Hum from both speakers...This is New Please read.

First off, thanks for all the responses! I tested so many different things yesterday, my head was numb by about 11pm PST. So to know avail, I could not make it go away. Even with cheater plugs on everything and nothing!!!!! Different plugs around the house.... My neighbors house!

So as I sit now, the AMP is now making it's way to the very kind and awesome tech's at Jolida. While it is there having it's hum chased down and killed, I am having the rest of the upgrades done and will be going to KT88 tubes when it gets back.

So for now, I have plugged my 1976 Pioneer SX 850 receiver again and I stand with my mouth agape at how great it really does sound!!!! Clean, smooth, rich, warm and vintage!

I may have to consider keeping it as the preamp and see how that works out.

Thanks again all and I will update when the traveling AMP returns home.

Troy

I'm not sure you have tried things in the right sequence.
1. Plug CD player into DAC into pre-amp
2. Plug pre-amp into amp
3. plug amp speaker out to speakers.

Turn everything on. Noise? no. Then plug another component in such until noise comes and you have found the problem. if yes, there is noise from 1-3, then turn everything off and then unplug the DAC from the pre-amp. Turn equipment back on. Noise? no. then it is either the DAC, the CD player or the cables between the DAC and the pre-amp or the cables from the CD to the DAC. turn components off, then unplug each cable one at a time and turn equipment on to see if noise is still there or gone.

The best and easiest way to isolate a bad piece of equipment or a ground loop is to start simple. one source to pre-amp to power amp to speakers and if noise is there, turn off, unplug cd first, then DAC then pre-amp then etc.

once you have found the component, and remember to do this is sequence so that only that component could be the problem, then isolate and repair the component or replace it. lots of times it is a ground loop. I have gotten rid of many ground loops by doing the following. 1). Plug all low level signal electronics (CD, DAC, pre-amp, tuner, TT, etc.) into a power conditioner/source and then plug that into a separate independent outlet. 2) plug the amp into their own separate independent outlets.

I have found that a minimum of three separate outlet runs to the circuit breaker panel is required. All low level electronics plugged into a power conditioner/device, amps plugged into their own separate power outlets.

Minori,

Thanks for the detailed plan. I like the very structured approach and as soon as the AMP returns, I am going to try your methods.

As far as the outlets, my problem is the distance from the source. Should I purchase long PC's (~12 feet to the next outlets)? What is better, Longer power cords or IC's?

I have some freedom in the room as far as placement and I have been considering a rack on the side wall and running longer speaker cables and/or a mix of components on the front wall. This would be helpful as space is an issue up front.

The System is in my home office. If you look at my system, you can see that everything is sitting on a credenza. I am not happy with this placement.

Some components can go in the cabinet, but I would like to have the Jolida, Pioneer and the VPI Scout (Being delivered Saturday 3/30/12) visible for looks and ease of use. I also have the Jolida Phono Stage, Jolida DAC and a Pioneer Elite CD player. Behind the cabinet are all the cables and a monster HT2500 power center. Any Ideas on optimum placement would be much appreciated.

Thank you for your time already. Any help on the above from you are anyone else that would like to support a newbie, would be great!

Wire World 7M Cable works awesome!

I recently fixed a hum issue that was coming through my speakers. The source believe it or not was my cable box. The way I eliminated it was a little unexpected but was suggested by a very knowledgeable audio friend.

I went outside to the cable box on the side of the house. IT was grounded to the faucet. I removed the ground wire. I then drove a 7 ft copper coated ground stake into the ground and re clamped the cable ground to it. All the hum disappeared at once. Magic.