[Cris Moore]

I’m having a serious hum problem with my Denon AVR-5700 receiver. I seems that if I try to connect anything except the speaker cables to it, the subwoofers will hum. The speakers I have are the Polk RT5000 HT speakers. If I have just the speakers connected (all of them) and an antenna to get a FM signal, the subs don’t hum and they sound great. When I try to add a video or audio connection to any of the following on the Denon: VCR-1, TV\\DBS, Monitor Out 1( S-Video), or the Component Video connections, the subs will hum. The component I connect doesn’t even have to be plugged in, all I have to do is have a single connection between one other component and the Denon. I’ve tried to prevent ground loops by connecting each pair of test components to a Panamax 1000 or to a HTS3500 Reference PowerCenter, but it didn’t make any difference. Any component I try will cause the subs to hum.


Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something wrong with my receiver?


Cris

 

[aerialman]

Im no expert, but my problems with hum were all due to my cable tv connection. try disconnecting the cable tv connection where it comes into your home/apartment or at least where its coming into your a/v system. then see if the hum persists. If its gone, you need to contact the cable company or get a device that can break the ground loop.


- Jerry

 

[Cris Moore]

Thanks for the suggestion Jerry, but I got the problem solved this morning. I had to put 3 to 2 prong converters on all of my subwoofers power cords. Nice cheap fix.


Thanks again for the response.


Cris

 

[aerialman]

Cris,

Im glad you have a fix that works, but the thing is you have a ground loop hum. The cheaters are only allowing your equipment to ignore this. Now, this is very important, using "cheaters" (3-2 adaptors) is a fire hazard and can possibly (its a remote possibility) kill you- at least thats what Ive been told. Sorry to sound so grim, but I dont think this is a light matter. I cant tell you how many times I get a good shock when I touch a piece of equipment (I have a dry area with carpet)- I always try to touch something else, but sometimes I get a good shock- I cant imagine what would happen if that equipment used me for a ground. I think you should take them off immediately and work to fix the cause of the hum.


- Jerry


[This message has been edited by aerialman (edited February 13, 2000).]

 

[Cris Moore]

Jerry,


Your are probably right that this isn't the "correct" way to solve the problem, but its the only thing that currently works. Right now I have all components(even the subs)connected to either a Panamax 1000 or a HTS3500 Reference PowerCenter. Unless someone has an idea of where the problem really is, it will have to stay this way. If the problem is in the house wiring, I can't change that because I rent. I have tested the outlets with a 3 prong tester and they were OK.


Cris

 

[aerialman]

I had my cable tv go through a panamax 1500 and the result was a degraded picture as well as the ground loop hum. I bought a $45 radio shack surge protector that has a cable tv pass through/ ground loop breaker in it and it broke the ground loop as well as restored the picture. go figure!


- Jerry