Carver TFM-35 humming

newbie308
newbie308 Posts: 767
edited April 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
I noticd recently that my two channel system has started humming, and I have diagnosed the source of the noise as the Carver TFM-35 Amplifier. The intensity of the noise is proportional to the gain. I first noticed it a few months ago, but the noise was faint, and didn't affect the listening experience at lower volume levels. Now I can hear the hum at 25% of full gain, and it is time to remedy the situation. I was wondering if some new capacitors in the power supply would cure this? What do you suggest?
Sources: Technics SL1200MKII | SME3009 Tonearm | Monster Alpha 1 MC cartridge | Oppo UDP203 disk player | Nikko NT-790 analog tuner | Musical Fidelity Trivista 21 DAC | Preamp: Threshold SL-10 | Amplifier: Threshold Stasis 2 | Speakers: Snell Acoustics C/V | Kimber 12-TC bi wire speakers | Analysis plus Oval 1 preamp to amp | Wireworld Eclipse 7 DAC to Preamp | Wireworld eclipse digital IC Oppo to DAC | Audioquest Quartz tuner to preamp |
Post edited by newbie308 on
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    Very possible the caps are bad in power supply, I would start there myself. Good Luck.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited April 2012
    Mess with the RCA inputs on the TFM-35 while it is powered up. Just a counterclockwise twist here, clockwise twist there, see what happens.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    ^^ Good point also.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • newbie308
    newbie308 Posts: 767
    edited April 2012
    I like the easy solutions. I will definitely give the rca connectors a twist! thanks!
    Sources: Technics SL1200MKII | SME3009 Tonearm | Monster Alpha 1 MC cartridge | Oppo UDP203 disk player | Nikko NT-790 analog tuner | Musical Fidelity Trivista 21 DAC | Preamp: Threshold SL-10 | Amplifier: Threshold Stasis 2 | Speakers: Snell Acoustics C/V | Kimber 12-TC bi wire speakers | Analysis plus Oval 1 preamp to amp | Wireworld Eclipse 7 DAC to Preamp | Wireworld eclipse digital IC Oppo to DAC | Audioquest Quartz tuner to preamp |
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,184
    edited April 2012
    It could also be the preamp. Hook a CD player directly to the back of the amp (make sure the gain knob is all the way down) and see if the hum is present as you slowly increase the volume with the gain knob.
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited April 2012
    Good point about the RCA connections. Just tonight I was listening to a CD and noticed that the output was less on the right. After checking that Source Direct was selected, eliminating the balance and tone controls, I de-mated and mated the CD connections. That was it, all balanced again.
    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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