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Phono Stage Hiss

Can the forum advise on source and possible cures for Phono Stage Hiss/Hum?

I have noticed a faint hiss-hum emanating from my phono stage. The system is a Shelter 90X, SME IV tonearm, Silver Audio Silver Breeze Cable to Pass Labs X-Ono.

Narrowing down the source of the problem:
1) Only audible when the tone arm is up;
2) Only audible when the pre-amp (Pass Labs X1) is in high gain mode;
3) No other sources (tuner, cd player or open channel) are impacted even in high gain mode;
4) Hiss/Hum is eliminated when the tone-arm cable is disconnected from the phono stage (Pass Labs X-Ono).

This would suggest that the problem is noise from the cable, tonearm or shelter 90X. I haven't tried swapping any of these out.

It may be entirely normal, but I thought I'd ask any how. Your thoughts are appreciated. The easiest solution is, of course, simply getting LPs back rotating.
tgonzales

Showing 1 response by tgonzales

tgonzales OP
30 posts
 
Thanks for the clarification of hiss vs hum. I only get hum (which kinda-of sound similar but not the same) when I disconnect the ground wire at the back of the X-Ono.

I agree it is simply the noise floor. I'm tempted to use the low-gain at pre-amp volume rather than a lower volume and hi-gain. That seems to lower the noise floor further.

Thanks again...
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