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Is ground noise really normal? If so, why?

I was playing my turntable for my kids tonight and remembering how amazing it is. But the ground noise between tracks was really bothering me and my kids asked what “that noise” was. I can’t imagine it’s not there during the songs. Am I missing something or is audible ground noise completely normal? I’ve had the tech over and I recall he thought it was normal. My turntable is a Clearaudio Performance DC and my phono preamp stage is a P-5xe Twenty. 

If this is normal, why? And are there companies out there that make phono stages that have no ground noise? It’s 2019 for godssakes. 

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Showing 1 response by normansizemore

normansizemore
601 posts
 
Ground noise is absolutely NOT normal.  I have many receivers and preamps and none of them exhibits ground noise.

Your phono section should be silent between tracks.  With no record playing and your gain turned up it should again be silent.  It’s like that on my Sansui 9090db, marantz 24, 1030 and 7, and completely black on my Phase Linear 4000 series one preamp.

Check your cartridge wiring (some tone arms differ in wiring configuration i.e. SME vs Grace).  Make sure the arm is properly grounded as should be the motor unit of the turntable itself..

Ground noise or hum would drive me nuts.  You may even have a bad cartridge lead.  

N.
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