2. amps-preamps
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buzzing from speakers

Recently picked up some used gear to assemble a decent, little condo system.

Recently noticed buzzing coming from the speakers when no music is being played. Thought it was speaker cable picking up hum from all the other cables strewn behind the wall unit, but after testing, that is not the case.

I'm concerned that the static electricity in my apartment may have damaged my amp somehow. I notice that almost every time i touch my equipment, i get a mild shock (because of the dry air in my condo coupled w/ carpet).

Could this have somehow damaged my amp /created this audible hum? I never noticed the hum in the past when i first picked up the amp, so i'm not sure if the problem has been there then entire time or if it's new.

Any thoughts?
loose
vinyladdict
164 posts
 
I highly doubt you've damaged anything - hopefully it will stop once you disconnect the cable.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
If you don't have anything damaged now you will. Why not to use portable humidifier?
vinyladdict
164 posts
 
Give me a break. Static isn't going to kill an amp.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Inputs (and outputs) are protected to human body model 2kV/2ns standard at best. You can easily get tens of kV on your body in dry room with carpets.

Assembly houses that build boards for many manufacturers have very stringent static control. Everybody is grounded all the time (wrists and shoes) and grounding test is mandatory for every employee in the morning and after the lunch. It is of course possible that they do all of this just to impress me.

Static not only can damage but also change value of components (precision resistors).
ryder
1,689 posts
 
Occasionally I also encounter this electrostatic discharge phenomenon when I touch my amps, mainly because of the room that has carpet floor and thick fabric seats. I don't think the amp will be destroyed for this, but one thing is for sure -it ain't doing any good to my body if I get too much of this shock.

Audible hum from speakers may be due to bad tubes, bad power supply, faulty capacitors or any other failing parts within the electronic circuit of the CDP, preamp or amp. You may want to try isolating each item to determine which component is at fault.
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