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Do Speakers Need to Be Dead Quiet?

post #1 of 9
7/18/12 at 6:24am
Thread Starter 
I have a very tiny amount of hum coming from my speakers. So slight that I almost have to put my ear on the actual woofer to hear it. It does not get louder or quieter with volume. I have unplugged and replugged everything and can't seem to isolate it. My question is, is it unreasonable to expect a dead quiet background or should this be driving me insane like it is?
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post #2 of 9
7/18/12 at 6:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wingnut4772 View Post

I have a very tiny amount of hum coming from my speakers. So slight that I almost have to put my ear on the actual woofer to hear it. It does not get louder or quieter with volume. I have unplugged and replugged everything and can't seem to isolate it. My question is, is it unreasonable to expect a dead quiet background or should this be driving me insane like it is?

Sounds like ground loop hum.  Your equipment noise floor should increase with gain.

 

Disconnect components one at a time from AVR and see if/when it improves.  Start with your cable/satellite coax from feed/dish to set top box, this is the most common offender.

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post #3 of 9
7/18/12 at 6:41am
Thread Starter 
Thanks. The noise doesn't get any louder when I turn up the volume though. I will check the satellite cable.
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post #4 of 9
7/18/12 at 6:42am
Thread Starter 
Also, I hear it even when the processor is turned off.
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post #5 of 9
7/18/12 at 6:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wingnut4772 View Post

Also, I hear it even when the processor is turned off.

Try disconnecting everything from the amplifier: preamp, input devices, and output devices (such as the sub) etc., and see if the hum is still there when it is only the amp and speakers. If so, it is unlikey to be a ground loop.
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post #6 of 9
7/18/12 at 6:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wingnut4772 View Post

Also, I hear it even when the processor is turned off.

 

It could be present even if the AVR was off.  The previous suggestion is spot-on, if you still have hum without input to the amp, its in the amp stage and likely not ground loop hum.

 

Does your amp have two prong or three?  AVR? 

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post #7 of 9
7/18/12 at 7:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wingnut4772 View Post

I have a very tiny amount of hum coming from my speakers. So slight that I almost have to put my ear on the actual woofer to hear it. It does not get louder or quieter with volume. I have unplugged and replugged everything and can't seem to isolate it. My question is, is it unreasonable to expect a dead quiet background or should this be driving me insane like it is?


Yes it is unreasonable to expect a dead quiet background from electronic equipment, particularly when you have to press your ear to the speaker to hear any noise.

Yes, you are obsessing. It's obsessions like this that drive many to waste money on silly tweaks that make unreasonable promises.
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post #8 of 9
7/19/12 at 7:14am
For all practical purposes if you can't hear that hum from you listening position in middle of the night (usually the most quiet time), you do not need to worry. Electronics can be made ALMOST dead quiet, but it costs serious money. You have to decide for yourself if you want to chase perfection and ready to pay for it.
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post #9 of 9
7/19/12 at 11:47am
Thread Starter 
Ok. Good to know. It is not audible from any distance. You really do have to put your ear on the speaker lol. I won't go crazy then.
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