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

[rnp614]

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!

[disneyjoe7]

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.

[pearsall001]

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.

[rnp614]

Just to clarify, cheater plug is the 3 prong to 2 prong adapter?

[rnp614]

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.

[disneyjoe7]

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.

[danger boy]

i wonder if some internal part is going bad on the amp...? and you moved to a different plact too, right?

[dorokusai]

I foresee a trip back to Klaus in your future.

[pearsall001]

Just to clarify, cheater plug is the 3 prong to 2 prong adapter?

Yep, that's it. Problem solved.

[danger boy]

Yep, that's it. Problem solved.

a cheater plug doesn't solve all amp humming problems.. only a very few of them in reality.

[rnp614]

I foresee a trip back to Klaus in your future.

Yikas. I hope not, this thing is a beast to ship.

[pearsall001]

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.

[billbillw]

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.

[jimi64]

This worked for me.http://www.swee****er.com/store/detail/HumX/
Ebtech Hum X | Swee****er.com

[danger boy]

rnp614 did you try a cheater plug?

[cfrizz]

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!

[tonyb]

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:):)

[cfrizz]

:D Would love to Tony, are you available?:p;):D



Cathy.....6000 posts??
Jesus girl,get a boyfriend will ya.:p:):)

[tonyb]

Happily married......besides,couldn't go out with a lady tougher than me.:)

[cfrizz]

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!

[GV#27]

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

[billbillw]

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.

[pearsall001]

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.

[GV#27]

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...

[unc2701]

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.

[tonyb]

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.

[GV#27]

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.

[Bill Ayotte]

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.

[tonyb]

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.

[rnp614]

Tried the cheater plug. Fixed the problem completely. Not a peep when nothing is playing. I'm back in audio bliss.

[rnp614]

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!

[pearsall001]

Tried the cheater plug. Fixed the problem completely. Not a peep when nothing is playing. I'm back in audio bliss.

I'm glad it worked for you. :) Because I know a system hum can drive you friggin crazy!!!