[Rob S.]

Hi Frank & everyone,
         I"m working on a system buzz/ hum problem and bought a power conditioner to see if it fixes the problem along with lowering system hash.   On my Equitech 1.5Q  I have 3 options for plugging the ultra in so do I:

1) plug it into the "filtered" receptacle
2) plug it into the  "unfiltered" receptacle
3) plug it into the "unswitched" receptacle
4)  Do none of the above, just plug straight into the wall.

Has anyone had experience with the ULTRA DAC w/ power conditioning products?

Rob S.

[Wayner]

Have you tried to isolate the hum problem? I would start out taking the system down to it's basic level, with just amp, preamp and speakers. Do you have a hum problem at this level? Then, start plugging in components one at a time and checking for hum until you hit the culprit. Knowing this will help you decide a course of action. Obviously, it sounds like a ground loop, but could be poor shielding on the interconnects or an offending wall wart near an interconnect or even some fluorescent lights, maybe even a dimmer. This is sometimes very difficult to diagnose, but will pay big returns if you can isolate it.

Wayner 

[oneinthepipe]

Rob S. 

Agree with Wayner.  I used Wayner's prescribed isolation method, which helped me isolate noisy components and cables and connectors. 

Having noise in your system can be very frustrating.

Good luck.

[avahifi]

Rob, please give me a call at 651-330-9871 for help in solving your noise issue.

Frank Van Alstine

[Rob S.]

Thanks for the responses.   Frank, I'll give you a call when it's quiet (no kid distractions) at my house.

Rob S.

[avahifi]

The questioner responded to me and we found out that his speaker system, which has a built in "plate amplifier" for the woofer section, produces the buzz sound in question, any time it is plugging into the AC power, even with no speaker wires connected at all.  This pretty much eliminates anything ahead of the speaker system as being the culprit.

I suggested that he shut down everything electrical he can in the house to see if he could identify what is putting dirty AC onto the line, and/or trying the speaker on a completely different circuit.

I also suggested that he try an AC power line conditioner that actually regenerates a fresh new 120V pure sine wave AC wave form from a dirty AC power line input.  I know they exist out there, but I cannot remember the name of the company that produces them or a link to them.

Anyone with knowledge of these devices, please post the info here so Rob S. can investigate them further.

Thanks,

Frank Van Alstine

[mark funk]

Here is one I have heard of,

http://www.furmansound.com/product.php?div=01&id=PL-8_II


                                                             

[Tone Depth]

This company converts AC to DC and then back to pure AC with units of various capacities:  http://www.purepoweraps.com/

Found it by googling power regeneration.

[Listens2tubes]

A ferrite on the power cord may helpalso.