Tod you might need Harrison filters...I have the same problem. They are cheap..they don’t alter the sound....
Parasound Halo Integrated Buzz/Hum
Hi all. I bought a Parasound Halo Integrated last week and discovered there is a faint low frequency buzz coming from my speakers from all inputs except the home theater bypass (more on that below). In a completely silent room I can hear it from my listening position about 8ft away from the speakers, but it's not very loud at all. After a quick Google search and some reading, the most likely cause seems to be a ground loop issue.
Unfortunately, I am not sure if it is as simple as that. I disconnected all inputs and plugged it in an outlet with no other devices connected. I also moved it to a different outlet in my apartment, again with only speakers connected, and it still buzzes. Different model speakers have been tested as well.
The buzz only comes from the speakers, not from the amp itself or if headphones are plugged in. This integrated amp has home theater bypass inputs and there is no buzz when this input is selected. However, if I connect my AVR to these inputs, there is a buzz. This buzz can also be heard through headphones connected to the Parasound. Unlike the buzz from other inputs, this buzz does not increase when I increase the volume.
My apartment is in an old building, which in all likelihood had its wiring redone over the past decade or so. I used a 3 wire receptacle tester on some of the outlets. It indicates there is an open ground in my living room (something I should probably bring to my landlord's attention!), but other outlets appear to be wired correctly. The buzz is there regardless of what outlet I use, however.
The amp was bought from an authorized dealer and I am still under warranty, so I can certainly get it replaced or repaired. Before I do that, however, I would like to make sure I have exhausted all of my options. Do any of you knowledgeable folks have any idea if I am missing something?
Unfortunately, I am not sure if it is as simple as that. I disconnected all inputs and plugged it in an outlet with no other devices connected. I also moved it to a different outlet in my apartment, again with only speakers connected, and it still buzzes. Different model speakers have been tested as well.
The buzz only comes from the speakers, not from the amp itself or if headphones are plugged in. This integrated amp has home theater bypass inputs and there is no buzz when this input is selected. However, if I connect my AVR to these inputs, there is a buzz. This buzz can also be heard through headphones connected to the Parasound. Unlike the buzz from other inputs, this buzz does not increase when I increase the volume.
My apartment is in an old building, which in all likelihood had its wiring redone over the past decade or so. I used a 3 wire receptacle tester on some of the outlets. It indicates there is an open ground in my living room (something I should probably bring to my landlord's attention!), but other outlets appear to be wired correctly. The buzz is there regardless of what outlet I use, however.
The amp was bought from an authorized dealer and I am still under warranty, so I can certainly get it replaced or repaired. Before I do that, however, I would like to make sure I have exhausted all of my options. Do any of you knowledgeable folks have any idea if I am missing something?
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- 23 posts total
stereo5: I wish that was an option, but I bought it online. That is also why I am trying to find out if it’s the amp or maybe the AC lines in my building. I would rather not deal with the return process. I certainly appreciate your input, however, and it is good to know it’s supposed to be dead quiet even with sensitive speakers. jayctoy: Would you please let me know what filters you mean? I looked up some Harrison filter and the unit was about the same price as the integrated amp! Are these filters for the AC line or for RCA inputs? The reason I’m asking is because the buzz is also present on the digital inputs. The buzz sounds just like the 60Hz Cycle Hum in the example below: http://blog.shure.com/whats-that-noise-and-how-to-fix-it/ |
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It appears 20 years later that Parasound is still having the buzz humming problem with their amps.. Having owned two Parasound amps and three Parasound Preamps since 1992, here is what is more than likely the problem. Noise coming from the transformer due to faulty grounding during assembly at the plant in Taiwan. This was a very severe problem with their biggest stereo amp ever, the HCA-3500, which had dual transformers. Two of my audio friends owned the 3500 back in the early nineties, at the time I owned the HCA-1200 which didn't have that problem. Both my friends amps had the buzz, humming problem from their transformers and had to be sent back to Parsound to properly ground the transformers. The same problem was also experienced with audio reviewers at the time with the 3500, the amp was eventually put out of production. |
- 23 posts total