Richard, I think if you always have your RCA ic connected to your preamp, then you are always listening to the low level connection...by default. I am under the impression that the connection to the low level input is done by inserting the RCA ic and connecting it to the preamp. Regardless of whether you connect to the high level as well. IOW, you have perhaps ONLY listened to the low level connection for all this time!
Now that you have done away with the RCA ic, you are for the first time listening to the high level. ( Again you are not establishing a good ground, resulting in the hum!) Here's a suggestion.. hook up just one sub as I do with my Rowland. The red to right positive, the yellow to left positive and the black to either negative connector. ( Make sure the RCA ic is NOT connected). This should be tried with the original cable supplied from REL...NOT the Signal cable ( as presumably this was wired for a mono hook up).
Now that you have done away with the RCA ic, you are for the first time listening to the high level. ( Again you are not establishing a good ground, resulting in the hum!) Here's a suggestion.. hook up just one sub as I do with my Rowland. The red to right positive, the yellow to left positive and the black to either negative connector. ( Make sure the RCA ic is NOT connected). This should be tried with the original cable supplied from REL...NOT the Signal cable ( as presumably this was wired for a mono hook up).