Jump to content

Noise/Buzzing With My Setup (Yes I read the FAQ :P)


Recommended Posts

Heeeya folks,

TLDR:  I have a constant low hum coming through my speakers 24/7 when the turntable is on. Regardless of weather or not anything is spinning.
Yes I know its is electrical interference, as turning on my ceiling fan makes it notably worse. I am here to ask for advice on improving the situation.

Details Time!
Turntable:   Modular Component Systems 6202 (Semi-Auto / Belt Drive...  Macy's re-brand with Technics guts)

Tonearm:  Stock arm, reads MCS branding to match.

Cartridge:  Audiotechnica... of some variety

Output from Table:  Red/White composite audio cables (these have a small ground cable paired with them, see below)

Pre-Amp:  PYLE Pro - Model# PP444  (It has "12v Ground" screw to which I have attached and tightened the ground cable from the turntable)

Output from Pre-Amp:  Red/White Composite with a "composite to 3.5mm aux" cable.  This then runs into the soundcard on my PC (bear with me here)

 

So as crazy as that probably all sounds,  my tiny apartment layout and speaker setup and outlet locations pretty much mandate my turntable stays on my desk near the pc.

The speakers, are then hooked to the PC via a very long aux cable, as the speakers sit underneath the tv across the room.

So.....
Feel free to tell me I am being an idiot here, but be specific at least. Id like a solution to reduce/limit noise without completely re-arranging my entire apartment.

Is there a specific piece in this puzzle that is most likely to be the problem? It is hard to troubleshoot as all the elements are somewhat integral to getting noise out.

Thanks!!!!! 

Edited by V3XED
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey thanks for taking the time to read through everything!

The dimmer switch is near the speakers (10' away) but nowhere near the record player or pre-amp (closer to 20' away).
When I take the dimmer switch from zero, to any higher position, there is an audible "pop" through the speakers and then the volume of the humming increases.

I tried touching all over the tonearm as you suggested, (along with touching the pre-amp and other things) nothing impacted the noise at all. :angry:

I'm wondering if its worth trying a cable (R/W component to Aux) with extra shielding? Seems unlikely...
The Component cables coming out of the turntable are hardwired and non-replaceable. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You could try a mains conditioner but it's grounding somewhere, I expect you've tried all the obvious but you could try running an extra ground between the pyle and your pc case, pc power supplies can be noisy but it's most lielely going to be a case of trial and error to see what causes it and if you can remove it.

 

Unplug the table from the pyle and see if it still does it, if so buy a better phono stage, if not the arms internal wiring is a possibility but it could be anywhere in that chain.

 

You could also try switching of the breaker for your lighting circuit off if it's a separate circuit from the power to see if it is the dimmer or fan that are causing it

 

Other than that

14 hours ago, Tardcore said:

looks like it's time to move.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, andynz said:

I have a hum in my system that goes away when I touch the tone arm. What’s going on with that? 

Thats a bad ground, when you touch the arm you ground it so that's used as a test to diagnose if the problem is in the turntable or the amp.

Either your existing ground is bad somewhere between the headshell and the amp, check and tighten any grounds before you go any further

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmm appreciate the insight here. I will try to buy a longer cable and run it past my pc (turned off) to see if the PSU is whats casuing the bulk of the hum. 

The pre-amp and table are both within 5 feet of it after all. And yeah, the pre-amp was cheap so if I can isolate that as the issue I would def.  drop some money for an upgrade.
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×

AdBlock Detected

spacer.png

We noticed that you're using an adBlocker

Yes, I'll whitelist