your right, they are designed for use with a preamp...other wise they will be quiet,thin,etc...
I don't think there is any humcancelling there...there would be a dummy coil somewhere and some electronics to sum it all up. I might be wrong.
I have some alembguts in a box if you get to the point of needing some...most work,mostly...
(Message edited by elwoodblue on May 13, 2008)