Troubles...buzz in my system and other things

nickspicks · « **on:** 18 Jan 2004, 01:58 pm »

Hey now...
I've got a bad hum or buz in my system that is driving me nuts.
Its a constant volume that doesn't increase or decrease w/a change of gain, but its unaccpetable none the less.

my powerstrip says the outlet is grounded.
I didn't have this problem in my last house, but I have it in this new house. I suspect something is afoot with my electrical wireing as I notice other strange things like the protection kicking in on my McCormack DNA-1 amp when I turn on other appliances...and sometimes this happens at random. Again, this is new to this house.
Also, my pelet stove pops a circuit breaker when I plug it in...further indicating a problem w/my house power (or a grounding issue or something in the stove itself...).
Its hard to say with everything being new.

I also just heard that my preamp, a Y-S Audio symphonies tube pre, may have a "DC leak" that can cause the amps protection to kick in. I was told this by someone researching the item for themselves..though I can't find any information regarding this. So, that could be the cause of protection kicking in, and the timing also works because I didnt run this preamp at my last house.

How can I trouble shoot and fix these issues? What electrical tools are there that I can use for diagnostics?
Thanks for any / all suggestions

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 02:42 pm »

Is all of your audio gear on the same circuit?

Is there a cable TV hookup in your system anywhere?

It sounds like you have a ground loop.

If there is a CATV hookup anywhere in your system, unhook it and see if that's the problem.

If that doesn't do it, turn off all power to all of your equipment. Unhook the IC's to your amps, then turn on only the amps. Is the buzz gone?

If the Buzz is gone, then work your way back, one item at a time unhooking IC's until you fine the one that causes the Buzz. For example the next thing would be to unhook all the IC's coming into the pre amp, but hook the pre to amp IC's up. If you get a buzz now, it is the pre that is the problem.

Good luck.

nickspicks · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 03:31 pm »

i've gone through the various connections..and it definatly happens when its just my amp plugged into my speakers. I can shut off the preamp, unplug the ICs and the buzz is still there.

audioengr · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 05:21 pm »

Have you tried putting shorting plugs on the amp inputs to see if the buzz goes away?

Sometimes it is a combination of components connected together that actually eliminates hum. You may just have a problematic amp. Is the amp grounded?

nickspicks · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 06:18 pm »

by shorter plugs, do you mean power?
no, I have not tried that.

is my amp grounded? how can I tell?
its plugged into a power strip, as is everything else. the light on the power strip says "grounded".

rosconey · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 06:56 pm »

cheater pluge are 2 prong for the wall and 3 holes for the power cord-romoves the ground-2 for a 1$ at most places.

audioengr · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 07:57 pm »

Shorting plugs are for the RCA inputs - they short them out.

The amp is grounded if it has a three-prong cord. You should try it directly into the wall outlet.

nickspicks · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 08:29 pm »

I've tried plugging them in different outlets, but they are all on the same circuit so I guess that doesn't matter.

currently, I have everything:
- tv
- sat reciever
- pre
- power amp
- transport
- DAC

all plugged into a cheap surge protector. I just tried using cheeter plugs on everything but the preamp (tube, fwiw) and still have the buzzzz.
I've tried different strips and no strip at all (directly to the wall), same results...BZZZZZ

the only thing conecting the stereo to the TV/SAT system is an S-Video cable coming from my Philips 963 DVD/SACD (and transport for now) to the TV. I uplugged that ...and still buzzing.

Carlman · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 09:41 pm »

I had a loose connection within an interconnect once that caused this. If you wiggled it, it'd pop. So, you may try wiggling around your RCA connections... if you haven't already done so.

You have a ground issue somewhere... it's like finding a vacuum leak on a car... just gotta keep searching... systematically... until you find it.

DARTH AUDIO · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Jan 2004, 11:27 pm »

If it's Ground Loop issues you need the Granite Audio "Ground Zero".
This product is the best for getting rid of the "BUZZING". It's amazing how much power is used to pump that buzzing sound through your speakers

. My whole system Sounded SOOOOO much better. It sounds so alive..

It's worth checking out.. http://www.graniteaudio.com/zero/index.html