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I have only come here seeking knowledge...

Hi. Just joined Audiogon. In my first search here I didn’t find anything close to what I was looking for.

Background:

I gave up on vinyl when I bought my first CD player back in 1985. In early 2017, I got the vinyl bug again and bought an Audio Technica AT-LP5 based on my research, (the price didn’t hurt either). Overall, I’ve been satisfied with it, however, in the last 7-10 days, I’m hearing a pretty loud hum between tracks. When the new track starts, It either disappears or is masked by the music. Sound is as good as before this hum started.

My Rig:

Tuner- NAD C 427 (2016)

CD Player- Denon DCD-600NE (2019)

Turntable- Audio Technica AT-LP5 with VM520EB/H cartridge (2017)

Phono Stage- Alpha Design Labs GT40a (2017)

Homebuilt Windows PC with Creative Labs Sound Card, and  Exact Audio Copy,

Audacity software. (2014)

Integrated amp- Cambridge Audio CXA60 (2016?)

Speakers- Wharfedale Diamond 240 (2016?) and Wharfedale Diamond 225 on the way for Winter in South Texas. Tried Monitor Audio Bronze 2s (arrived damaged,) and Q Acoustics Concept 20s (one speaker was defective.)

Insight Quest:

Being both retied, the wife raises her eyebrows whenever I bring up the subject of electronics. The newest piece I have is the CD player.

I’m putting money away for a new turntable. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I got it down to two. I’m thinking of either the Pro-Ject X1, or the Audio Technica AT-lp7. I’d really appreciate any help and/or ideas. Thanks!


badapple

Showing 6 responses by asvjerry

asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,069 posts
 
@lewm, that could be one answer, but there appears to be 'ho's' all over the board on that.
Personal stuff is running on 2 different circuits here; both with 'upstream' GFCI's.  For a time I had an annoying 'background' *hmmmmm* that started a quest....
Turned out to be a faulty cable with a bad ground side.
Swapping out the ballast on a fluorescent just elimated the *mmmm* of it.

Like Italian sport vehicles, audio is a cruel mistress.... ;)

@badapple, me neither on the third language.  Native english can be misunderstood with the drop of a verb, my spanish is limited and ghastly, and any 'off-planet' ones require mouth parts I don't have..... 

The only LED that I don't like is the streetlamp that's too close for comfort.  I'd slingshot it, but I'm the obvious 'perp' to do so....
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,069 posts
 
Oh, btw....Coming here for knowledge is sometimes asking for a drink....
...and getting hit with a firehose....;)

Cheers, J
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,069 posts
 
*G* Like the Firesign Theatre once noted, "There's a Seeker born every minute...."  But that's beside the point...;)

Another thing to consider, since you've located in the basement...
Fluorescent lights don't necessarily have to be on the same circut to induce 'racket' into the mix.  If the ballasts are the old oil-fill type and are getting on in years, they can really ruin your day.
The new electronic ones are cheaper to run and are quiet.  And, if the lamps are 4', they can be swapped out to LED's (but ONLY for the new ballasts....the old ones can't hang with the LED's).  And are brighter, cheaper to run, and are dimable....
Just saying....
Have fun, play loud,
J
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,069 posts
 
....unless it's a finished basement....then the above may not apply....

If it's a Finnish basement, the stairs must be rather long...
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,069 posts
 
Re TTs’ and most other items that I feel ’suspicious’ of their grounding....

When playing something ’relatively quiet and demure’, I’ve wander behind my ’stack’ with a test lead off of a multimeter. Find a unfinished case screw, and ground it to that which I know is grounded....

Anything that improves the ’quiet’ gets linked up....#12 with spades...preferably soldered....

(Fortunately, I’ve not grown a ’spider web’ of wire to do so....there’s already enough cables ’back there’....*L*)
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,069 posts
 
Spouse received the new Dylan LP today with the digital download option....*kewl* G*

Time to lit up the Maggies for her, and engage a TT.....with some subtle sub behind them. *S*
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