Audiophiles, your assistance if you please.

[Sindawe]

Background:  I have a Denon AVR-1010 that I use as the center of my home entertainment system.  Yes, its old but it has served me well and faithfully for 14+ years.  Connected in is my TV (17+ y/o), and through the TV is my Media PC (2+ y/o) for games, DVD and steaming audio from the 'Net.  Two sets of speakers and one sub-woofer are the outputs on the AVR.

The problem: With in the past month the AVR as developed a distinct electronic buzz at all volume levels, but it is lowest at the routine volume setting I use.  This buzz was only noticeable when the unit was first powered up, then dropped below detection by me after a few minutes.  Now it is constant and VERY annoying.

Things on the list to check:

1. Power down and disconnect the Media PC, see if the buzz goes away.

2. Power down and disconnect the audio out from the TV, see if the buzz goes away.

3. Power down and diconnect the sub-woofer, see if the buzz goes away.

4. Replace the surge protector 'tween the AVR and wall current, see if the buzz goes away.

The only other item on the electrical circuit feeding the AVR is my water cooler, and I've already unplugged that to see if helps.  No change.

Any other items I should investigate to see if I can remove the buzz?  I'd like to keep this unit running if I can, rather than drop some cash on a replacement.

[Vodka7]

Check the levels of the stuff leading into the receiver, especially the HTPC.  Could be something as simple as Windows moving your levels all the way up without notifying you.  Other than that, your list is exactly what mine would be, and in that order.

[Gewehr98]

I noticed you didn't mention a cable TV tuner or cable TV coaxial feed going into your TV.  My Jolida tube amp and Zenith DVD player started picking up serious hum once I attached the coax feed and digital cable tuner to the A/V system.  Evidently there's a ground loop in the connection, so my answer was a simple ground loop isolator, which I found at places like MCM Electronics or even Radio Shack. Problem solved.

Perhaps you have an open ground or ground loop problem?

[Sindawe]

Yep, I have a coax feed into the TV.  Did not think of that.  I'll stick that item into the list.  Thanks.

[LAK]

Another thing to check is that none of your connection or speaker cables have run along or across a power cord.

Failing everything else, your Denon may simply need the attention of a good tech for a check up, clean and tune up. Could be a number of things internal.

-------------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I agree with LAK, your receiver is probably due for a tune up.  Some of the electronics inside that box will wear out eventually.  If it's 14 years old, "eventually" has probably turned into "now."  That would be my first guess as to your problem.

Disconnect all of the sources from the receiver and see if the buzz is still audible.  If it's not, recconct the sources one at a time and test whether the buzz returns each time.  If it does then you'll have your culprit.

Have you made any changes to the system recently?

[RocketMan]

If it's not a ground loop, and the buzz sounds like it might be 60Hz, the filter capacitors in the unit's power supply might be giving out.  At fourteen years old, electrolytics will start to dry out.

[zahc]

AHH I'm having a hum problem of my own, and I don't think it's power noise either. It could just be something as simple as a bad or corroding connection somewhere. I had a most irritating case of noise in my car system that was just an RCA connector.

I have my turntable hooked up through my integrated amp's phono input. It was exhibiting a slight apparently 60hz hum. None of the other inputs did.

Well I went and wiggled the RCA cables and the hum went away. So I taped the cable up and thought I had it licked, but I was just listening to record and it would come back bad enough to hear over music, so I'd get up and wiggle the cable and it would go away.

Then I lost my right channel completely and it came back when I got up and wiggled the cable. I lifted the tonearm and started flexing the cable around and found that I can induce a much louder, obnoxious noise/hum by flexing the cable. I'll probably get an RCA cable and try to rewire the damn thing.

[Brad Johnson]

If it's not a ground loop, and the buzz sounds like it might be 60Hz, the filter capacitors in the unit's power supply might be giving out.  At fourteen years old, electrolytics will start to dry out.

+1

Could also be a failing final that's beginning to short internally.

Suggestion is same as others - time to have it cleaned and serviced. Figure $60-100 minimum, depending on how in depth you want to go and whether any parts need replacing.

Personally, I'd be tempted to put the money towards another unit. Pick up a closeout or display model for $200-400 and take advantage of all the updated goodies like full component switching/handling, 5.1 surround, an integrated DTS decoder, MP3 compatability, an optical input, front-panel inputs for accessories, discrete LFE out, etc.. Or you could splurge and get one of the new units that has full HDMI switching capability, as well as inegrated upconversion from standard sources to HD.

Denon has some good units, as does Yamaha (my personal favorite). Onkyo seems to be one of the best values right at the moment.

Brad