Integra DHC-80.3 Hum Issue on Dolby Digital Content

[PENG]

-Dealer is checking the unit at his shop he is supposed to let me know.
-Good point the AVM 30 does not have HDMI, I had to use component cables & TOS for hookup

Marantz hum was not as dramatic as the Integra. If I was 8ft away I could not hear it. I could hear the hum about 5' away from speakers if I really tried to listen and could not hear it from surrounds. Integra was loud on all speakers, loud enough I could hear it downstairs. I have 3 different types of Manufacuter's HDMI cables, Basic Cables to Go on Cable Box, Higher end on Blu-ray, xbox. They are both shielded and not more than a 1M cable. I doubt the cable is the issue as I have tried 1 HDMI device at a time.

I didn't think it was the cable either. The way you described the issue, it seems like the HDMI board may have something to do with it. Have you tried using CV and optical for an apple to apple comparison with the Anthem?

 

[Cos]

I am going to do that when I get home tonight, but would be strange that two HDMI boards are bad. I did read some review of bad HDMI boards on Integra, but it was few and far between.

 

[PENG]

but would be strange that two HDMI boards are bad. I did read some review of bad HDMI boards on Integra, but it was few and far between.

Agree, but you said "When the 80.3 boots up HDMI setup it hums until it finishes the setup process."

I am not really sure what you meant by "boots up HDMI setup" though so may be I misunderstood?

Regardless, this is really a very strange case, I hope you can have this issue resolved soon so you can concentrate on enjoying your very nice setup instead of troubleshooting.

 

[Cos]

Got tied up with work, so didn't get to it, will have to wait until tonight.

As for the HDMI Boot up, what I mean by that, is when you first turn on the receiver, it goes through HDMI setup, (i.e. gives you a message on display about HDMI, once the message says complete, the loud HUM goes away until you put on Dolby, DTS, etc.) Neither my Anthem or Marantz go through this process, so not sure why integra does this.

 

[Rickster71]

Your Integra dealer sounded pretty cooperative.
Any chance of him calling Integra support about the problem on your behalf ?

 

[Cos]

My dealer is great, which is why I have been buying from him for the past 9 years. I am really starting to believe that it is my amp at this point as I have done all of the troubleshooting I can think of, though I have never heard of amps not being compatible with specific pre's but who knows. He is lending me a Halo 52 to test out and if it turns out to the amps he is going to sell me the Halo 52 / J23 both for 2k new, but I am still going to test things out again when I get home tonight.

 

[Cos]

Haven't had a chance to pick up the demo amp, but I can say that grounding the amp with the pre did not work. The mystery continues

 

[PENG]

but I can say that grounding the amp with the pre did not work.

I could have told you so but tried to be open minded. Base on the symptoms it definitely is not a typically ground loop issue. It may still be ground loop related but just not the typically type. It could still be related to the HDMI board, if in fact the Anthem preamp (that does not have HDMI) does not have the same issue, but are you sure about that? I know you said it didn't do it, but it was a while ago right?

 

[Cos]

Going to hook up the component inputs now and see what happens

 

[Rickster71]

I could have told you so but tried to be open minded. Base on the symptoms it definitely is not a typically ground loop issue. It may still be ground loop related but just not the typically type.

Peng, I agree.
My thinking was to try to rule grounding issues out. Since it could be done for free and with a little experimentation.

 

[Cos]

It most likely has something to do with the HDMI board I am guessing at this point as I am not having problems using TOS link and component cables to provide sound. Very interesting that this has happened on two 80.3 units. Still going to try the Halo Amp on Tuesday

 

[PENG]

It most likely has something to do with the HDMI board I am guessing at this point as I am not having problems using TOS link and component cables to provide sound. Very interesting that this has happened on two 80.3 units. Still going to try the Halo Amp on Tuesday

It sure is beginning more and more like it is related to that board. My guess is the Halo amp may be fine as it would seem likely to be a matter of grounding scheme compatibility. What model is the amp you are not having trouble with the prepro? I would like to check out its specs and any technical info I could find on the www.

 

[Cos]

Anthem MCA50/20

 

[PENG]

Anthem MCA50/20

Then it rules out the amp being the issue in the Marantz case because my AV7005 works fine with my MCA20.

 

[Cos]

The Marantz was used with my PVA 7 at the time which only uses RCA Interconnects, I did not have the MCA series at the time, but would have to agree

 

[Cos]

Halo amp did fix the issue as the loud hum was not present on Dolby D signals. Finally got around to getting the demo put together. Still doesn't make sense with the MCA series.