How much speaker hum is normal...if any?

[jomari]

Originally Posted by sheedoe

I live in an apartment too and I was getting similar (very low) humming noise. Its now fixed!

excellent choice.

to the op you basically MAY have a ground issue.

1. determine which component is grounded.
(check multiple sources, unplug dvd player, rinse. repeat)
2. isolate the source with either a good isolator for video, and/or av filter
3. check power source. may be a chance you're getting dirty dirty power.

or maybe not.

best of luck.

[DeadDog]

Originally Posted by sheedoe

Just curious, how exactly did you fix your Cable TV grounding problem? Also besides unplugging everything from the outlet, did you also specifically remove the coaxial cable from the back of your cable box (very important)?
I live in an apartment too and I was getting similar (very low) humming noise. Its now fixed!

Yep, exact same thing I did to fix the ground problem. I first noticed it when there were faint vertical lines scrolling on the tv once I got the PS3. After figuring out it was the tv cable, I researched and found the same thing you used and it got rid of the issue.

When trying to see if something else was causing a ground issue I unplugged everything (all electronics, coaxial tv cable, anything I could think of). I then only had the receiver on and tried 2 different outlets, but it didn't make a difference.

I currently have a surge protector for everything, but no power conditioner.

[mdabb]

Try keeping all your power cords away from all the other cables as best as possible. If the hum/buzz is still audible and you use IC's I would look into some new ones. Check out the "LC-1 Low Capacitance Audio Cable" from Blue Jeans Cable because they have great shielding and will help protect from picking up noise.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/index.htm

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/6channel/index.htm

A dedicated circuit for your gear is best and definitely pick up a Power Center (Conditioner & surge protector). It may help but most of all protect your investment and monitor your line voltage.

[sheedoe]

Originally Posted by DeadDog

Yep, exact same thing I did to fix the ground problem. I first noticed it when there were faint vertical lines scrolling on the tv once I got the PS3. After figuring out it was the tv cable, I researched and found the same thing you used and it got rid of the issue.

When trying to see if something else was causing a ground issue I unplugged everything (all electronics, coaxial tv cable, anything I could think of). I then only had the receiver on and tried 2 different outlets, but it didn't make a difference.

I currently have a surge protector for everything, but no power conditioner.

Yea a power conditioner might help. Before I bought the ground loop isolator, I was able to eliminate the humming noise by plugging in my Amp through the power conditioner. Later I was informed that a running a power hungry amp through a conditioner is not recommended. So I ordered the isolator and now I'm able to plug my amp directly to the wall outlet.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by sheedoe

Yea a power conditioner might help. Before I bought the ground loop isolator, I was able to eliminate the humming noise by plugging in my Amp through the power conditioner. Later I was informed that a running a power hungry amp through a conditioner is not recommened. So I ordered the isolator and now I'm able to plug my amp directly to the wall outlet.

Not running a power amp through a power conditioner in part is related to the design of the power conditioner. My expensive and upgraded Exact Power EP15A (including 4 pair of expensive Oyaide R1 outlets) stores power and maintains and provides the proper voltage for amps and other equipment.

http://www.exactpoweraudio.com/produ...15a/index.html

Mine is all black but here are some photos:





Rich

[sheedoe]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

Not running a power amp through a power conditioner in part is related to the design of the power conditioner. My expensive and upgraded Exact Power EP15A (including 4 pair of expensive Oyaide R1 outlets) stores power and maintains and provides the proper voltage for amps and other equipment.

Rich

Yes, my (not so expensive ) power conditioner also has a dedicated power amp outlet which provides 15A of continious power and 50A peak. Still I decided to plug it seperate since my amp has its own conditioner built-in. BTW, your conditioner states total wattage output of 1196 watts. Do you find that sufficient for running all your components, including power amp? In the manual of my emo amp, it says the power requirement for the amp alone is 2200 watts .

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by sheedoe

Yes, my (not so expensive ) power conditioner also has a dedicated power amp outlet which provides 15A of continious power and 50A peak. Still I decided to plug it seperate since my amp has its own conditioner built-in. BTW, your conditioner states total wattage output of 1196 watts. Do you find that sufficient for running all your components, including power amp? In the manual of my emo amp, it says the power requirement for the amp alone is 2200 watts .

Actually, I also have another expensive Power Conditioner as well, the Isotek Sigmas also in black:

http://www.isoteksystems.com/sigmas.asp



At this point, I run 2 (2 more are in storage for my 7.1 system once I move) of my upgraded Aragon Palladium 1 K monoblocks (400 watts each @ 8 ohms), 1 Krell KAV-250a/3 3 channel amp (250 watts per channel @ 8 ohms), my upgraded Onkyo 885 Pre/Pro, my upgraded Denon DVD 5910 player, upgraded Lavry DA 10 DAC, upgraded Denon DVD 3800 BDCI Blu-ray player, and my Teres Audio 450 Turntable, and Soundsmith Strain Gauge 410 Phono Preamp through the Exact Power. I have yet to have a problem, but I am in a small room at present. Also, only one source piece is used at a time while anywhere from 2 to 3 power amps and the Pre/Pro are used.

The 50" Pioneer Kuro PRO-111FD, the DirecTV, and modified Sansui TU9900 tuner are plugged into the Isotek. There are still open outlets on the Isotek that may be used for amps or other equipment. The big Epik Conquest sub is plugged directly into the wall through a power strip.

Dave Schulte of the Upgrade Company will be building a "box" for me that the 2 Power conditioners will plug into. The "box" that he will be preparing will actually have as I understand it more of an affect on lowering the noise coming through the electrical lines than the Power conditioners themselves. There will be a total of 8 outlets on this box that will offer a lot of flexibility as to plugging in amps as well as the turntable set-up, etc.

Rich

[sheedoe]

Some killer system you got there Rich! Would love to see some pics of your setup in your gallery one day .

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by sheedoe

Some killer system you got there Rich! Would love to see some pics of your setup in your gallery one day .

I will hopefully post photos of the system later in the year after I move. I am in an extremely small cramped listening room/home theater. Certainly things are too small and are not optimized. There are some very large tower speakers that will be made for the system as well as other speakers for the home theater when I move. I just don't want people to "complain" about things as they did with Gremal's system. Once the Teres 450 turntable and Beta Test Teres Reference Tonearm arrives, though as I have promised, that along with the Soundsmith Strain Gauge 410 Phono Preamp and the Strain Gauge Cartridge in the rack will be posted. But, unfortunately, we have been having some brass plating issues for the Turntable for the past month that I hope will be resolved shortly.

Rich

[jomari]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

I will hopefully post photos of the system later in the year after I move. I am in an extremely small cramped listening room/home theater... blah blah blah blah...

Rich

excuses excuses. (j/k!)

pictures!

your avatar tells us a lot about your other hobby, and hope to see your setup soon.

NB.
on a serious note, if your power conditioners are THAT good, i wonder what your other components look like. hopefully you can give us a hint.

[FreddieFerric]

what I think you are describing might be addressed here: http://www.psaudio.com/ps/knowledge/...nsformers-hum/

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by jomari

excuses excuses. (j/k!)

pictures!

your avatar tells us a lot about your other hobby, and hope to see your setup soon.

NB.
on a serious note, if your power conditioners are THAT good, i wonder what your other components look like. hopefully you can give us a hint.

Actually, I am a Fine Art Photographer specializing in Nature, Landscape, and Wildlife; I have grad degrees in Geology and Zoology/Ecology. That is why I photograph what I photograph. Previously I worked as a Geologist and an Ecologist in the Environmental field for 8 years.

As to pictures, here are some pictures of what I have now:

4 upgraded (modified) Aragon Palladium IK monoblock amps which are mirrored pairs, but only 2 are in service at present:



1 upgraded (modified) Krell KAV-250a/3 3 channel power amp:



1 upgraded (modified) Denon DVD 5910 DVD player:



1 upgraded (modified) Denon DVD 3800 BDCI Blu-ray player:



1 upgraded (modified) Lavry DA10 DAC:



1 upgraded (modified) Onkyo PR-SC885 Pre/Pro:



1 modified Sansui TU9900 Tuner:



1 Soundsmith Strain Gauge 410 Phono Preamp:



1 Soundsmith Strain Gauge Phono Cartridge:



1 upgraded and rebuilt mirror imaged pair of Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers as front L & R:



1 pair of Dahlquist DQ-6CI bookshelf speakers as rear channels:



1 Nola LCR Reference Speaker used as Center Channel:



1 Epik Conquest Subwoofer:



I have been waiting for 9 long months for this Teres Audio Certus 450 turntable (the black plating will be silver in color) and the first Beta Test Teres Audio Reference Tonearm:





Rich

[jomari]

wow! what caught my eye tho, was mostly the lavry DAC, man thats a classic! definitely a must in any good ht setup is an equivocal DAC. aside from the amps, this definitely can make or break a system aside. of course, more imporatantly featuring your oldschool dalquist, this shows a LOT about your passion regarding home theater.