Humming Issue - Complicated -PLEASE help

[nicolairob]

If there's a solution It's bound to be found on here. Guys, here is my issue that's got me confused, irritated, etc:

6 months ago:

I was using my Denon 4308 exclusively until I purchased a Parasound HCA 2003A
to drive my mains and center, so I used the Denon to pre amp those channels. Now as soon as I hooked it up, I got humming with NO OTHER components even hooked in. So, I got a cheater plug, hooked everything up and problem was solved -NO hum at all.

Present:

1). System had been working fine until last week when my girlfriend called me and said, when I turned the Parasound Amp on it made a loud buzz and I think I saw "light" come out of back.

2). I disconnected and unplugged EVERYTHING (except for speakers). I then hooked up only the Denon and Parasound together, trying different sets of interconnects and got LOUD humming with ground lifted, grounded, and plugged into DIFFERENT circuits in the house.

3). I purchased a Monster 1650 power conditioner at best buy and plugged ALL components into it WITH the Parasound remaining grounded. Now, I have no humming when just the Denon and Parasound are powered (remember, in #2 above, I was getting hum from them before adding this power conditioner). However, when I power either my Direct TV Receiver or Oppo BDP 83 and respectively source select on the Denon, THEN I get humming from the speakers. Again, it's ONLY occurring now whenever I have one of these components powered and selected on the Receiver. Also, if I unplug the Parasound from the Power Conditioner now it makes a very loud hum. And, if I put the cheater plug on it and plug it into the power conditioner, it makes an even louder hum.
So, again if I leave the Parasound grounded and do not have my Satellite Receiver or Oppo powered = NO hum. Again, it's ONLY occurring now whenever I have one of these components powered and selected on the Receiver

Your help is most appreciated
thanks,
Rob

 

[highfigh]

If there's a solution It's bound to be found on here. Guys, here is my issue that's got me confused, irritated, etc:

6 months ago:

I was using my Denon 4308 exclusively until I purchased a Parasound HCA 2003A
to drive my mains and center, so I used the Denon to pre amp those channels. Now as soon as I hooked it up, I got humming with NO OTHER components even hooked in. So, I got a cheater plug, hooked everything up and problem was solved -NO hum at all.

Present:

1). System had been working fine until last week when my girlfriend called me and said, when I turned the Parasound Amp on it made a loud buzz and I think I saw "light" come out of back.

2). I disconnected and unplugged EVERYTHING (except for speakers). I then hooked up only the Denon and Parasound together, trying different sets of interconnects and got LOUD humming with ground lifted, grounded, and plugged into DIFFERENT circuits in the house.

3). I purchased a Monster 1650 power conditioner at best buy and plugged ALL components into it WITH the Parasound remaining grounded. Now, I have no humming when just the Denon and Parasound are powered (remember, in #2 above, I was getting hum from them before adding this power conditioner). However, when I power either my Direct TV Receiver or Oppo BDP 83 and respectively source select on the Denon, THEN I get humming from the speakers. Again, it's ONLY occurring now whenever I have one of these components powered and selected on the Receiver. Also, if I unplug the Parasound from the Power Conditioner now it makes a very loud hum. And, if I put the cheater plug on it and plug it into the power conditioner, it makes an even louder hum.
So, again if I leave the Parasound grounded and do not have my Satellite Receiver or Oppo powered = NO hum. Again, it's ONLY occurring now whenever I have one of these components powered and selected on the Receiver

Your help is most appreciated
thanks,
Rob

You don't want to power equipment with different circuits. You should use ONE circuit for all of it. If you absolutely must power a TV or subwoofer from another circuit, DO NOT USE A GROUND LIFT ADAPTER (cheater plug). You may have a bad neutral or one with resistance at several points and this is a good way to fry things.

Since the fireworks, it sounds like a circuit trace or component in the Parasound went out. Have it repaired. Trying to troubleshoot it now is futile. Also, have a good electrician check your house's wiring.

Your house wiring has problems and it may not meet code WRT grounding.

 

[nicolairob]

You don't want to power equipment with different circuits. You should use ONE circuit for all of it. If you absolutely must power a TV or subwoofer from another circuit, DO NOT USE A GROUND LIFT ADAPTER (cheater plug). You may have a bad neutral or one with resistance at several points and this is a good way to fry things.

Since the fireworks, it sounds like a circuit trace or component in the Parasound went out. Have it repaired. Trying to troubleshoot it now is futile. Also, have a good electrician check your house's wiring.

Your house wiring has problems and it may not meet code WRT grounding.

If the Parasound is bad, would it not cause the hum even when the Oppo or Satellite receiver is turned OFF? Also, when I unhook the Denon from it and plug my Placette RVC into it, it plays through the Oppo flawlessly.

 

[3db]

If you use your Denon to power your front speakers nad you get no hum, then you've narrowed it down to two possibilities.

1.) The pArasound is at fualt and needs tio be repaired.
2.) The pre-amp outputs on your Denon went bad and needs repairing.

Its more likely the first one since you mentioned a flash of light.