Need some help with an amp.


Once again, I need some information/help. I just got an Aragon 2004 from ebay. I am getting some humming/buzzing from the speakers. It is louder from the left speaker than it is from the right.

I disconnected everything, unplugged everything except the amp and the left the speakers connected and I'm still getting a hum. So, I plugged everything back in.

Now, for some observations.

1. Everything was plugged in and connected. My preamp was in standby. The switch on the amp was off. I unplugged the interconnects from the amp, so that amp is sitting there, plugged in with the speakers connected with the switch off and nothing hooked up to it in terms of interconnects. I grabbed an interconnect and got a loud hum from one of the speakers. The only thing that the interconnect was connected to was the preamp (NOT the amp).

2. I went to plug the interconnects back into the amp. The preamp is still in standby and the switch on the amp is off. With one of the interconnect plugs in my hand, I was reaching behind the amp to plug it in, my bare arm touched the amp and I got a little shock. Not a big one, but I can definitely feel a small current.

3. With the preamp in standby and the switch on the amp off and the interconnects disconnected from the amp, I touched my bare arm on the case of the amp and grabbed the connector on the interconnect with my other hand and felt the "shock" on my bare arm.

Can anyone tell me what's up?

Thanks.
tonyangel

Showing 3 responses by hifihvn

First of all, let the seller know about the problem. Handle this however you want.

If you have a digital multimeter and know what your doing, you could check the amp and preamp to a known good ground. This would at least tell you where the voltage is coming from.

The hum being louder in one channel doesn't sound normal either IMO.

The voltage being present on the amps cabinet can be dangerous. It could be capacitance somewhere causing it, or something that may have been worked on. Sometimes some amps do have a small voltage on them from moisture if the amp was cool, and can have condensation in them also.

If the amp has a grounded plug, make sure the outlet is properly grounded. If it just has a two prong plug, try reversing it in the outlet, if the prongs (plug) are the same size, allowing the reversal to be done, plugging it in. Check and try the preamp for the same (plug reversal).

If you try reconnecting this equipment, make sure you unplug everything (from outlets) first, before making, or changing any connection. With this voltage difference, if you plug something in and the center pin (RCA) makes contact first, before the outer shield does, it will feed that voltage to the delicate transistors (amp or preamp) and damage them. So be careful with this, and most important, make sure you don't get shocked.

Some amps will hum with nothing plugged in them. A shorting plug (RCA) on the inputs of the amp will prevent this. Some people make their own (the center pin is shorted to the shield), or you can buy some like these in this link.[http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/27-5335&scode=GS111&CAWELAID=240971936]
Be careful about plugging in the ICs to the amp only. If you touch/bump the center pin on the RCA, it could wipe out your speakers. Getting back to the long ICs, it could be the design, or a defect. Maybe some with better shielding would work. It sounds like you might be getting some AC hum through them. Don't get any braided type like Kimber braided. Get something that is more of a coaxial cable type. Also, buy from a place that allows trials. Before trying new ones try rerouting present ones, and try to keep them away from the power cords, especially parallel runs. Also, see if you could reverse (polarity, rotate AC plug in outlet) any AC plugs, if it could be done.
I'm slow. Magfan's post appeared while I was doing mine. Same idea, except I forgot to ask about the balanced cable idea.