First, please do the following checks regarding your connections to the home stereo:

1) Make sure you are not plugged into the home stereo's PHONO inputs. Player myst be connected to CD or TAPE inputs. FAQ entry here.

2) Turn the volume on your home stereo all the way down. Then turn the volume on the empeg all the way up to 0db maximum (but not overdriven past 0db). Then slowly turn up the volume on your home stereo until the music is at the appropriate listening volume.

3) Press PAUSE on the player (top button). Is there still noise? If not, cool, you have solved the problem.

4) If you still have noise, you might have a DC ground loop. FAQ entry here. Although this FAQ entry describes a ground loop in the car, ground loops can also develop in home stereos, too. Try powering the player from a different AC socket. Double check the cabling and make sure neither the cabling nor the player's chassis is touching any metal anywhere.

Let us know how it goes.