Archon Effects Loop Noise Issue - Let's get this fixed
Alright, we all know the Archon is an awesome amp. Sounds killer, yeah we know. Yeah we have some issues, we are told that are normal...Wait...
A nearly 2000 Euro /1800 Dollar amp should have NO ISSUES whatsoever. Especially this being a PRS amp, a company known for it's flawless guitars and endless perfection..
We have dealt with a constant hum issue, a user here recommended to switch tubes. Well it did the trick.
Alright, then there is the effects loop issue still unanswered. I have owned several Archons (had two send back to the dealer because I thought the hum issue was a bad amp, well it is "normal" according to PRS) and all had this issue. Noise level is okay with nothing in the loop or loop not activated. But with the loop engaged there is this loud hiss noise, that really kills this amp. I used my effect rig with a Mesa Dual Rectifier and a Bogner, nothing...No problems. Using it with the Archon, hisses big time.
Alright, tried everything. Even when I crank my ISP Decimator Pro Rack G to the max, the hiss is gone, but then a hum appears which is only present with the effect loop engaged (so not the constant background hum). I really can't use my Archon with effects, that is a bummer for such a pricey amp.
But what annoys me more is that I have sent several mails to PRS and PRS Europe with no clear answer or solution.
The best one I got was this one:
"In my experience all the PRS FX loops have been a little noisy in the way you describe; I would guess that they design the amp in such a way that the FX loop doesn’t have a detrimental affect on the basic tone of the amp and the trade off is that it ends up noisy. With PRS (amps and guitars) the tone is the number one priority so if anything appears wrong or unusual the chances are that it has been done in pursuit of tone."
WHAAAAAT? The tone is number one priority??? You make an amp noisy because it has been done in pursuit of tone?? What the hell?
Well, this is not over...Alright, we can do this together? Any mods? Any help?
For me it seems like the amp will be heading back to the dealer if this can't be fixed. And sure I will contact PRS about it again and again. Maybe they have done something with the 50w head.