So I plug my amp into my system...and it hums like mad

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rnp614
rnp614 Posts: 598
edited February 2008 in Electronics
Hello all..its been a while since I've posted but I've finally moved and can start enjoying music again--or so I thought. For a while I'd been living on just an HK AVR for my system but I finally got the chance to plug in my odyssey stratos amp and the second I plug it into the power my entire system/speakers hum like crazy. What can I do? I've had issues due to cable before, but wouldnt the hum have existed with my normal receiver as well if that was the issue?

HELP! I want to reexperience the stratos amazingness!
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2008
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    Does it hum if nothing was connected to it's input? Trying to determine if problem is from a ground loop issue or the power supply in amp.

    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
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,384
    edited February 2008
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    Throw a cheater plug on the amp. That should break the ground loop hum. It's not the cure all but it should work until you can isolate the problem...sometimes you can't. Some guys will tell you that using a cheater plug is dangerous & others will tell you it's not. I've used them in the past without ever having an issue, & they did work.
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  • rnp614
    rnp614 Posts: 598
    edited February 2008
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    Just to clarify, cheater plug is the 3 prong to 2 prong adapter?
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  • rnp614
    rnp614 Posts: 598
    edited February 2008
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    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Does it hum if nothing was connected to it's input? Trying to determine if problem is from a ground loop issue or the power supply in amp.

    Hrm, I'll have to see if this was the case....but I have to say that in previous use of this amp I never had any problems. Not sure why it would freak out on me now.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2008
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    I'm thinking if you had this amp working before and stored it for years the problem is in the amp, but just trying to be sure.

    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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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited February 2008
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    i wonder if some internal part is going bad on the amp...? and you moved to a different plact too, right?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,640
    edited February 2008
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    I foresee a trip back to Klaus in your future.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,384
    edited February 2008
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    rnp614 wrote: »
    Just to clarify, cheater plug is the 3 prong to 2 prong adapter?

    Yep, that's it. Problem solved.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited February 2008
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    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Yep, that's it. Problem solved.

    a cheater plug doesn't solve all amp humming problems.. only a very few of them in reality.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • rnp614
    rnp614 Posts: 598
    edited February 2008
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    dorokusai wrote: »
    I foresee a trip back to Klaus in your future.

    Yikas. I hope not, this thing is a beast to ship.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,384
    edited February 2008
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    danger boy wrote: »
    a cheater plug doesn't solve all amp humming problems.. only a very few of them in reality.

    Quite possible, but until he gives it a shot, he'll never know. I'll bet it works.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 8,108
    edited February 2008
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    danger boy wrote: »
    a cheater plug doesn't solve all amp humming problems.. only a very few of them in reality.

    It definitely helps solve most ground loop problems though. When you start noticing a hum when the amp is not connected to a source/preamp, that's when it tends to be something internal, like a bad cap or bad solder joint.
    See profile for rigs. Nothing else here.
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  • jimi64
    jimi64 Posts: 85
    edited February 2008
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    This worked for me.http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HumX/
    Ebtech Hum X | Sweetwater.com
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited February 2008
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    rnp614 did you try a cheater plug?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2008
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    Try the cheater plug first, most likely it will solve the problem & is the cheapest, quickest fix.

    Now if that doesn't work...good luck!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited February 2008
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    Plug the amp in and turn it on with nothing else connected to it.If you hear a hum,time to give klaus a call.If not,ground loop.....can be a host of things.First things I would look at is cables,some or just one may be bad,then look at your cable box if you have one,notorious for ground loops.Also try a different wall socket as other appliances on that circuit can have a hand into hum issues.


    Cathy.....6000 posts??
    Jesus girl,get a boyfriend will ya.:p:):)
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2008
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    :D Would love to Tony, are you available?:p;):D

    tonyb wrote: »
    Cathy.....6000 posts??
    Jesus girl,get a boyfriend will ya.:p:):)
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited February 2008
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    Happily married......besides,couldn't go out with a lady tougher than me.:)
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2008
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    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

    Tony, this lady is very happy to step back & let my man take the lead in the real world. (in certain regards) It's just in this made up world that I have to have a harder exterior. Otherwise I would be used as a doormat, & that's just plain unacceptable!

    I only have me to rely on & to defend me, so I do what I have to to survive.

    Congrats on your happy marriage, your wife is a lucky lady!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited February 2008
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    cfrizz wrote: »
    Try the cheater plug first, most likely it will solve the problem & is the cheapest, quickest fix.
    And it conviently bypasses the safety ground that the manufacturer put there for a reason.:D
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 8,108
    edited February 2008
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    GV#27 wrote: »
    And it conviently bypasses the safety ground that the manufacturer put there for a reason.:D

    Many manufacturers (including Parasound) recommend to use them in their owners manual to fix hum issues.
    See profile for rigs. Nothing else here.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,384
    edited February 2008
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    I wonder what happened to the OP rnp614? He's gotten alot of feedback here & we're waiting to hear about his findings. It doesn't take long to put a cheater plug on & hear if it made any difference. You would know in a split second. rnp614 report back with your findings.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited February 2008
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    billbillw wrote: »
    Many manufacturers (including Parasound) recommend to use them in their owners manual to fix hum issues.
    Its interesting they would state that in their manual.:confused:Other companies such as Bryston recommend to NEVER remove or bypass the safety ground.The probability of it being a safety issue is small but...
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited February 2008
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    Yeah, a safer alternative to a cheater is replacing the outlet with a GFCI, but leave the ground disconnected there.

    Anyhow, if you want something you can do to test out if it's a ground loop w/o a cheater that'll take two seconds:
    Take anything that conducts electricity (spare interconnect, coat hanger, doesn't matter)
    Put one end on any bare metal of the chassis of the AVR
    Put the other end on any bare metal on the chassis of the amp.

    If the humming drops by several DB or goes away, you've got ground loop.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited February 2008
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    GV#27 wrote: »
    And it conviently bypasses the safety ground that the manufacturer put there for a reason.:D

    In most cases,when useing a cheater plug,the unit is still grounded to the rest of your system by way of the I/C's.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited February 2008
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    tonyb wrote: »
    In most cases,when useing a cheater plug,the unit is still grounded to the rest of your system by way of the I/C's.
    The circuit will be ,but the chassis may or may not be.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited February 2008
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    This may start something I don't want it to, but are you using the power cord that came with it? This may sound stupid, but I had a nasty hum problem with a sub I owned, and replacing the smaller cord with a Magic Power cable removed the hum...Not saying this is a solve all, just a thought.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited February 2008
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    GV#27 wrote: »
    The circuit will be ,but the chassis may or may not be.

    Yes,thats why I said in most cases.But if by chance it wasn't,you would get a shock touching your gear.Ground loops are usually caused by too many grounds in a system.All depends on the wireing of that piece of gear if a cheater will work.Only one way to find out.And if you don't feel safe about it,you can always run a small wire from the chassis to another piece of gear.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • rnp614
    rnp614 Posts: 598
    edited February 2008
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    Tried the cheater plug. Fixed the problem completely. Not a peep when nothing is playing. I'm back in audio bliss.
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  • rnp614
    rnp614 Posts: 598
    edited February 2008
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    pearsall001 wrote: »
    I wonder what happened to the OP rnp614? He's gotten alot of feedback here & we're waiting to hear about his findings. It doesn't take long to put a cheater plug on & hear if it made any difference. You would know in a split second. rnp614 report back with your findings.

    I appreciate the help Pearsall, life went a bit nuts for a few days but I think its evening out now....and now music sounds wonderful again!
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