My Impossible hum issue.


I have done everything that I have read about ground loops without success. My system is on an outlet that goes directly to the main panel with nothing else plugged into this circuit. None of the usual suspects are in this room like TV, radio, appliances or flourecent lighting. When using any other source other than the turntable, the system is dead silent. The turntable is on a wall mount turntable shelf. The speakers are on stands. This hum is only present when the turntable is the source. The hum is much louder with a MC cartridge than a MM cartridge. The hum is present when connected to an external phono preamp or the internal phono preamp of the my system preamp. I have tried every combitnation of grounding and not grounding. Whether or not I plug into the wall outlet or power conditioner/surge protector the hum persists. I beleive that I have tried everything except a different turntable. I have made sure power cables, speaker cables and interconnects don't cross each other. I've tried everything except moving to another state or hiring an exorcist.

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Showing 6 responses by adamsrpm

I have tried movig the ground wires using one from the turntable to both preamps and just one or the other preamp or no ground at all. I have been using an upgraded interconnect cable (Pangea turntable cables with integrated ground wire) and not the one that came with the turntable. The turntable is a Technics SL-100C (essencially the same as the SL-1500 without the built-in preamp). I can hear a sound if I tap on the on the tonearm...maybe there is something wrong there. My control preamp is a Parasound Halo P 6 and the phono preamp is a Parasound JC3 JR. I realize I have budget gear, but I don't think that's the problem. I appreciate the input. Thank you.

I dug-out the cheap cables that came with the turntable--including the power cable. Replaced the Pangea Audio phono cable and power cable. NO MORE HUM!!

I can't beleive it. Even at the highest gain setting--no hum. The phono cartridge is a Zu/DL-103 Mk.II. Everything sounds great, now.  Thank you to all who weighed-in on my problem.

Yes, I did connect the turntable directly to the Parasound P 6 with the same result. When going back to the turntable's stock cables, the hum stopped. Now I need to find some quality phono cables that don't cause a hum

Any suggestions for a phono cable at $100 level?

In my case, the hum increased with a higher gain setting. On my phono preamp  the choices are 40, 50 and 60. The MC cartridge that I have has a lower output than my MM, thus needing more gain. When I would switch the gain, the hum increased

 

The problem was solved by changing the phono cable, which was a left/right channel and ground all within one assembly, with the stock cable and ground wire that came with the turntable. The stock cable eliminated the hum. I had tried cheater plugs on the turntable, phono preamp, and control preamp in various combinations. My non-scientific conclusion is the phono cable was the cause! Thank you for all the input and I have increased my budget to $200+ for new cable and will make sure they are returnable.