SS hum ?

[7.62]

So I just received a Parasound Zpre2, tiny little thing. Anyway hooked it up in a new system and right away I have the hum through the speakers. I put my Symphony tube pre back in and no hum, complete silence.

Checked all the connections and went back and forth twice, same results each time.

The parasound actually sounds pretty good, you can’t hear the hum at higher levels but it’s there.

What gives ?

 

[sqlsavior]

Whatever gives, it has nothing to do with "tube vs. solid-state".

It has to do with ground path(s) and/or magnetic fields most likely. Have you moved it away from other gear?

 

[7.62]

Yep, tried moving cables to give them the most isolated path, power cords to. I’m wondering if the Parasound needs a ground from the body to the power conditioner ?

Why would it do it with one piece of equipment and not the other ?

 

[4-2-7]

The parasound actually sounds pretty good, you can’t hear the hum at higher levels but it’s there.

Is this a new unit? used?

I had a situation with some VAC mono blocks I bought used, one amp hummed. It turned out being the AC cord, and it was different from the other side. I used another cord and the hum was gone. Worth a try even it the amp is new or used.

 

[7.62]

Used from m eBay so I don’t know the history, I’ll give that a try, using the factory cord instead of the fancy one.

 

[sqlsavior]

I am fighting a ground loop myself. It is complicated by use of different house circuits, to different rooms. I'm going to get serious about it eventually. This sticky thread looks like a good resource:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/ground-loop.8395/

 

[7.62]

I think this one may catch a couple of 168 grainers. Hell with it.