Killing the Buzz
There are many reasons why you might get a hum or buzz from your stereo system or home theatre. So let’s so through some possibilities and see if we can kill that buzz once and for all. We’ll start by turning on all the components in your system.
Can you hear the hum on all sources?
By Source I mean anything that plays media or allows you to receive media. Some examples are CD or DVD players, Radio Tuners, Turntables, Satellite Receivers or Cable TV boxes. Is the hum constant when you switch from your DVD player to your Satellite Receiver or cable box? Is the hum still there when you switch to the radio? If you have hum all the time no matter what source you are using, the hum is likely the result of a ground loop. If the hum is only present on one source, try plugging that one piece of equipment into a different wall plug that is on a different circuit in your home and see if that fixes the problem. If this doesn’t help, try using a different set of audio cables between the problem piece of equipment and your receiver.
Still hearing the buzz?
Here’s another thing you can do if you have cable TV. Try removing the cable the comes into your home from the back of your cable box. If the hum goes away, the solution is simple, you need to make your way down to your local electronics shop and buy a device called a groundbreaker. This works very well and about 90% of the time eliminates the hum when you reconnect your cable box using one of these devices.
If none of this has helped, try checking all the cables in your system, if they are the ultra cheap cables that seem to be packaged with your average stereo equipment, you may want to try better quality cables. A higher quality cable will have better shielding that will be better at preventing noise from entering your system. There are also a wide array of power bar products that can help to kill the buzz.
Another possibility is that your have old or faulty wiring in your house. In large cities where there are many homes in close proximity the collective electromagnetic interference from all the electrical devices being used by your fellow citizens can kick up a lot of noise in your audio and video. For this type of situation a full blown power conditioner may be needed. There are many such products on the market.
There is also the possibility that something else in your home may be the culprit. Try unplugging lamps, switching off anything on a dimmer switch, neon lights and lava lamps are often problematic. Also try turning off anything with a motor or a fan as these can cause electromagnetic problems as well.
Other potential sources of hum and noise:
Faulty Power adaptors Ceiling Fans Air Conditioners, purifiers, ionizers Ceramic Heaters Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers Power Tools in use nearby Wireless Electronics
Once you have ruled all these things out only one possibility remains. You actual stereo or AV receiver may be at fault. Sometimes problems with the circuitry in your Stereo or Surround receiver can be the cause of unwanted noise!
Can you hear the hum on all sources?
By Source I mean anything that plays media or allows you to receive media. Some examples are CD or DVD players, Radio Tuners, Turntables, Satellite Receivers or Cable TV boxes. Is the hum constant when you switch from your DVD player to your Satellite Receiver or cable box? Is the hum still there when you switch to the radio? If you have hum all the time no matter what source you are using, the hum is likely the result of a ground loop. If the hum is only present on one source, try plugging that one piece of equipment into a different wall plug that is on a different circuit in your home and see if that fixes the problem. If this doesn’t help, try using a different set of audio cables between the problem piece of equipment and your receiver.
Still hearing the buzz?
Here’s another thing you can do if you have cable TV. Try removing the cable the comes into your home from the back of your cable box. If the hum goes away, the solution is simple, you need to make your way down to your local electronics shop and buy a device called a groundbreaker. This works very well and about 90% of the time eliminates the hum when you reconnect your cable box using one of these devices.
If none of this has helped, try checking all the cables in your system, if they are the ultra cheap cables that seem to be packaged with your average stereo equipment, you may want to try better quality cables. A higher quality cable will have better shielding that will be better at preventing noise from entering your system. There are also a wide array of power bar products that can help to kill the buzz.
Another possibility is that your have old or faulty wiring in your house. In large cities where there are many homes in close proximity the collective electromagnetic interference from all the electrical devices being used by your fellow citizens can kick up a lot of noise in your audio and video. For this type of situation a full blown power conditioner may be needed. There are many such products on the market.
There is also the possibility that something else in your home may be the culprit. Try unplugging lamps, switching off anything on a dimmer switch, neon lights and lava lamps are often problematic. Also try turning off anything with a motor or a fan as these can cause electromagnetic problems as well.
Other potential sources of hum and noise:
Faulty Power adaptors Ceiling Fans Air Conditioners, purifiers, ionizers Ceramic Heaters Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers Power Tools in use nearby Wireless Electronics
Once you have ruled all these things out only one possibility remains. You actual stereo or AV receiver may be at fault. Sometimes problems with the circuitry in your Stereo or Surround receiver can be the cause of unwanted noise!
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