Hi,
Maybe you guys can help me or point me in some direction.
My apartment seems to be the King of Hum.
About a year-and-a-half ago, I "upgraded" from a CJ amp to Art Audio monoblocs. To my dismay, they hum like a bumble bee. I've tried an Exact Power unit, a BP 3.5 and a humbuster. Not only did they not work, but each transformer within these devices hummed. About six months ago, I bought a turntable - and the speed controller hums. The vendor says he has hever heard of one of his speed controllers humming and suggested I have my wall socket tested. More on that in a moment.
The only device I found that kills 90% of the hum at the monoblocs is a PS Audio 1000; which I just sent to PS Audio because it is blowing my equipment fuses. (I should know shortly whether there is a defect with the PS Audio unit - and to PS Audio's credit they are examining it at no charge even though I bought it here on Agon). The PS Audio only kills the hum when I set it to mode #3, which according to PS Audio, "adds a little 3rd order harmonic distortion, which makes the transformers operate a little more efficiently". The PS Audio hums, but it is much quieter than the monoblocs. The PS Audio has no affect on the speed controller hum.
I have tried all sorts of versions of lifting the grounds. I have tested the grounds at the so wall socket, which are ok. I have unplugged what devices I can from my apartment one by one.
Any suggestions? If I hire an electrician to test the wall sockets, can anybody tell me exactly what I should ask him or her to test for? What do I do with the results once I know? I am adrift in hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
BTW, kudos to Conrad-Johnson for manufacturing the only amp that does not hum at Jeff's pad.
Jeff