The moral of this story is that the audio/video electronics need to be on a dedicated electrical circuit. The dimmers in particular are noise monsters. In most homes, its a lot cheaper to run a dedicated 20amp circuit than buying even a mid-priced AC conditioner.
Classic Over-reaction!
So today I was listening to a new vintage LP that had just arrived. And when I switched cables from my phono stage to my Hegel 160 integrated - just to note sonic differences between cables -- I noticed that all of a sudden - for the first time - a noticeable hum was emanating from the Hegel’s transformer.
Crap. What now?
I switched back to the original cables. Nothing. The hum was still there.
I tried different tubes in the phono stage. Nothing. The hum was still there.
I unplugged the Hegel from the wall outlet and plugged it into the power strip. Nothing. The hum was still there. I switched everything off in despair and moped upstairs for dinner.
Where I noticed the toaster oven was on. Hmmm. A few minutes later the toaster oven dinged and turned off and I went downstairs, turned the Hegel on, and the hum was gone.
Sigh....
Crap. What now?
I switched back to the original cables. Nothing. The hum was still there.
I tried different tubes in the phono stage. Nothing. The hum was still there.
I unplugged the Hegel from the wall outlet and plugged it into the power strip. Nothing. The hum was still there. I switched everything off in despair and moped upstairs for dinner.
Where I noticed the toaster oven was on. Hmmm. A few minutes later the toaster oven dinged and turned off and I went downstairs, turned the Hegel on, and the hum was gone.
Sigh....
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- 31 posts total
- 31 posts total