So Weird- No Stylus Contact Woofer Pumping with Hana ML and Elac PPA-2

Good find, Dekay.  For a true balanced hook-up from cartridge to a true balanced phono stage, audio ground is typically floated (no ground, in other words).  Pin2 of the XLR connector is typically connected to the positive phase ("hot" on an RCA connection), and pin3 carries the negative phase (the outer barrel of an RCA).  Pin1 can be connected to shield but not to the cartridge. Maybe there is a wiring problem that only pertains when operating in balanced mode. But I hate to say this, the video shows the problem goes away when LP and platter mat are removed, even though he is still (I think) operating the system in balanced mode at that point. If we can throw out that bit of information, it makes more sense. (Just kidding; we are stuck with the facts of the matter.)

Wiring for the tonearm to the preamp was as follows:

• Pin 1- no connection
• Pin 2- + positive
• Pin 3- - negative
• Shell ground- cable shield

Why was it wired like that? I agree the typical connection is pin 1 for the shield. See excerpt from the Elac PPA-2 Manual:

"Typically a balanced connection will be more immune to hum, so it would be the preferred connection. However, you must be careful that the shell of the XLR is not connected directly to the ground line within the XLR connector ( That sentence is a little confusing but I take it to mean that the shell of the XLR should not be connected to pin 1). They SHOULD be independent. The shell is the external shield of the cable and connector, and should be the CHASSIS connection. The ground wire within the XLR is twisted with the (+) and (-) balanced and should be the signal or tonearm ground. This can all be confirmed with an Ohm meter. "

The PPA-2 has two ground lugs, one for tone arm ground (labeled ground) and one for chassis ground (labeled chassis). Since there is no chassis ground on the GT2000, that lug remains unused. The tonearm ground is connected via the other ground lug.

The cable shield is NOT connected at the TT end, but is connected via XLR shell to the chassis ground.

Uh, see my previous post. You can still try it and report back. I suspect the problem goes away when you remove either the record or record and mat because the spinning magnetically charged item (record or mat or both) excites the improperly connected cartridge whereas the aluminum platter does not.

@fsonicsmith I thought that if I got continuity from cartridge white pin to XLR L pin 2, blue to L pin 3, red to R pin2 and green to R pin 3, and if George Cardas welcomed to the right channel on the right side and in phase was in the middle I was pretty good. What did I miss?

Have you tried putting the record on the metal platter (without the record mat)?

How 'bout the mat with no record?

At least you'll isolate the offending object.