Question for modern Integrated Luxman Amplifier owners( Low Level Hum with my 507MK2)

UnkleCorky

UnkleCorky

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NJ
Hey Gang,

So I was tinkering with my turntable last Sunday (it's on the same credenza as my luxman), and because I was basically at ear level to the amp, I noticed a low-level hum emanating from the left side vent. I put my ear over both vents, and it was mostly coming from the left one. The hum/buzz isn't audible with any music playing and could only be noticed in a dead silent room from about 2 feet away max. Is this low-level hum normal, or something I should address with my dealer? As I said, it's not audible from a distance or w/ music playing, but it has me a bit annoyed now, especially if it's a defect of some sort. The amplifier is less than a year old and was purchased new. So far, I've experimented with unplugging everything for 24 hours, bypassing my Audioquest surge protector, and plugging directly into the wall with no changes to the low-level hum/buzz.


Appreciate any feedback/Advice from Fellow Luxman Owners!
 
First, welcome to the forum.

Could be a little DC on your AC line that makes the transformer hum. I use and need a power conditioner that filters DC and it quiets everything down.

Something like a ps audio hum buster 3 or similar will do the trick. There are other inexpensive alternatives that I can link to if you want to try something.
 
A couple of things to check: a) make sure that your TT is properly grounded, and b) try moving the amp away from the TT and see if it the hum goes away.
 
Thank you very much for the welcome! I will post my equipment for my main listening setup this weekend. I am also building a smaller listening setup for my bedroom, but the Luxman amp issue has sidetracked me.

Appreciate you posting those more affordable power conditioning options. Certainly a low-risk solution worth trying. I ordered the Audiolab Model in silver from amazon, and it should be delivered early next week. If that doesn't do the trick, I'll have to bug my dealer and see his thoughts. If the hum is still present on his more expensive conditioners, something else is possibly going on.
 
I already ordered the Audio Lab DC Block, as it was in silver, and wanted everything to match lol. Hopefully, it does the trick!
 
nicoff said:
A couple of things to check: a) make sure that your TT is properly grounded, and b) try moving the amp away from the TT and see if it the hum goes away.
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Yup! That was what I initially anticipated the problem to be, as it was a similar-sounding hum to an ungrounded TT connection. I verified I was grounded correctly and ended up completely removing the TT from the equation to rule it out. No change.
 
I pretty much guarantee it’s DC hum on the line. I’m not familiar with unit you ordered but should be good. I first discovered my issue with Spectron monoblocks. It was unbearable and took two humbuster 3’s in series to totally eliminate the issue. Even new dedicated AC lines straight to the panel didn’t fix my problem. My burmester 948 works like a charm.
 
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UnkleCorky said:
If the hum is still present on his more expensive conditioners, something else is possibly going on.
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Unless the power conditioner device specifically advertises DC blocking or you get a confirmation from the manufacturer, assume the device does NOT have this capability.

It also varies from setup to setup in terms of matching. Some people need to get through different brands of DC blockers to find one that matches their setup / AC environment. Some people find using a DC blocker reduces but not totally eliminates transformer hum.

If you bring the amp to your dealer, there is a significant possibility that you may find it does not hum even if taking away all power conditioners, proving the problem with your AC.
 
Fair enough. At the very least, I could rule out that nothing is wrong with my Luxman if there is no audible hum at the dealer, which is my plan if the AudioLAB DC blocker doesn't do the trick. Both are good starting points and can help me determine what direction to take in possibly eliminating the hum.

By the way, I'm planning on adding a Lumin U2 mini to my upcoming bedroom listening setup soon.
 
joeinid said:
I pretty much guarantee it’s DC hum on the line. I’m not familiar with unit you ordered but should be good. I first discovered my issue with Spectron monoblocks. It was unbearable and took two humbuster 3’s in series to totally eliminate the issue. Even new dedicated AC lines straight to the panel didn’t fix my problem. My burmester 948 works like a charm.
Click to expand...

I certainly hope so! The Audio Lab DC blocker arrives tomorrow, so it would be excellent if I could eliminate the problem on my first attempt. It seems like the hum with your monoblocks was pretty significant. That had to be really frustrating as even my luxmans slight hum that can't be heard from more than 2 feet away has been detracting from the enjoyment of my system. I looked up the Humbuster 3, and it seems to have been discontinued :(
 
Unfortunately ps audio discontinued them but some were for sale a while ago. I’ve recommended the CMX-2 to several people and all had good luck except for one gentleman with a McIntosh multi channel amp. It helped but didn’t eliminate it in his home theater setup.

Looking forward to reading good news tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
 
So update time. Despite my high hopes, the Audiolab DC block was a bust. No reduction in the hum whatsoever. One unusual thing about the Audiolab DC block was that you needed to use one of the included power cords for the AMP end. So if one had a nice power cable they enjoyed using, they would be out of luck with this solution. Another thing I'm noticing is that when the turntable is powered on, the hum is slightly louder. However, eliminating the turntable from the equation has no factor on the audible level of buzz.

Return was pretty painless, and the Emotiva CMX-2 is already on its way!
 
joeinid: How you liking the L-595aSE? I had the 595 and the 509x here both at the same time, for some reason most of my speakers I use preferred the 509x.... No low level hum or hiss here! Enjoy the 595, I did when I had it.
 
The 595 is awesome but like anything else, it’s speaker dependent just like your other amps. I’ve found that you can’t just buy one amp or integrated and expect every speaker to sound perfect. The reverse is even more true. Get one speaker and expect every amp to make them sound great.

Speakers and amps are a system play and codependent.
 
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