Recently took apart the whole system, dusted things off and tried to get a handle on the wiring tangles. Also put it back together in a little different location in the living room. Didn't remember exactly what was plugged into where, but upon powering up, I had a bad hum. A good 5 hours later. The hum is magically gone. Let me start by stating that I do not have cable or satellite, so that's not responsible for the hum.
I use an old Monster something that I plug everything into. Have had good success with it. But when the hum showed up, I pulled everything out of it except the amps and the preamp. Still hum. Hit the preamp mute button, hum gone. Must be the preamp. To double check, I swapped the tube monos with a Mark Levinson ML-11 amp. NO HUM. Hmmmmm. Is it the preamp or the mono amps?
Reconnected the pre to the monos. Hum. Then I started moving around the plugs, with cheaters, without cheaters. Moved the plugs from different ports on the back of the Monster power unit. No success. Tried plugging the amps into a different wall outlet than the preamp, no success. I'm 99% sure I tried every possible plug configuration.
Then I thought, why not use the PS Audio Duet power thing I have for my television and DVD player across the room? Hell, that thing cost $250, I'm sure that will fix my problem. So I did.
The hum increased 500% to the most outrageous amount of hum imaginable. Tried just the amps in the Duet, total crap. Tried just the preamp in the Duet, total crap.
Just for shits 'n grins I thought I'd try the $4 power strip I bought at Home Depot. Plugged both amps and preamp into it and plugged it in.
Silence.
Anyone want to buy a PS Audio Duet?
