Remove Radio Station Background Noise

Sometimes there is nothing more you can do besides ferrite beads. Not that I recommend them, but they can work if done right.

The problem isn't your cable (XLR or RCA), the problem is RF signals (radio) are getting into your phonostage and it is demodulating them.  You must low-pass filter the signal BEFORE it hits silicon (transistor, fet, opamp)!  Radio demodulation is all happening at the input of the first stage.  The output of that stage does not have enough bandwidth to amplify RF.

PN junctions are the culprit, even parasitic ones.  Tube phonostages do not have as much of a problem.

The cure that I use in many of my designs is an RC low pass (set above 100kHz) right before the first semiconductor junction. This is sort of what your ferrite is attempting to accomplish. 

I have all balanced cables...dead quiet

The antenna is likely your tonearm cable, where it loops over top of the arm. Reach out to VPI for their input on solutions. 

@bigby , I have this itch that tells me the problem is with your preamp. Spectral equipment is designed intentionally very broad band and is notorious for this kind of thing. I have a friend that dumped his Spectral system for McIntosh system. The preamp had a problem so he sent it back and hooked up an older preamp. It burned the Spectral amp right up. Torched! So, he had to send that back and you do not want to know what he paid to have that fixed. McIntosh has a reputation for reliability. So, he was not taking any more chances with newer electronics companies. Mind, the Spectral equipment sounded wonderful. 

Do not try to use the Spectral gear with anything else. But, it might be interesting to try another setup, even an integrated. Otherwise set up the Spectral gear someplace on the other side of the house. I'd bet it stops or has a much lower volume.

Dear @bigby  : Really good system you own including your Benz Micro cartridge.

Well, obviously that something in your system is " acting " as an atenna when using the low level signal of a MC cartridge.

" 

or if the ferrite chokes compromise the sound. ""

No, normally does not degrades the quality sound and you can try changing a little the TT orientation/position and the IC cables too. Sometimes these works, you can test it.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

Just slide some battery strappinh over what you have now and ground it to the closest amp.

There are some inexpensive cables on Amazon that will work well:

Made with Canare L-4E6S, Star Quad, Audio Interconnect Cable and Amphenol ACPR Gold RCA Connectors – Directional Design - Custom Made by WORLDS BEST CABLES

Try cleaning your RCAs.

Yes, you need EFI/RFI shielded cables.  2 twisted internal conductors covered by a shield (an aluminum foil covering then braided wire over the aluminum). Connect the shield to the - side of the RCA at the source end only and leave the other end disconnected.

Sounds like a LOMC to me.

Good advice from @erik_squires about shielding also you want to keep the phono preamp near the TT and the cable between the two as short as possible. Are you sure all connections are tight, especially at the cartridge pins.

It is either coming in through the TT or the amp/pre.

People talk about RF and power conditioner non-stop, but I have never seen it make a difference, but an aesthetic hermit doesn’t get out much.

If it is only on the TT, then the shielded cable (as @erik_squires mentioned) would be the place to start. If is coming on other sources then it is more common (like power, ground,???)

Start with the TT to Phono, as that is where you have both low signal as well as all the phono gain comes in right after it.

Use shielded cables with the shield attached to the ground pin and not the signal end.

May help to use a Furman strip with LiFT and SMP.  They have really great EMI/RFI as well as audible frequency filtering.