.

[ApolloBoy]

Who does these mods as I'm not nearly qualified myself.

Yours truly as does Game-Tech.us.