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Audio Alchemy OM 150 hum. What is the cause?

I recently purchased an AA OM 150 at a really attractive price. The former owner disclosed that the piece had a hum coming equally from both channels. I hooked up the amp and sure enough it has a pretty hefty hum from both channels. When I disconnect the interconnects the hum in both channels disappears. Connect either one alone and there is no hum. What gives?
128x128larryrx7
larryrx7's avatar
larryrx7 OP
137 posts
 
I have tried the cheater on both the amp and preamp. I haven't changed ic's yet. The hum is much higher than a 60 cycle hum. More into the midrange.
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Larry, sometimes you have higher harmonics of those 60 cycles, but the cause may still be a ground loop. Do you get your power to all your gear from the same outlet in the wall? If not, try that. I would also experiment with a piece of grounding wire from the chassis of the amp to the chassis of the pre. Make sure to get good contact. If all that does not help and changing ic's does not get you anywhere, possibly it is the amp after all. By the way, is the noise more of a hiss or buzz or is it quite clearly hum?
larryrx7's avatar
larryrx7 OP
137 posts
 
I would call it a buzz
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Well I don't know, it could very well be the amp after all.
Have you tried it with a grounding wire, as I had suggested?
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