Static electricity: Unique to Vinyl Systems?

Marakanetz

The problem was noticed with my old vinyl rig, which was a Rega P-5 feeding a PS Audio phono pre amp. First I changed turntables (Clearaudio Concept mc, new tone arm), then changed to a Jolida phono preamp.
The reason that I changed was a loud transformer hum in the PS Audio (I decided to change TT because I wanted to move to a mc setup). The hum is fixed but all this other stuff is still there, and for the first time I've noticed it occurring when no records are playing.
I'm realizing the one thing that i haven't changed is the power cord (SHunyata
Hydra). I will change that next, but I'm wondering if it is a static issue or something with the main, although it doesn't affect the digital sources at all.

Thanks for all the help, there are many useful suggestions here.
I'm still at work and won't have time to try any of these for a while.
However, I'm wondering why I only hear the problem with my analog source, and not with any of the digital sources. As I said earlier, I heard it just as clearly with a different TT and Phono amp, so (unless it's the power cord) I'm wondering if analog is more susceptible to RFI, or static electricity, or whatever the heck is going on.

Vic Damone--yes, yes, and yes.
I only had a few minutes to play with it yesterday . I disconnected the 2 digital sources that were poweredby wall warts. (squeeze box touch and a cheap Project headphone amp). Made no difference. The other higher end digital sources ( Dac, 2 disc spinners) have high end power cords and are turned off when playing vinyl.
If I have to shut off every light in the house and disconnect all digital sources every time I want to spin a record, then I'm done playing vinyl.
I will focus efforts on humidifying the room and eliminating dust in the upcoming week, but I fear the rfi answer maybe the case here.

Alas, I've tried all the recommendations offered, and the problem continues unabated. I guess this will forever limit my vinyl listening.
Thanks anyways, everyone

Al, I'm not certain if the prior phono stage didn't make the same sounds when it wasn't playing a record. It certainly did while playing a record, but it has a loud transformer hum (not present in the Jolida) that is really noticeable when no music plays, to the point where I would immediately shut off the phono or the power amp when an lp would stop, due to fear of frying my speakers. I'd have to reinsert it answer that question. I can also try playing with the impedance of the Jolida (it is indeed set to 47K, per their suggestion to match the cart).
i didn't buy the zerostat because I'm not convinced this is a static issue. maybe I'll spend another $100. I've been hydrating the room and the tt to eliminate static, but no results.

Al, the previous mm cartridge was used with a different phono stage, not with the Jolida. It was used with PS Audio phono, which doesn't offer as many choices as the Jolida for cart settings, basically a mm and an mc setting. The PS Audio and the Rega P5 with a mm cart worked well for a while, but the phono developed the hum after it was off warranty and the manufacturer hasn't been helpful (basically telling me not to send it in for a repair).
In the meantime this other noise developed, well after the hum developed (I was tolerating the hum for a couple of years, most of my listening is digital anyway). Ultimately I decided to uograde my vinyl and first added the Clearaudio
mc Emotion cart and tt. The increase in low level detail pushed me over the edge for tolerating noise from the phono, and I was interested in a tubed phono stage. I've had a tubed linestage preamp in the past, so I know what the background sound of tubes is, but this noise, which was present on the old phono stage, is clearly different.
I live in Chicago, about 4 miles from the Music Direct Outlet. I picked up the Musical Surroundings Nova Phono stage earlier today. This is solid state but battery operated. The battery is charging at home now. I'm hoping that it is less prone to RFI. If not, it goes right back. If it is quieter, then the Jolida, goes back.
Mapman, I'll try running the Jolida into an AVR in my surround sound system, just to see what background noise is produced. The AVR is in a different level ofthe house, so that could be a different RFI zone, which is another variable...

Problem solved.
The Musical Surroundings Nova completely almost eliminates the sound. If I stick my ears against the woofers, I can detect it, barely, but not while listening to the same records that were plagued before.
I think I liked the basic sound of the Jolida more, but the rfi was driving me cuckoo.
I live in a suburb called Oak Park (think Frank Loyd Wright). My home theater installer told me we have a problem with rfi. I think it may be because we are are equidistant and close to both major airports.
I'm curious to know how Sim Audio and Parasound (John Curl) phono amps would fare here, as both are supposed to be quiet designs that attempt to minimize rfi, but I won't be investing the funds to find out.

I'm a happy camper now because I plan to spend the next several months listening to as much vinyl as possible.
I fail to see how I solved a static problem with a new preamp.