Got my system hooked up, have questions...

[etecnifibre]

First off, my setup is as follows:
Pioneer VSX-23TXH Receiver
Paradigm speakers:
SA-35 fronts
SA-ADP190 surround
SA-15R (L/R) rear
Sub 12
CC690

I also have an AdDcom GFA-7807 amp. I get everything hooked up, and HUMMMMMM. I had the dedicated 20A circuit put in. My electrician said that the ground and neutral are shared. I'm hoping if he takes that circuit straight to ground that it will fix the hum. Also, the hum came with only having one speaker hooked up during troubleshooting, no preamp inputs to the amp. It would also throw my breaker when I used the 12V trigger from my receiver.

Having asked that about the hum, how important IS the amp? My system sounds fantastic without it hooked up. I searched and searched, but couldn't really find anything pinpointing the importance of an amplifier. I can crank it up louder than I'll ever be watching a movie on it with no distortion or any other ill sounding effects. It literally shakes the upstairs, crisply and clearly, when listening to the THX sound effect.

Thanks for any advice/comments, past and future. I'm loving my new 63" plasma and the sound that goes with it.

 

[adk highlander]

Looks like the amp is causing a ground loop so your electrician could help with that.

As for you need for the amp I would say based on your description the answer would be no you don't need it. That is a very powerful amp that delivers 300w x7. If your speakers were not very efficient and/or you had a very large room you may see better headroom and dynamics using the amp. Your speakers sensitivity of your speakers is 96db so they are very efficient.

For what you are saying I would suggest selling the amp use the money to get a blu-ray player(if you don't have one) and room treatments.

 

[highfigh]

First off, my setup is as follows:
Pioneer VSX-23TXH Receiver
Paradigm speakers:
SA-35 fronts
SA-ADP190 surround
SA-15R (L/R) rear
Sub 12
CC690

I also have an AdDcom GFA-7807 amp. I get everything hooked up, and HUMMMMMM. I had the dedicated 20A circuit put in. My electrician said that the ground and neutral are shared. I'm hoping if he takes that circuit straight to ground that it will fix the hum. Also, the hum came with only having one speaker hooked up during troubleshooting, no preamp inputs to the amp. It would also throw my breaker when I used the 12V trigger from my receiver.

Having asked that about the hum, how important IS the amp? My system sounds fantastic without it hooked up. I searched and searched, but couldn't really find anything pinpointing the importance of an amplifier. I can crank it up louder than I'll ever be watching a movie on it with no distortion or any other ill sounding effects. It literally shakes the upstairs, crisply and clearly, when listening to the THX sound effect.

Thanks for any advice/comments, past and future. I'm loving my new 63" plasma and the sound that goes with it.

If your amp hums when nothing but a speaker is connected to it, the problem is in the amp, not a ground loop.

The ground and neutral come together in the breaker panel, not at the receptacles.

 

[etecnifibre]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I have a PS3 hooked up, so that takes care of the Blu-ray.

I do plan on replacing the ADP-190s, haven't decided yet whether to get the SA-ADp or just a couple more SA-15s. I mean, how much sound is really going to go to those speakers? The SA-ADps are 1400 bucks, and I can a pair of the SA-15Rs for 800.

 

[etecnifibre]

Any more expert opinions for me?