Speaker Hum
I have the RT3000 series speaker system and can't get rid of the hum. Please help.
Post edited by dlbuck on
Comments
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Sounds like a possible ground loop problem. Try running all your gear off a dedicated circuit and see if it goes away.
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Also you might try making sure you have a good ground. If you have a cable box remove that from the system and if the hum goes away you have found the bad guy. Cable boxes have a reputation for producing the hum due to the aforementioned ground loop.
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Thank you.
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I had a similar problem once, my speakers were constantly humming. But I taught my speakers how to sing and now they don't hum anymore.Rocky Bennett
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Definietely sounds like you have a ground loop problem. I had one, and through many, many trials and errors I found the problem. But I'll get to that in a bit. In order to isolate the problem you should unhook all of your components from your receiver/pre amp. And start hooking components up one at a time. Listening for the hum to come back. Once you find the component, you can try and change out the cables that hook it to the receiver/pre amp. If that doesn't do it. You can try and ground all of your components to a common ground. I did this by running a copper cable to my common ground post on my monster power center. If you don't have a conditioner, then just run them to a distribution block. You can find a real inexpensive block in the electrical section in any hardware store. For the components that didn't have a ground screw to hook to. Such as those components that didn't have a 3rd prong on the power cable, (common). I took the component apart. Such as my Marantz MA-500 monoblock, and soldered the copper cable to the chasis and ran it to the conditioner. After all this, the ground loop was noticeably lower, but not completely gone. It was still faint. I must note that I didn't have this hum, until I went to separate power amps. I did however after all this find out that the problem was coming when my Parasound HCA-1500's turned on, (one for the fronts and one for the surrounds). The problem was only to the front speakers, not the surround. Apparently there was a problem with my Parasound Front amp and my Marantz center amp. (a possible difference in ground potential). So after all this I surrendered to the hum and bought a Jensen Stereo Audio Isolator, Model CI-2RR, hooked it between my pre/amp and front amp and NO HUM. AS a matter of fact I can turn the volume all the way up without a signal present and have total absence of noise. If you can achieve this, it really makes for a better home theatre experience. It is amazing how much sound is lost when you have a problem with noise. Anyway if you are interested in the transformer, they are available at http://www.jensen-transformers.com but they are pricey, to pricey they want something like 170.00, luckily I found one on ebay for 45.00. You may also try radio shack, I hear they have some ground loop isolators, (barrel types) for less than 10.00. It may just work. And if you must know, it took me a little over a month of weekend troubleshooting to find the problem. But now it is gone:)
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Does the hum happen all the time ? not just when you actually have something playing through them ?Originally posted by dlbuck
I can't get rid of the hum. -
It's all the time. I will try everything you guy's suggested again. I bought a ground loop isolator from Radio Shack but have not tried it yet. I appreciate all the replies. Do you guys use the LEF or do you jump your speakers? I've tried LEF with no luck.
Thanks for all the replies. Dave -
In regards to it being all the time ... since that's the case, a ground loop problem is the correct thing to be investigating.
In regards to LFE and not having any luck ... can you be a little more specific ? Do you mean relative to your ground loop problem ? or something else ? -
I mean the power from the sub's were bad compared to jumping them. 5 times louder than with the LEF. I have not tried it in a while. What do you think about shielded wire?
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Try using a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter. This will let you know if it is a groung loop hum. If the hum goes away, you will know it is not the amp. If you still have the hum, it is probably the subwoofer amp. I believe the 3000p has been known for humming amps. If the hum goes away, you need to isolate the problem. Using the adapter disables the ground protection and could cause a safety problem since your speakers and amp will not be grounded. The best way to solve your problem is to sell me your speakers!!! Good Luck, Jeff
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HMMMM, I am not sure, but it looks as if though your receivers subwoofer output may be turned down. Many receivers have a volume control for the subwoofer. It may be low. Check your manual. You may also check to see if your speaker setting is on Large or Small. Nominally, when your speaker settings are set to Large, the receiver will attenutate some of the lower frequencies that would normally go to your sub. Experiment with some of these settings and see what you come up with....and lastly. Depending on the source, CD, DVD, TV, there may not be that much information going to the SUB. To check this, put in a movie that has some very low frequency's such as the depth charges in the movie U-571, if your sub isn't pushing massive air with this movie, you definitely need to check your receiver...
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Thank's I did that 5 years ago. Seemed to help. I love the speakers though. I had a local place bring in all new top of the line Klipse speakers to replace these a few years back. I had the sales guy here to listen to his speakers during a movie and my speakers with the same movie. He packed up all his equipment and left. It was great.
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In regards to Jeff's conclusion, you can use a "cheater" plug to isolate the problem, however, do not keep it plugged in, even if the symptom goes away. Only use it to troubleshoot. You really don't want to have your system un-grounded. And, I will give you one more dollar than Jeff if you decide to sell them:p
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....have tested your outlets for any faults. Simple $4.95 line tester from Lowes'/Home Depot to make sure the ground is even good at the power point. And to make the "phase" is right on the outlet. Simple thing but have seen it to be the cause oh so many times. Ok I up the bid on the speakers a dime!!!
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Do you mean the bass on my subwoofer, or the bass on the subwoofer tower. Each front speaker has a 300 watt sub, including the center channel. I only have hum in the front speakers. Not my velodyn sub. My reciever is an Onkyo TX DS777 and I have the Sub set at -30db.
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Little confused on your problem with bass output. I was referring to the sub, not the towers. If you have low output from the towers, I would try to set the receivers speaker settings to Large. I am unfamiliar with your receivers features, but does it have a separate bass and treble? or loudness? It may also be a menu item that you can only adjust if you have your monitor out set up to the TV. I used to have an old Kenwood Amp that I could only set up via an on screen menu. Talk about aggrevation. It was like buying a boat. I couldn't wait to unload it. Or you may have the dynamic compression turned on. Or a "night mode". There are truly an infinite amount of possibilities here. You shouldn't be having any problems with Low Freq. output with your set up. As a matter of fact you should be having a problem with to much bass, (if there is such a thing), have you tried Bass Traps? There are a lot of Acoustic Treatment company's out there. I will have to do some research, but one company sells bass traps for less than 50.00. Do a search on google for Acoustic Treatments....that could help anybody with sound problems....
scott, (got to log out now. but I'll be back tomorrow)
Acoustic Treatment Website
http://www.auralex.com/ -
Hook the cheater plugs to both the power cables on your RT3000p subs. If the hum doesn't go away, there is likely a problem with built in amplifiers in your 3000p's. If the hum does go away, then you have a ground loop issue. Make sure all your equipment is run through the same circuit or else run grounding wires frm all your quipment to a grounding block. Don't get frustrated, these hum issues can be a pain but you will figure it out! Keep us posted
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What do you mean by one circuit? One outlet? I have everything going through a protector. Also I have the cheaters on all the speakers with subs. I'm a sound freak, I'm so pissed off I've had the sub's unplugged for 6 months.
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the help. What do you guys think of DTV? -
What is meant by one circut is not one outlet. What he is reffering to is the fact that a dedicated circut (one fuse/circuit breaker) from your power box on the house should be the only thing your equipment is running thru. As anything elase will induce noise. God forbid you have floresecent light/microwave on the same circut.
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One circuit. Is all your equipment running through your surge protector? Every piece, cables, DSS, receiver, amps, subwoofers, cd payer, dvd player. If not, are they hooked up to the same circuit? If you flip the circuit breaker, will EVERY piece of your system turn off? If you have tried cheater plugs, I think you have a problem with the amps. Call Ken at Polk tomorrow. If anyone can solve your problem, he can. Where are you located?
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I'm in Norton Shores, MI
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I tell you, I am feeling your pain. And if you look at my lengthy post and follow step by step, I think you will find the problem. If it is the subs on your towers as the other gentlemen said. I would try running a copper cable from the chasis to the protectors ground common if it has one. If not run it to a common block. Again, you can get one from the hardware store. Trust me, it took me many, many man hours to isolate my problem. I was even contemplating going outside and driving a 12 foot copper ground rod in a well salted, well waterd dirt. I doubt my home is grounded as well as it could/should be. Normally they will take a cold water pipe or something like that as the ground. Anyway I may still do the ground rod because I had to use the Jensen Isolator to get the hum out. But be persistent. And remember it literally could be any component that is hooked up to your power. Including something that is not even in your stereo, such as a light fixture as the other post said. This totally sucks, and I was sweating it out. When you find out what the problem is, please post back to tell us what the problem was. I bet it is going to be the simplest, most mundane thing....
Scott -
Thank's Scott.
