Classic Over-reaction!


So today I was listening to a new vintage LP that had just arrived. And when I switched cables from my phono stage to my Hegel 160 integrated - just to note sonic differences between cables -- I noticed that all of a sudden - for the first time - a noticeable hum was emanating from the Hegel’s transformer.

Crap. What now?

I switched back to the original cables. Nothing. The hum was still there.

I tried different tubes in the phono stage. Nothing. The hum was still there.

I unplugged the Hegel from the wall outlet and plugged it into the power strip. Nothing. The hum was still there. I switched everything off in despair and moped upstairs for dinner.

Where I noticed the toaster oven was on. Hmmm. A few minutes later the toaster oven dinged and turned off and I went downstairs, turned the Hegel on, and the hum was gone.

Sigh....

128x128simao
thinking the xlr out of phase cancelling second toaster is best comment so far...
do we really need for toasters for dual differential ?
@tomic601 , wish I could, no space available. An excellent suggestion, thank you.
My "problem" really isn't much of one. Just my wife and I, (kids are grown and gone), my listening is typically on Saturday mornings for an hour or two, the AC is super clean at that time, no hum at all 99% of the time.
@atmasphere , best comment on this thread, as usual. Thank you.

Tom
Hat's off to @atmasphere . Many of us tend to get uber-paranoid over things that are probably inconsequential. I defer to a master amplifier maker over my paranoia.

But I'm still going to get a dedicated line installed...
I added a second toaster and wired it out of phase in a quasi balanced arrangement with XLR,  no HUM.  
Years ago, I had a B&K power amp that did the same thing when the TV was on in another room. The fix was to make sure the TV was off while I was listening to my system. To my wife's angst....
KellyAnn Conway knows what she's talking about.  Unplug the toaster permanently.  But be careful to approach it from its blind side, so it can't see you going for the wall socket.
I would add a power condition for your toaster. The hum should get a lot more musical.
+1 for Bill Peloquin. I have 4 dedicated circuits and had a constant hum. I tried the switching of cables, turning everything in the house off, one switch at a time...I finally started looking into power re generators and conditioners. I bought a PS Audio Dectect and the problem is solved. No toasters were involved.
Put the toaster on its own dedicated line.  Problem solved, and your toaster will sound better too. 

If you can plug this in to the same outlet as the toaster you may find it will not be a problem any longer.  The...  Audio Prism Quietline.

http://www.audioprism.com/quietline.html
Jeez, 700.00 filters, dedicated AC lines, just throw out the damn toaster! HUM GONE! 
buy a used PS Audio power filter. I got mine used for $700
Best money I ever spent. Cleaned all noise is gone. No hum. Dead silence when no signal is playing.
I had a dedicated line put in at our last place, but since moving I haven't gotten around to it, I will eventually should I continue with this hobby.

Or I'll sell everything and take my family to New Zealand for a few weeks.
tomcarr
see if you can get the dedicated line on a different phase leg at your breaker box....
My Smart Theatre Systems TA 242 amp develops a transformer buzz, chassis only ( not through the speakers ), when it is on and I am using my otr microwave. Of my many amps, it happens only to this one ( I haven't tried a cheater plug ).
Good points all. I have a dedicated "home-run" line from the breaker box to my dedicated listening room. I still have some issues with hum depending on which culprit (dishwasher, timer, washing machine, dryer, hair-dryer, toaster, microwave oven, fluorescent lights) are being used by the normal members of my household. Sigh...

Tom
The moral of this story is that the audio/video electronics need to be on a dedicated electrical circuit. The dimmers in particular are noise monsters. In most homes, its a lot cheaper to run a dedicated 20amp circuit than buying even a mid-priced AC conditioner.   
i read this last nite..
chuckled..
good story..
thought to myself about all those dedicated lines I have..
moved DAC back to rightful place along side preamp today...
...buzz in left channel...
€£¥^[]{}<> !!!!!!!!!

calmed down and found loose XLR out to left amp

sure I bumped it....

ha
I had an old Monster digital cable in my box of stuff which was how I finally figured out the cable was the issue.
@simao TBD I opened the barrel of the connector and inside there was epoxy or glue or something. I took it to my local hifi shop confirmed it wasn't passing a signal but their tech wasn't there so I left it with them. Also fired off an email to the US importer it's from Jorma Design pretty sure they're in Belgium. I bought it used not at the shop i took it.
Hey I was rearranging things on one of the shelves of my rack today knocked my Aries Mini off the shelf where it dangled by the digital cable. Rescued the Mini it's fine but my digital cable wont pass a signal. Let me tell you how many hours and reconnections of equipment it took before that finally dawned on me. Sigh.