Got hum when I tried to hook up 2 subs

[darien87]

Hey all,

I did a search and didn't find an answer. Here's my problem:

I have a Denon 2805 receiver running Boston VR2 fronts that I was using a Boston PV500 10" sub with. It sounded great, but the PV500 didn't play as low as I wanted. So I went and bought an Earthquake MKIV10. My thought was to use the Earthquake as my main sub and then put the Boston behind the couch as kind of an extra oomph sub. I noticed that I was getting a little hum from the Earthquake, that I didn't get from the Boston. I tried a ground isolator, but I still get the hum from the Earthquake even with the sub cable disconnected. So I think there's a problem with the amp.

But anyway, my REAL problem is that I bought a Y-splitter (about $15 from Radio Shack) and an Acoustic Research sub cable to run to the Boston. But when I hooked up the splitter and connected the cable to the Earthquake, I got an extremely loud hum from the Earthquake. If I unplug it, the hum goes away. I hadn't even gotten around to connecting the Boston yet. The hum was so loud it totally freaked me out.

So what's the problem? Is it some kind of impedance mismatch that develops when I split the sub output signal?

HELP!!!

 

[toquemon]

Try connecting your sub to another socket. I'm suspecting your socket is not properly grounded. If you still have the problem, maybe your whole house isn't properly grounded.

 

[fergusonv]

Sounds like grounding problems to me. Hook the sub up to the same outlet you have your source on and use a cable known to be good, if the hum is still there then it's probably the amp.