With a balanced connection between cartridge and phono input, I have never had hum and I never noticed any sonic degradation from using shielded cables (which I routinely do use). These could both be virtues of the balanced connection to a balanced phono. However, I recently purchased an SE phono-only stage to use with MM/MI cartridges. Despite the fact that the SE cables between the tonearm and the phono stage are shielded, I have had to ground the tonearm to the phono stage externally, to eliminate a nasty hum. Real "hum" (60 to 120Hz tone or buzz) is typically due to a ground loop somewhere or to the proximity of an AC line or PS umbilical cord to an unshielded pair of ICs. I have had both issues with SE connections. Audioquest, you may want to look into these kinds of issues. Have you grounded the phono stage to the tonearm, for example?
Shielded phono cables
Hello All
Can you folks help provide me a list of shielded phono cables?
I have moved and in my new location, with fully carpeted flooring, I
am experiencing phono cable hum between my SME V arm, Silver
Breeze phono cables, and Aesthetix IO Signature.
When I replaced the Silver Breeze cable with the stock SME MC501
hybrid silver cables, the hum disappears. There is no hum in
any of the other components, only when the Silver Breeze is plugged
in do I hear the hum. I have never experienced hum before with
the previous setup. The music is closed in when using the SME
cable. I am spoiled for better cables, so, looking for shielded phono
cables around the 1k price range.
I suspect the Silver Breeze Is picking up something. The noise only happens with that cable plugged in.
I may have a damage connection somewhere in the silver breeze and
it is going back for a checkup. I have 2 Benz cartridges and 2 SME V
tonearms so I need another quality tonearm cable anyway.
Thanks in advance
Audioquest4life
Can you folks help provide me a list of shielded phono cables?
I have moved and in my new location, with fully carpeted flooring, I
am experiencing phono cable hum between my SME V arm, Silver
Breeze phono cables, and Aesthetix IO Signature.
When I replaced the Silver Breeze cable with the stock SME MC501
hybrid silver cables, the hum disappears. There is no hum in
any of the other components, only when the Silver Breeze is plugged
in do I hear the hum. I have never experienced hum before with
the previous setup. The music is closed in when using the SME
cable. I am spoiled for better cables, so, looking for shielded phono
cables around the 1k price range.
I suspect the Silver Breeze Is picking up something. The noise only happens with that cable plugged in.
I may have a damage connection somewhere in the silver breeze and
it is going back for a checkup. I have 2 Benz cartridges and 2 SME V
tonearms so I need another quality tonearm cable anyway.
Thanks in advance
Audioquest4life