Amp "Hum" caused by dimmer switches

Albert,
So where do you get Quiet Lines from?

Dimmers only cause problems when on. Turn it to the "off" position while listening. Problem solved.

I had the same problem when I installed a Krell 300i into my system. I started disconnecting interconnects,etc one at a time and it came down to the only piece that had a 3-prong cord which was ny new Krell at the time. Using a cheater plug cured the problem, but shortly thereafter I purchased a Tice Elite plc and no longer need the cheater. Now everything is real quiet.

If the dimmer is the problem, you should remove the dimmer, no line conditioning treatment is as good as removing the source of the problem altogether. Try getting a few lamps for the room to give you different levels of total lighting in the room. If you guys really want to hear how bad dimmers are for your system, turn a clock radio to an AM station and then turn your dimmer up and down. If you really must have a dimmer, get one of the stepped dimmers, as a fixed resistor does less damage than a variable resistor, but still damage. For the record, I have no dimmers in my entire house, one dragged out argument with my wife, and years of improved listening as a result, well worth it.

Several comments on this one.

14 dedicated lines for an audio system ??? Talk about the potential for a ground loop !!!! That would have to be done very carefully. I'm assuming that Albert probably paid as much attention to having this done correctly as he does to putting forth well written and informational posts though. WHEW !!! That one's pretty much a complete breaker box unto itself !!!

Hum, ground loops and noise can be generated from having pieces of gear within the same system plugged into different outlets. This is true EVEN if they are on the same circuit. Try plugging everything into one outlet via a power strip, etc.. and see if that helps at all.

If you have ANY two pronged power cords hooked up in that system that are not polarized, you might try flipping them around. This can sometimes make a dramatic difference in noise coming into the system and lower the noise floor of the equipment itself.

You might want to invest in a polarity checker for your wall outlets. This is a good investment that is valid for things other than just audio purposes. Rat Shack and any decent hardware store will have them. Cost is under $10.

Try using a "cheater plug" or "ground lifting adapter" on the amp. This takes a three pronged cord and converts it into a two pronged cord.

After these simple and inexpensive "fixes", things get more complex as mentioned above. Like some of the others here, i would rather try to stop the bleeding rather than just band-aid the wound. Find a good dimmer and go from there if that alone does not do the job. Since dimmer's are not "audiophile grade" products, they should be MUCH cheaper than ANY "audiophile" type tweak that would remotely make a dent in fixing the problem. Sean
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