Yes. The Monster does "condition" the cable signal.
I did have problems with the cable before the power center. I had to disconnect the cable whenever I was going to use the HT. It suxs, until I got the power center and a very notable difference happened. The cable does not create any extra hum anymore.
I do suspect that the amp, as I read in some reviews of the 770, is causing some noise once is conected to an input. Even with the inputs with no signal, just connecting the cable into the amp from the preamp, causes the hum. Connecting the speaker to the amp and no cables in the amp inputs, there is no noise. So I guess that the amp is extremely sensitive to any ground unbalance at the inputs.
cheers.
