will
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Hey Tony.
I can't say for sure that your amp does not have problems... But based on the info I have found and experiences... the amps having left Decware without having hummed there, and some users describing theirs as "dead quiet," and others having hum to various degrees implies potential for individual power/ground causes. And the amp circuits being simple and built for musical transparency, I was hypothesizing that Decware may be more sensitive to some power related hum issues than more heavily filtered amps. But if this is true, I don't think it necessarily rules out potential for technical issues in a given Decware amp... and thus the trouble shooting labyrinth.
These iFi things look interesting and if they work transparently, you may find they do more than "reduce" hum. If there is notable hum I guess that illustrates noise running through the amp, and it would seem that would negatively effect the electrons and progression of parts with vibration and noise. So presumably, aside from the hum itself still being there "under" the music, seems it must be messing with the signal even if we can't hear it with music playing. So clearing it up transparently may increase your musical potential... less noise, a more clear/resolving signal that could potentially improve the whole musical experience beyond relief from hum.
My hum has not been bad, and as I have gradually improved my power, system components, cables, etc, it is even more negligible (to me), subtle to none sometimes, though still there in a pretty noninvasive way at other times. But as I began solving it, I have been very careful to only to use tools that do not sacrifice anything else in the sound, choosing tools or cables or parts that can actually make the rest of the sound better. All the things I have kept in to help hum have helped the whole or the musical presentation. And using the same criteria when doing modifications and system/room tuning, I only use parts or filters or whatever that improve the sound without sacrifice, and most things I have done to help the sound have also helped noise.
Alternately, I find many things can do one thing well, and compromise other musical qualities along the way, so I get your concerns over adding things and how these things sound. For me, something might seem good on first impressions for solving "something," but then it might take more listening, and more recordings, to realize I may have tricked myself.... Even if some part, or cable, or component sounds pretty flawless and complete at first, it might be that it shifts the balances of detail and space, or the spectral balance enough that the system works great with some recordings and not so well as before with others. So often with generally positive improvements, I might need a few days with some serious listening using known test tracks to see if a potential upgrade may have also brought some downgrade.
The easiest signal evaluation tool for me is focusing on the very fine detail, inner detail, and space... decays, textures.... harmonic info from bass to the very highs. The most fragile and subtle information in my experience, once they are damaged, they are to various degrees truncated, so listening for these is for me a pretty simple way to hear if there are general signal issues too... if the finest stuff is good, chances are the rest is pretty right. I figure truncation of these subtler sound qualities comes from smearing, or noise, or parts masking the finest detail as it mixes with space. And if it shows in the subtle/fine areas, it is likely throughout. And for me, issues with these subtler, airier sound qualities are easier to discern than fuller/denser information. Using this listening tool, I can tell if I am solving smearing and improving harmonic complexity, or damaging it as I work to solve spectral balances or whatever. And with more harmonic complexity and space, the music gets realer and realer... richer and more dynamic, more empty space for sounds to rise out of with more subtlety and sweetness... that is as long as all else is in balance.
Anyway, for me, perhaps especially with "filtering" devices... like these new iFi pieces, I am cautious. So I always look to get them from a place where they can be returned, and listen very carefully for sacrifices if there are any even if they solve some things. I mean, component IEC inlets I have tried all sound different, some notably better than others on their own or in a given component... also resistors and caps and wires, though there are "family" resemblances, all sound different... Even the direction of a quality audiophile fuse is most times pretty noticeable. And these are pretty simple things! Then consider how different power conditioners sound different...and power cords, all different. So these iFi things may "have a sound" for better or worse, or both. But if your research leads you to think they might help, and if they work without any down sides and support improved musical experiences from now on, seems to me that in the context of our systems overall costs, a few hundred dollars seems a marginal expense in the big picture to me.
Some thoughts anyway.
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