hum in the speaker

[Varghese Devassy]

Hi,

I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers. Any ideas how
this may be caused and could be eliminated. I tried the following with
no difference in the hum

1. Provide enough seperation between power cord from the speaker
cables
2. Line filter
3. Interchanged the speakers
4. Tried without connecting any signals to the amp (removed all input
cables)
5. Send mail to SimAudio and they asked me to connect line filter

I had auditioned NAD, Rotel amplifiers and did not see any hum from
them. Also, I find the hum is more in the right speaker.

I am using good quality interconnects and speaker cables (straight
wire). My source is only a CD players and the hum is there regardless
of whether it is on or off

I see the hum in all of their amps such as I5080, I3

Any ideas please let me kow

Thank you

Varghese Devassy

[Arny Krueger]

"Varghese Devassy" > wrote in message
om
> Hi,
>
> I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
> notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers.

What do you mean by "slight"?

(1) Hear it while you're playing music?

(2) On a quiet night, with your ear right next to the woofer cone, you hear
a little him?

>Any ideas how
> this may be caused and could be eliminated. I tried the following with
> no difference in the hum

> 1. Provide enough separation between power cord from the speaker
> cables

Futile in virtually every case.

> 2. Line filter

Futile in virtually every case.

> 3. Interchanged the speakers

Did the hum stay with the speaker or the channel of the amplifier?

> 4. Tried without connecting any signals to the amp (removed all input
> cables)

Suggests the hum is due to the amp.

> 5. Send mail to SimAudio and they asked me to connect line filter

Bunch of maroons, aren't they?

> I had auditioned NAD, Rotel amplifiers and did not see any hum from
> them. Also, I find the hum is more in the right speaker.

Dig you audition the amps at a dealer or in your home?

If you auditioned at a dealer, the comparison is probably not valid.

> I am using good quality interconnects and speaker cables (straight
> wire). My source is only a CD players and the hum is there regardless
> of whether it is on or off

Suggests the hum is due to the amp.

> I see the hum in all of their amps such as I5080, I3

Suggests the hum is due to the amp.


> Any ideas please let me know

Get a better amp, next time. Different brand! Insist on a home trial.

[Neil]

(Varghese Devassy) wrote in message >...
> Hi,
>
> I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
> notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers. Any ideas how
> this may be caused and could be eliminated. I tried the following with
> no difference in the hum

The problem is not in the speakers. They merely reproduce what the amp
sends to them.

My guess is that there's either something wrong with the amp or
there's a ground loop problem somewhere. The fact that the hum appears
only on one channel makes me think there's something wrong with that
channel of your amp. However, I'm not a technician, so that's only a
guess.

Suggestions:

Take amp back to dealer for service

Try: rec.audio.tech

If you want to explore the possibility of a ground loop, search for
"ground loop" in newsgroups and web via Google.com and/or other search
tools.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22ground+loop%22+stereo

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&safe=off&q=%22mains+hum%22+stereo

But I think if a ground loop was your problem, you'd hear the hum on
both channels, not one.

> 1. Provide enough seperation between power cord from the speaker
> cables
> 2. Line filter
> 3. Interchanged the speakers
> 4. Tried without connecting any signals to the amp (removed all input
> cables)
> 5. Send mail to SimAudio and they asked me to connect line filter
>
> I had auditioned NAD, Rotel amplifiers and did not see any hum from
> them. Also, I find the hum is more in the right speaker.
>
> I am using good quality interconnects and speaker cables (straight
> wire). My source is only a CD players and the hum is there regardless
> of whether it is on or off
>
> I see the hum in all of their amps such as I5080, I3

I'm not familiar with SimAudio gear, but if all there amps hum, maybe
there's a design problem.

> Any ideas please let me kow
>
> Thank you
>
> Varghese Devassy
>

[Varghese Devassy]

Hi,

It seems the earlier mail raised more questions. See the answers below

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message >...
> "Varghese Devassy" > wrote in message
> om
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
> > notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers.
>
> What do you mean by "slight"?
>
> (1) Hear it while you're playing music?
>
> (2) On a quiet night, with your ear right next to the woofer cone, you hear
> a little him?

What I mean by slight is that I have to have my ear right next to the
wooder to hear the hum
>
> >Any ideas how
> > this may be caused and could be eliminated. I tried the following with
> > no difference in the hum
>
> > 1. Provide enough separation between power cord from the speaker
> > cables
>
> Futile in virtually every case.
>
> > 2. Line filter
>
> Futile in virtually every case.
>
> > 3. Interchanged the speakers
>
> Did the hum stay with the speaker or the channel of the amplifier?

The hum stays with the channel. My guess is that they have the
transformer closer to the right speaker inside the amp whose hum is
being picked up
>
> > 4. Tried without connecting any signals to the amp (removed all input
> > cables)
>
> Suggests the hum is due to the amp.
>
> > 5. Send mail to SimAudio and they asked me to connect line filter
>
> Bunch of maroons, aren't they?
>
> > I had auditioned NAD, Rotel amplifiers and did not see any hum from
> > them. Also, I find the hum is more in the right speaker.
>
> Dig you audition the amps at a dealer or in your home?
>
> If you auditioned at a dealer, the comparison is probably not valid.

All the auditioning were done at home. Using NAD, Rotel, Classe and
SimAudio. Of the above NAD and Rotel had no hum. However, noticed
slight hum in Classe and SimAudio. I picked SimAudio I5 as this
sounded better than all the above

>
> > I am using good quality interconnects and speaker cables (straight
> > wire). My source is only a CD players and the hum is there regardless
> > of whether it is on or off
>
> Suggests the hum is due to the amp.
>
> > I see the hum in all of their amps such as I5080, I3
>
> Suggests the hum is due to the amp.
>
>
> > Any ideas please let me know
>
> Get a better amp, next time. Different brand! Insist on a home trial.


This is a much better amp (I know this is very subjective) than NAD,
Rotel, Classe. I have listened to all the above

Thanks

Varghese Devassy

[JBorg]

> Varghese Devassy wrote:


> Hi,
>
> I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
> notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers.

<snip>

> I had auditioned NAD, Rotel amplifiers and did not see any hum from
> them. Also, I find the hum is more in the right speaker.

Did you mean no hum from them 'cept the right speaker also?

<snip>

> My source is only a CD players and the hum is there regardless
> of whether it is on or off
>
> I see the hum in all of their amps such as I5080, I3

<snip>


Based on the above, it's likely your amp is alright. Here's some ideas
to you:

http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Ground-Loops/

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/


I am displeased with Krooborg's sardonic remarks (about your gear), and
I strongly suggest that you ignore his puffed up early droppings. He is
delusional who thinks there are little men inside your speaker.

In any case, you have a splendid amp with taintless reputation:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/ambackissues/SimAudioI5.htm

http://www.innerear.on.ca/reviews/vol10-4reviewsmooni5.html

http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?620

[Varghese Devassy]

(JBorg) wrote in message >...
> > Varghese Devassy wrote:
>
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
> > notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers.
>
> <snip>
>
> > I had auditioned NAD, Rotel amplifiers and did not see any hum from
> > them. Also, I find the hum is more in the right speaker.
>
> Did you mean no hum from them 'cept the right speaker also?

I meant that there is no hum in any of the speakers when I tried NAD
or Rotel. I used the same speaker KEF Q7

>
> <snip>
>
> > My source is only a CD players and the hum is there regardless
> > of whether it is on or off
> >
> > I see the hum in all of their amps such as I5080, I3
>
> <snip>
>
>
> Based on the above, it's likely your amp is alright. Here's some ideas
> to you:
>
> http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Ground-Loops/
>
> http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/

If I had a ground loop would it be possible that the hum be in both
the speakers? Here I have hum in the right speaker alone. In order to
hear it, I have to be have my ears right next to it

>
>
> I am displeased with Krooborg's sardonic remarks (about your gear), and
> I strongly suggest that you ignore his puffed up early droppings. He is
> delusional who thinks there are little men inside your speaker.
>
> In any case, you have a splendid amp with taintless reputation:
>
> http://www.positive-feedback.com/ambackissues/SimAudioI5.htm
>
> http://www.innerear.on.ca/reviews/vol10-4reviewsmooni5.html
>
> http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?620

Thanks for the confirmatory statements on the amp! I started
auditioning with NAD and Rotel. I noticed the improvements in Classe
and SimAudio. I am myself convinced that this is a great amp

Varghese

[JBorg]

> Varghese Devassy wrote:
>> JBorg) wrote in message
>>> Varghese Devassy wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
>>> notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>> I had auditioned NAD, Rotel amplifiers and did not see any hum from
>>> them. Also, I find the hum is more in the right speaker.
>>
>> Did you mean no hum from them 'cept the right speaker also?
>
> I meant that there is no hum in any of the speakers when I tried NAD
> or Rotel. I used the same speaker KEF Q7


I also had problem with hum on my right speaker at one time, I tried the
easiest way first among which is to lift the ground off on both speaker
and that was it! It's gone. I experimented of course, but I was doin
it at my own risk and what works for me may not work for you.
The URL I sent you gives some general idea about the causes of hum.


>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>> My source is only a CD players and the hum is there regardless
>>> of whether it is on or off
>>>
>>> I see the hum in all of their amps such as I5080, I3
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>
>> Based on the above, it's likely your amp is alright. Here's some ideas
>> to you:
>>
>> http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Ground-Loops/
>>
>> http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/
>
>
>
> If I had a ground loop would it be possible that the hum be in both
> the speakers?

Yeah, it's always possible and I came across that many times when I use to
mix and match those components in my cheap rack system years ago.

> Here I have hum in the right speaker alone. In order to
> hear it, I have to be have my ears right next to it
>
> Varghese


Causes of ground loops can be very mysterious and difficult to detect,
as those articles stated, and I don't want to suggest something
to you that is hazardous, unsafe, and illegal like breaking the power
ground to the power line of the right speaker.

All I did was lift *some* of the grounds off and it work for me.

[Arny Krueger]

"Varghese Devassy" > wrote in message
om
> Hi,
>
> It seems the earlier mail raised more questions. See the answers below
>
> "Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
> >...
>> "Varghese Devassy" > wrote in message
>> om
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I have a SimAudio I5 integrated amp connected to KEF Q7 Speakers. I
>>> notice that there is a slight hum in one the speakers.
>>
>> What do you mean by "slight"?
>>
>> (1) Hear it while you're playing music?
>>
>> (2) On a quiet night, with your ear right next to the woofer cone,
>> you hear a little him?
>
> What I mean by slight is that I have to have my ear right next to the
> woofer to hear the hum

In all seriousness, the usual advice is: "don't do that".