Something is very wrong in my HT

[SiliGoose]

First, I am posting this on multiple forums as I'd like to get as many opinions as possible. Sorry if you've read this elsewhere already.

I'm using a h/k AVR-7000 receiver as a pre/pro with a Sherwood 9080 amp as my power source. Everything is plugged in to a Monster Power HTS 2500.

I just found out my HT is on the same circuit breaker as my office (2 PCs always on). My wife plugged the vacuum cleaner in to an outlet in the office and we lost power to the HT (which was on) and the office. Simply too much stuff on the same breaker.

A quick re-set of the breaker restored power but there was a problem in the HT.

There was a very loud hum coming out of all 5 speakers. If I switched to stereo mode the hum came only from the L&R speakers. You could hear the source material under the hum but the hum was the dominant sound.

I immediately thought my new amp died. Not good at all.

Then I decided to disconnect the Sherwood amp and power the HT via the receiver's built-in amps. This didn't work either. There was no hum but there was no sound on any input. If I turned the volume to the highest level and put my ear to a speaker I could faintly hear the source material...but it was very faint.

The receiver is the common piece in both scenarios...I guess it's more likely something bad happened to it. It was on its way out anyway. I hope nothing happened to the amp. Is there any way I can test it (I don't have an extra receiver or preamp laying around)?

What could have happened here?




-Sili

[David Meek]

Oh Sili, that sucks! :x

Some questions:

1 - Can you run stereo outs from your CD player to the Sherwood direct and test the amp that way?

2 - Does the H/K have a headphone jack? If so, can you get anything out of that?

3 - Did the Monster show any sign(s) of taking a spike?

It does sound like the H/K has gone away, but it's strange that you're running via a surge protector and nothing glitched there. Hopefully the new Sherwood is still in good shape!




David - HTGuide flunky
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[SiliGoose]

David,

Thanks for the suggestions.

1 - Can you run stereo outs from your CD player to the Sherwood direct and test the amp that way?

Hmmm...I never thought about that. I'll give that a shot as soon as I get home from work today.

2 - Does the H/K have a headphone jack? If so, can you get anything out of that?

Another great suggestion. Yes, it does have a headphone jack. I will also give this a try.

3 - Did the Monster show any sign(s) of taking a spike?

Well, I cracked open the case to see if the fuse had blown. It did not.
I'm really at a loss as to what happened.

Everything has remained unplugged over night. I'll try your suggestions later today. [fingers crossed]Hope everything's OK[/fingers crossed]




-Sili

[David Meek]

My pleasure. Hope everything goes well this evening. :T




David - HTGuide flunky
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[Andrew Pratt]

I'd unplug the receiver from the wall and let it reinitialize when you plug it back in. Also there maybe a reset function that you can do (I could with the Denon 3300)

Have you tried anything else plugged into the monster? Does the receiver work if plugged into another outlet?

PC's are horrible about introducing noise into AC lines so you'd be best to move the HT off that if possible..of course that doesn't help right now.

[Markj]

Sorry to hear about your problems Sili. Have you tried plugging your stuff directly into the wall bypassing the monster? Also try using a cheater plug just to discover which unit is creating the hum.

[Lex]

If I turned the volume to the highest level and put my ear to a speaker I could faintly hear the source material...but it was very faint.

Sounds like you lost a torrydial transformer's major capacity, maybe even a power supply problem to your amps. That's my guess. I think the HK has serious internal woes, perhaps brought on by a spike, at the instance just before everything got cut at the breaker, or maybe just a huge coincidence that it went at this time. (what are the odds? million to 1?)

Anyway, I am guessing your amp is ok. I too experience some hum, or have recently in my HT. Just not able to track it down as yet. Goodluck. Try another receiver if you can borrow one, until you get your pre-pro.

Lex

[SiliGoose]

As usual, I think Lex put it best:

I think the HK has serious internal woes

That seems to be where the problem is. I first wanted to rule out the amp as the problem. I performed David's suggestion of hooking my CD player directly to the Sherwood amp. It played without the loud hum I experience previously. One word of warning to anyone trying this hook-up...with no volume control it plays at like maximum volume....it shook walls and my ears are still ringing!!

Ok...that means the amp is OK. Whew!

After leaving everything else unplugged over night I thought I'd give the receiver another shot. Nope...still get a horribly loud hum when used as a preamp and can just barely hear the music when using the receiver's amps. One oddity this time though: when using the receiver's amps all the bass was sent to the center speaker. The rest of the spectrum was playing through the L & R but again, at such a low volume that I had to put my ears to the speakers to hear it. Odd...perhaps a DSP got fried too.

Anyway, thanks to you guys I was able to determine that the amp (my first step into separates) is working properly. The receiver is gone however. I had hoped to sell it and wait for more options in the entry level pre/pro category. Not any more. Now I'll just wait for my Outlaw 950 order to come up (which might be a long wait) and go then.

Until the Outlaw order comes up (or I find a nice used DC2 for a rediculous price ) I'll be listening to my crappy TV speakers.

Thanks again guys!




-Sili

[Kevin P]

The HK might need a hardware reset. Check the owner's manual to see if there is a hidden button (perhaps behind the volume knob) or combination of keys that will initialize the unit. You'll have to reconfigure/recalibrate the receiver afterward, as this will completely erase the memory.

If that doesn't work, then there's a hardware problem with the receiver.

KJP




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[SiliGoose]

Well, now things have changed.

I looked through the receiver manual for a reset, per Kevin's suggestion. That did the trick. The receiver seems to function normally (and sound good) when using its own amps.

Encouraged by that turn of good luck I then hooked the L&R channels back up to my Sherwood amp. I still get the hum...just as bad as before.

I'm pretty sure there was no hum when I connected the CD player directly to the amp. I could be wrong as the volume was so impossibly loud that it's possible the hum was there and I missed it. Again, I'm pretty sure it wasn't there but I can't be 100% positive.

So now, it's either a broken amp (doubtful -I hope) or the pre-amp outs on the receiver are bad. Anyone care to guess how likely that is?

Maybe a local HT store will let me hook the amp to their equipment to test it. ??




-Sili

[David Meek]

Sili,

Have you tried using different cables for the pre-outs/amp? It's probably not the cause of the hum, but in the interests of eliminating possibilities . . . . :?

My apologies on the max volume. 8O




David - HTGuide flunky
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[Lex]

Good point David. It very well could be a cable. However, I really doubt that hum is internal to the amp. I mean ayou didn't hear it when the pre-amp was bypassed right?

Are you eliminating a ground loop as a possible problem?

If your that concerned, is there somewhere to take the amap to test it?

Doug

[SiliGoose]

I mean ayou didn't hear it when the pre-amp was bypassed right?

Right...well, I think so. Due to the volume I can't be totally sure but I didn't think I heard the hum.

Are you eliminating a ground loop as a possible problem?

What should I do to eliminate this as a possibility? I've tried plugging the amp into different sockets. Not sure if that's what you mean though.

is there somewhere to take the amap to test it?

In my mind, that is the next logical step. I'll have to find a local audio dealer that will allow me to use their equipment. Not sure what my chances are like there.




-Sili

[Andrew Pratt]

to elimiate ground loop either use a three prong to two prong adapter (aka cheater plug) or simply plug both the Sherwood amp and the HK receiver into a single power bar (that way they both share the same ground)

[Markj]

Do forget with you changing things around your cable position might have changed. Look at were your power cords are. Make sure they are not next to interconnects or speaker cords.

[Clive]

I am sorry guys but my first reaction would be to find out from my local repair electronic store just how much it would cost to do the simple test/s on the units, take them or it there and let them tell me. I mean it could even just be a regulator, who knows. but the small repair shop around the corner might just be all that you need. :heh:

Forgive me!




CLIVE




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