Has anybody never been able to solve a hum static problem with a phono pre amp?


I have had for years now a hum/static problem with my phono pre amp. I have not been able to listen to analog for too long a time. Let us just say for years. I have localized it to the phono pre amp when it is just attached to the pre amp and amps. Nothing to do with the head amp and turntable. I have tried 3 different models and it is the same problem. I have tried every single piece of info I have found on  audiogon and the internet. Cheater plugs, giving it its own socket, grounding it to every piece of equipment, moving it away from system, moving router, making sure connectors are shielded... I have even had two turntable experts from the NY tri state metro area come over and they cannot figure it out. This was not the case when I got it initially. It was dead quiet. But I changed my setup from a Toshiba black box to a flat screen TV and that’s when the problem started. That’s how long it has been. But to be honest I had that black box long after people had switched to flat screens. TV wasn’t that important to me. I sometimes think at the same time somebody in my apartment building or surrounding dense city area put up an antenna and it is causing interference about which I can do nothing. As I said I live in a large apartment building so I cannot rewire.

Has anybody else not been able to resolve this problem and had to give up on analog? Digital is perfect. It is so unfortunate because vinyl has an intoxicating compelling sound like nothing else.

roxy1927

Is the hum in the speakers or is it the phono amp physically humming? I assume the former since you say there is static as well. Have you tried any of the power line products like https://avahifi.com/products/humdinger-dc-line-blocker to see if you can eliminate the problem? Have you tried unplugging everything in your apartment except for the components needed for analog playback?

Sounds like a tough problem, I hope you find some answers here.

 

I will assume you have already tried all the various solutions that others will suggest.  If so, I would convert to balanced operation at the phono stage level, at least.  In other words, you need to buy a true balanced phono stage and then re-wire the cartridge to drive it in balanced mode, which is a very simple matter. Other than that, move.

 Other than that, move.

 

I thought I would have to do that but unfortunately can't.

And it happens with both single ended and balanced.

Well it was very beautiful while it lasted.