halogen lighting?

I once had (for a few seconds) one of those cheap 'torchiere' up-lights that use halogen bulbs. The first time I switched it on, not only was a large amount of noise introduced that began spitting out at me through the speakers, a nasty and very loud buzz started emanating from INSIDE my amplifier. The light was of course quickly packed up and still sits in a dark corner of my basement. This was one of the ultra-cheap $19.99 garden variety lamps and I would expect some better results from upscale halogen lights of better construction, but still...

To answer Ed's question...on inexpensive halogens, a small transformer is built into each individual lighting fixture, so there is no way to isolate the source of the noise from the source of the light. The Home Depot-type tracks are called "low voltage", but the the voltage running through the track is 110V. The step down occurs at the fixture. True low-volatge systems run 12v through the track, which limits the length of the track run due to voltage drop.

Ok, well I guess that about sums it up! So what's the alternative for lighting? I found a nice set of wall sconces, with a cobalt and red shades but they wanted a ridiculous price for them, like $180 ea.
jb

one alternative would be to use the low voltage lighting system but convert it to pure DC. Some home-brew technical expertise would be essential to accomplish this.

It's easier than that. I installed low-voltage baby halogens atop my window inside frames for dramatic soft lighting of my drapes, but at TERRIBLE acoustic penalty...WITH wall-wart 12v transformers. And yes, they DO radiate into the audio...even when not on the same dedicated lines. OTOH I have in-room incandescents that are dimmed by a normal pot and they're COMPLETELY quiet!
So for $6 just get a rotary or slide dimmer and control incandescent 115 v lights, and leave the low voltage or halogen ornamentals for non-audio entertaining. I'm still surprised at the difference in noise level. I don't even hear incandescent filament "singing", either, from the 40 watt candelabra-shaped bulbs, whereas those baby halogens make muy system sound like my old short-wave receiver!