Hi. I've been researching several different pre/pros and decided to give the 990 a try. I took delivery last week and so far I've not been displeased with its performance. I did note a couple of curious things with my unit when it arrived. The first thing I noticed was something was obviously loose in the box. The main remote was not in a bag and was tumbling around along with the batteries for the remote. The other interesting thing I noticed was that all of the balanced connectors on the back of the 990 had at some time been used. I could see a mark in the metal "bowl" that was obviously the result of a cable being inserted and removed. I called Outlaw and they assured me that my unit was not a "b" stock. So my questions are: has anyone else had their remote banging around in the box or is this an isolated incident? And has anyone else noticed signs of use on the balanced connectors? Thanks.

Did you buy any cables from outlaw? When I got mine two weeks ago,I bought some cables and they shipped them inside the 990 box. The 990 (inside box was not retaped )but the outside box was secure. Would be nice to see some plastic air bags around the 990 to take up the remaining volume. Tom

No, I didn't purchase any cables and both the inner box and outer box were sealed. It would be nice to have any accessories in a small box that fit securely inside the inner box. If you haven't used the balanced connections and you can still get to the back of your 990, would you check to see if there are any signs that connections had been made prior to your receiving your unit? Thanks.

My 990 remote and batteries were bagged in the box -- the other cables I purchased where boxed separately. On the other hand my XLR jacks also appear to have been used. I presume this was part of a QA test as my 990 was otherwise in pristine condition when I opened it a few days ago.

Thanks Steve. I assume then that all units are tested via the balanced connections at some point. When I spoke to Outlaw tech support they could not give me a definitive answer. How do you like your 7700 amp? Any hum or buzzing issues?

My unscientific testing produced no hum: select a quiescent optical input to avoid source signal issues and turn the 990's volume all the way up. I'll repeat this with an analog input once I've got everything hooked back up (tape, phono, and VHS are still on the floor :-)

Likewise I've noticed no buzzing or other electrical noise from the 7700, or 990 for that matter.

I'm using the balanced connectors and everything is plugged into the same outlet. I'll probably install a new outlet on its own circuit at some point, but that'd be for load reasons, not to solve any hum issue.

Hello I read a thread on the unrelenting hum and I hope that someone could help.

I have a hum that I hear in every speaker. I had an electrician friend of mine come over twice and for the most part have eliminsted the hum except from two locations. The cable box, which does not surprise me and my projector. I have the Infocus 7205. I am now running the 7205 on an (outside dedicated room) 15 amp circuit and there is no hum. I would like to reconnect the 7205 to the outlet in my Home Theater Room but then I have the hum.

This is my situation. Prior to having the electrician come over I dissconnected everything and re connected every piece of equipment. I still had the hum. However I ran a heavy duty extension cord to an 15 amp outlet outside my dedicated room and the hum was gone.
I have four dedicated 20 amps in my room.
Thirteen 20 amp circuits on my 100 amp service. My friend said that was not an issue. However most of the 20 amp circuits are on the one side of the box.
I was thinking of two things.
One was to move at least two of the 20 amp circuits to the other side of the box or make two 20 amp circuits 15 amps. I had read somewhere that there should be a balance in the circuit breaker box. If not you could have problems.
I believe that I could interchange the breakers without changeing the wire since it is 12 gauge wire for the 20 amp and I would be reducing the amperage not increasing it.

I do not know what else to do. I have a ground rod. I have a ground bar attached to my line conditioners and in turn hooked to a cold water pipe.
The electrician checked all of the circuits for proper grounding.

I would appreciate any ideas you would have and also your opinion on mine.

Thank you and....Happy New Year!!

Frank

I also had a hum problem that I traced to my comcast cable. I installed a iso-max vrd-1ff isolator on my incoming cable and the problem was solved.

The circuit breakers alternate between phases, top to bottom. So Breakers 1,5,9, etc. and 2,6,10, etc. are all ont the same phase or wire coming in from the street. If you move the circuts to the same phase, it could take care of the hum.

Is the ground rod connected to the water pipe? Chack and make sure as it should be.

Have you tried any of the clean power products from Monster. I had a slight hum, but upon hooking up a monster reference power center hts3500, the hum is gone.