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Amplifier hum - normal?

Is it normal for amps to emit a slight humming noise from the transformer when turned on?

I never noticed it in my old integrated that I lived with for over 10 years, but that was lower power. Now I've gone from 50wpc to 120wpc... don't know if that makes a difference here though.

I mean, it's not nearly enough to bother me or even really be audible past 3 feet away... but I am curious if this is typical for amplifiers to do this.
djembeplay
jeffo19
25 posts
 
I have found that higher power amps tend to have a little hum to them. Some more then others. If you can only here it from 1-2 feet in a silent room, that it pretty normal.
djembeplay OP
169 posts
 
I have a Yamaha M-40... did they use quality transformers?

It is pretty quiet... i would say you could barely hear it from 3 feet away from the chassis top in a silent room.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I have owned several SS amps.

Bryston 4B SST - no hum whatsoever
Bryston 14B SST - no hum whatsoever
McCormack DNA-2 - no hum whatsoever
Odyssey Stratos Mono Extreme - no hum whatsoever
Belles 350A Reference - no hum whatsoever
Belles 150A Reference - hummed like a $10 hooker
Pass Labs XA-60.5 - no hum whatsoever

My history with SS amps suggests that no hum is more common than hum.
gbart
290 posts
 
I too have owned a good number of high powered solid state amps and never had any hum issues. I have had hum problems with large toroid isolation transformers. A lot of modern amps have toroids, which are more prone to humming and buzzing as a result of DC on the power line. I would look to exclude this as a possible source of mechanical hum.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
All transformers will hum a little but only poorly constructed ones will generate excessive hums. I would consider that a defect if you can hear it more than a few inches away, especially in a modern high-end amp. The propose of a high-end amp is play music in a quiet room. It shouldn't hum at all.
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