Usually the AC power comes from two halves of the incoming 240V from outside the house. If the amps are on one half and the rest of the system on the other, sometimes you can get hum if the amplifier's grounding isn't really worked out all that well.
So the extension cord may be going to an outlet on the same side of the AC power as the preamp's power is.
If OTOH the preamp and amp share the same outlet than something else is at play.
So the extension cord may be going to an outlet on the same side of the AC power as the preamp's power is.
If OTOH the preamp and amp share the same outlet than something else is at play.