For the hum, try reversing the interconnects at the respective speaker and source ends. Usually a shield is hooked to one end and if you have it the wrong way you could get hum/noise.
All you need is a volume control to run those speakers, whether it's an active or passive preamp. If your AV receiver has stereo preamp outputs, you can use those. Sometimes the speakers themselves have a volume control, but I know it's a pain to adjust each speaker every time you want to change volume.
You might even be able to use an adapter and run the output from a volume-controlled headphone output to the RCA inputs on your speakers, but the results will depend on the design of the particular headphone circuit.
All you need is a volume control to run those speakers, whether it's an active or passive preamp. If your AV receiver has stereo preamp outputs, you can use those. Sometimes the speakers themselves have a volume control, but I know it's a pain to adjust each speaker every time you want to change volume.
You might even be able to use an adapter and run the output from a volume-controlled headphone output to the RCA inputs on your speakers, but the results will depend on the design of the particular headphone circuit.
