Help wanted. My NHT M00-S00s are whistlingI

OK, boys and girls; time to put your thinking caps on and help me solve a problem w my powered speaker/PC set up, although I'm pretty sure its in the speakers. I just bought a used pair of NHT M-00s (powered monitors), NHT S-00 powered sub and PVC passive volume control. They are hooked up as follows- USB digital output from my Music Vault server using Windows Media player to Keces DAC. Analog out via RCAs to PVC controller. RCAs out of PVC to RCA full range input on S-00 powered sub. Only output on sub is 1/4" phono jacks to phono jack input on M-00 monitors. Sounds great, but what's that very high pitch whine or whistle coming from the monitors? Hmmm, it's there, regardless of whether there is anything playing on Media Player or not. Volume and pitch of whine/whistle does not vary w PVC volume control position. Just under the upper limit of audibility to me. Try re=plugging all cables to no effect. Try changing AC outlets to no effect. Shut off wireless router to no effect. As I am plugging and unplugging I realize that I think it's there, even though the RCA cables are NOT plugged in to the subwoofer. So I cycle the sub off and on a few times. Each time its the same. Turn on the sub (which turns on the monitors). Silent. In approx 30 sec or so, I start to hear the whistle. It "spools up" in pitch almost like a hard drive spools up, but starts higher pitched and ends up just below the upper limit of my hearing. Turn off sub and sub and monitors shut off w a pretty good thump and the whistle stops immediately.

In summary, its a very high pitched whistle or whine that is present in the monitors whenever I power up the sub, regardless of whether the amps are getting an audio signal, or just AC power, and regardless of whether they sub/monitor set is hooked up physically to the DAC, and regardless of whether the wireless is operating. Not affected by position of PVC volume control.

Any ideas? Seller is long time A'gon member w great feedback. He says it was working perfectly when shipped. I'm not asking about responsibility, I just want to see if your collective wisdom can give me anything else to try. Given the weight of the sub, I'd really don't want to start shipping the sucker around.

Thanks, all.