Low buzzing through speaks


Hello All,

 

Need some serious help here. So I just (upgraded?) from a Marantz AV8802A to a McIntosh MX122 preamp. I also just got brand new Revel Performa3 speaks all around (5 channel setup). I disconnect everything from the Marantz and then into the McIntosh, connect the speaks and I have a faint buzzing through all 5 speakers (that was not there previously). I have everything plugged into a Furman Elite 20pfi power conditioner which is plugged into a dedicated 20 amp circuit. My power amp is a Simaudio Titan HT200 5 channel. This is not going through the Furman but directly into the other outlet on the same 20 amp line. I even tried plugging the Sim amp into the Furman to see if that helped-no change faint buzz is still there. I have unplugged just about everything, and the buzz is still there. It is very faint and does not get louder when I turn up the volume. Again it is faint and you have to put your ear up to the speaks to hear but it is definitely there. I have tried so many things and nothing gets rid of it. It is not my cable box (I did have that issue previously with the Marantz but as soon as I unplugged the coax from the box it went away so I just bought a coax loop eliminator connected the cable to that and noise was all gone) as I unplugged that and started there.

 

Any help would be so sincerely appreciated????

kingbr

So just like a normal speaker wire between the 2?

Correct, but I'm still very interested in hearing the results of the other tests I mentioned.

Whilst I didn’t try the cheater plug specially, the fact that the Hum-X didn’t work leads me to believe the cheater wouldn’t have any effect. 

Sorry, I can't agree with that @kingbr  - two different concepts. If it were me, I'd still try the cheater plug. You really have to eliminate all options here. I think they're only like $3.  

Hi @dpop so give the cheater a try, I actually had ordered one on on Amazon but the Hum-X arrived first so once that didn't work, I didn't bother trying the cheater. But I'll give it a try. One thing my amp is a C19 20 amp connection, I'm thinking trying the cheater on that would not be a good idea?

 

@dpop I can't not thank you again for taking the time to help me here. Thank you...I'll try the cheater on the Mac...

@kingbr

One thing my amp is a C19 20 amp connection, I’m thinking trying the cheater on that would not be a good idea?

I did notice that in the manual diagram (that it had a 20 amp IEC connector on the rear), but it didn’t sink in. Thanks for pointing that out. Is the wall plug also a 20 amp plug (with one of the flat blades turned 90 degrees)? I’m just trying to eliminate either the Mac or Sim from an earth connection, so yes, applying it to the Mac should accomplish this.

So I just tried the cheater on the Mac and buzz still there (I tried going direct to a different wall outlet with the cheater and then using the cheater into the Furman with the Mac). Yes the wall plug is a 20 amp dedicated circuit. That is where the Furman and Simaudio amp are plugged into. The Mac is plugged into the Furman (as is every other component). The receptacle does have the 90 degree slots but both plugs (the amp and the Furman do not have the 90 degree plug, the Furman original cord did but I use a Shunyata 20 amp plug instead of the Furman stock cord). But I've used this Shunyata from the get go with the Furman and never had an issue until introducing the Mac...

@kingbr

So I just tried the cheater on the Mac and buzz still there

OK, good to know. Still waiting to hear if 1) buzz is in all speakers with just one XLR cable connected 2) any difference when ground wire is connected between GND terminals on Mac & Sim, with and without XLR cables connected.