Cable Question
Refefer
Posts: 1,280
I just upgraded an interconnect from RatShack to IXOS's and I noticed an interesting phenomena: Whenever I turn on the amplifier and the pre-amp is off, my speakers make a humming noise, similar to very high background noise, or almost the same as what it sounds like running cables next to power lines.
Further experimentation showed that the cables didn't even need to be plugged into the pre-amp:- so long as they were attached to the amplifier, the humming was there and very loud.
And yet, the second I turn on the preamp, the sound completely disappears.
What the heck is going on and what could be the problem?
Further experimentation showed that the cables didn't even need to be plugged into the pre-amp:- so long as they were attached to the amplifier, the humming was there and very loud.
And yet, the second I turn on the preamp, the sound completely disappears.
What the heck is going on and what could be the problem?
Lovin that music year after year.
Main 2 Channel System
Polk SDA-1B,
Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
Rotel RB-980BX,
OPPO DV-970HD,
Lite Audio DAC AH,
IXOS XHA305 Interconnects
Computer Rig
Polk SDA CRS+,
Creek Audio 5350 SE,
Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
HRT Music Streamer II
Main 2 Channel System
Polk SDA-1B,
Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
Rotel RB-980BX,
OPPO DV-970HD,
Lite Audio DAC AH,
IXOS XHA305 Interconnects
Computer Rig
Polk SDA CRS+,
Creek Audio 5350 SE,
Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
HRT Music Streamer II
Post edited by Refefer on
Comments
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could be a ground loop
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not that is matters much..but what is the model number of the IXOS cables you bought? That is very odd indeed.. why the hum would stop is beyond me.. unless once the pre amp is turned on.. it becomes grounded and the ground loop hum is gone.
It would bug me though.. to know that there is a hum there some times..
though, maybe it was always there.. just that the Radio Shack interconnects didn't make it surface quite as loud or as well and the IXOS ones. sounds like a possible sceniaro to me.PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
goingganzo wrote:could be a ground loop
Is there anyway to test for it? I've love what it's done for improving the sound, but I can't feel that the noise is a good thing.
As for the model number, I grabbed a pair of XHA305-100 cables. They're a twisted pair with a mesh over the top of it. I'm really liking what I hear so far quite a bit, it certainly has improved almost every aspect of my quite noticeably... but the hum is really starting to eat at me.
I really think it's the cables: there was absolutely no hum, and now I have quite a loud one. If it's just a grounding issue with the cable, clearly that's not the way it should be and I can return it for another.Lovin that music year after year.
Main 2 Channel System
Polk SDA-1B,
Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
Rotel RB-980BX,
OPPO DV-970HD,
Lite Audio DAC AH,
IXOS XHA305 Interconnects
Computer Rig
Polk SDA CRS+,
Creek Audio 5350 SE,
Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
HRT Music Streamer II -
well, plug the amp into a cheater plug then plug that into the wall and see if it goes away. You say it goes away when you turn the pre on, is this with the gain turned all the ways down or muted?
At least you know it is one or the other, if the cable is not grounding you will get a hum as well.
RT1 -
Cheater plug doesn't seem to affect the hum at all. As for the pre, the gain can be at any level, even "off".Lovin that music year after year.
Main 2 Channel System
Polk SDA-1B,
Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
Rotel RB-980BX,
OPPO DV-970HD,
Lite Audio DAC AH,
IXOS XHA305 Interconnects
Computer Rig
Polk SDA CRS+,
Creek Audio 5350 SE,
Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
HRT Music Streamer II
