Buzz/hum from speakers

djmodracek

I recently purchased a power amp to drive my front LSi9's. I have always used receivers and this is my first venture into seperate amps. I am currently using my Denon receiver as a preamp for the fronts. My question is that when the amp is on I can hear a soft but audible hum/buzz from both speakers. I'm just not sure if this is normal. The system is connected correctly, and it sounds great when it is playing. Just curious what you thought. Thanks for your time.

AndyGwis

I've noticed a slight buzz from my system. If you have the Denon and Amp on without a source playing, does the buzz get louder when you move the volume up and down?

Is the buzz pretty un noticeable from a couple feet away?

If it's something to where you have to have your head right up to hear the buzz, probably not a big deal. But, if it's annoying and/or can be heard during music listening, then you may have a ground loop issue.

Someone will surely chime in with a better answer, but a very small amount of buzz/hiss is normal, but shouldn't be noticeable while listening.

McLoki

sounds like it may be a ground loop. You can try and plug your amp in with a cheater plug to test it out. ( a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter)

If that is the issue, can you connect a wire from the case of the amp to the case of the AVR? (just use one of the case screws) that may solve the issue.

(try to just touch each of the cases with a piece of speaker wire first (speaker wire connecting the cases) to test and see if that fixes the issue.)

Michael

djmodracek

Thanks, The hum is really only noticeble if your ear is right up against the speakers. Not too bothersome to me, I just didn't want to be doing any damage to my gear.

AndyGwis

Well, having a totally black background, zero noise floor, etc. would be nice. . . but if it doesn't bother you during listening, there's really no need to worry.

Try McLocki's tricks, though. Maybe they'll get you quieter and only cost a buck or two at most.

McLoki

If it is only noticable with your ear against the speaker - I think it is a normal thing for most power amps. (the noise level will drop as you move up in quality for your pre and power amps).

If you can hear it from your seating position, it is probably a ground loop.

If you can't hear it from your seating position, I would not worry about it.

Sorry for the confusion.

Michael

steveinaz

You probably need a ground loop isolator for your cable connection. Could possibly be poor wire management as well, do you have your IC's-speaker wires-AC all away from each other? Also beware of refriderators or florescent lights that may be on the same circuit....

You can also try reversing ac plugs with a "cheater plug" trying each component until the hum/buzz disappears---but this won't help if you've got a cable-ground issue, which 99% of people who run cable tv that is somehow integrated into their audio has.

You should not be hearing buzzing from a good quality amplifier.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again...ANY audiophile who integrates cable TV feed into their system should buy a Mondial magic ground loop isolator---you'll always need it, why not buy it? Spend the 99 bucks and be done with it.