Advice on Pre-pro, AVR, stereo pre+AVR w/ HT bypass

[TLS Guy]

My Denons are made in Japan & my ATI amps are made in the USA.



I use Cox Cable. So when I hook up my cable line in my HT room, it creates a very loud HUM noise on my amps.

I have 3 options:
1) get a ground isolator for the cable line
2) unplug the cable line unless I am actually watching TV (rare)
3) use XLR connectors.

Right now I'm using option #2.

But next week, I'm going to try the XLR-to-RCA cables to see if that cancels the hum noise.

In the near future (probably Christmas) I'm planning on using XLR-XLR cables when I get my new Pre-pro.

xlr connectors will not stop a ground loop. They just stop pickup of hum induced in cables., not potential between grounds.

You have two options, use a ground isolator, or really bond your cable ground to the house ground and system ground.

I had the same problem with direct TV, and you can not use a ground isolator because of the phantom powering.

So redo your house ground. I have three 7' copper rods driven into the ground bonded together with 4 gauge copper. The Direct TV grounding block is tied to this ground. The FM antenna uses the same grounding block.

At the studio all grounds and rack rails are bonded to a copper gauge 4 star cluster ground system.

The system is very quiet. When the Direct TV guy left it was just roaring!

For I start I would put a grounding block on your TV cable line where it comes into the house. Home Depot have them in their electrical department. Bong this block to your house ground with heavy copper and see what happens.

 

[Treyster]

Thanks for the input folks. I have a few new avenues to explore.

 

[ratso]

i haven't read every response in this thread but i thought i may be able to share my input. i have combined my 2 channel system and HT system very nicely. IMO the best way i have found to do this is to buy your main speakers for 2 channel use and have a 2 channel preamp that has a HT bypass feature as you mentioned in the thread title. this gives you flexibility to set up the rest of your systems as you like. i think you would be very happy with the sound of this setup. drawbacks are of course, it's not the cheapest way to do it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've had dedicated 2Ch Analog Class-A Preamp systems in the past and I don't see any advantages over a Pre-Pro or receiver in terms of Sound Quality.

If the Pre-pro or AVR is set to Pure Direct (or Equivalent), the sound is exactly the same as a dedicated 2Ch Analog Class-A preamp.

So I would not waste anything on getting both a 2Ch preamp + a pre-pro. I would rather put that extra cash on the pre-pro or speakers.

 

[TLS Guy]

I've had dedicated 2Ch Analog Class-A Preamp systems in the past and I don't see any advantages over a Pre-Pro or receiver in terms of Sound Quality.

If the Pre-pro or AVR is set to Pure Direct (or Equivalent), the sound is exactly the same as a dedicated 2Ch Analog Class-A preamp.

So I would not waste anything on getting both a 2Ch preamp + a pre-pro. I would rather put that extra cash on the pre-pro or speakers.

I agree with that completely. The only reason to have a two channel pre amp in the rig is for LP. The pre amp can be in proximity to the turntable, and you have volume, tone control filtering etc, at the turntable. Then you send the appropriate preamp output, to a line input with the pre/pro in pure direct mode.

Like this.

 

[bandphan]

ok, ok but I still love this or this

I love the old mac designs and their amps are built like tanks