Help with hum


I have a hum coming through both speakers. It is independent of volume control and completely stops when the preamp is disconnected. Disconnecting source from preamp has no effect. I have tried switching cables and tubes from channel to channel but it keeps humming. I have tried all combinations of cheater plugs on both amps and on the preamp but with no improvement. Any advice regarding cause or diagnosis is appreciated. Preamp is Cary SLP-98 and amps are Manley Neoclassic 300b's.

Thanks in advance,

Dave
dbrewer12345

Showing 1 response by mechans

Removing the preamp stops the hum. All of your circuit design issues regarding grounding and loops are not to be ignored.
However as an owner of a couple of tube pres including a Cary Low end brand. I can tell you that a bad tube can cause a number of different noise issues. I always took the stock 6SN7s out and rolled in a wide variety of old stock. Man oh man I couldn't believe how many fine testing for transconductance when put into a preamp how noisy and bad tubes reared their ugly character.
Thus my question Have you experimented with the tubes? How many hours do you think you have on your preamps tubes?
Obviously you know what I am going to suggest you do. Roll some different well tested tubes into the pre. I know the other sugestions seem more plausible at first glance, but so far grounded has not changed you problem