Update my Tonearm


Every time I use my turntable I have to keep touching until the hum goes away. It’s a Music Hall mmf5.3. I have replaced the cartridge, belt, weight, and added a new a new platter mat. It is grounded to the AV Marantz 70s receiver. Should I replace the tone arm or just buy a new turntable? 

vence72

Glad it is solved.

btw: messing with cartridge pins/wires: another reason to love removable headshells.

elliottbnewcombjr: #3 worked!!!! Thanks soooo much. The white and green connections were loose and slipped off when I unmounted the stylus. 

Can you tell if the hum is electrical or physical (vibration)? What exactly Are you touching on the turntable to make the hum go away?

I would solve it. to get some value to be able to sell it.

but I would not buy a new tonearm. they are still in business and selling that model, have you asked for advice from MH? 

what I would look for:

1st, disconnect all other connectors to the receiver, move the interconnectors away: to prove the hum is coming from the TT itself, not adjacencies to other cables.

hum started when cartridge replaced?

2. inspect tonearm wires/connectors: any part of wire without insulation? if so, a drop of liquid rubber might solve it.

solved?

3. remove 4 connectors from cartridge pins/tighten (squeeze together gently with small pliers) the 4 connectors on the tonearm wires so they are very snug when pushed onto the cartridge’s 4 pins.

solved?

4. if not, more than likely there is a problem with the tonearm wires somewhere else: 4 signal wires: perhaps some insulation got worn off by the repeated movement of the tonearm when playing/lifting up/.... rewiring the tonearm would solve that.

5. there is a 5th wire grounding the tonearm itself. if din connector, that’s the 5th pin. if not din, it’s usually a separate wire from tonearm base to ....., then on to the turntable’s ground wire to your preamp or amp’s ground connection. if possible, check it’s condition/connections.

6. oh yeah, have you verified the phono cable itself?

one way is to make a separate ground wire out of any small gauge wire, and use a simple pair of interconnects, problem gone?