Quote:smoitessier wrote:
I received my new super zen, and I have quite a lot of hum (for my taste), I don't know what to expect from a tube amp, but when I turn it on the amp buzzes in the low frequencies (similar to a refrigerator). After about 30 sec later after the tubes warm up, the 97 db (super 8" Audio Nirvana) FR speakers pick it up, and my living room is flooded with the sound, which I notice in between tracks or low musical passages.
Using my old 89 db speakers the hum is much lower, but I can still hear the amp itself from about 10 feet if the room is quiet.
I have tried identifying the source, removing all interconnects, and the input tube, but no luck, hope it's the rectifier tube. After 40 hours of break-in I don't notice any difference.
btw i'm in France with the 240V version, I'm curious if others have had the same experience both in the states and Europe
Assuming your wall power outlet has a proper Earth Ground and you do not have a subwoofer connected via speaker level connection then I would tend to agree it might be the Rectifier. Over the years I have had a couple rectifiers produce noise in both channels.
As far as how much Hum you should expect from the Super Zen. I have Klipsch RF-7 mains (102db) and Mid Bass Module (350 watt amp reinforcing 50 to 150hz frequency range). My system is Brutally Revealing to any High or Low frequency distortion.
With my Oppo BDP-105D player ON and connected to my Super Zen at 50% volume setting:
There is NO low frequency Hum from my Mid Bass Module with my ear 6 inches from it's 12" driver.
There is a very faint High Frequency Hiss from my RF-7 horns with my ear 6 inches from the horn. With my ear 24 inches from the horn I can not hear any hiss.
So in my case the Super Zen is for all practical purposes Dead Quiet. I would think yours should be also with nothing connected to the amp other than your passive speakers. This leads me back to suspect the Rectifier or wall outlet Earth Ground ???