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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
erik_squires
17,543 posts
 

If you are in a densely populated apartment you may be picking up Wifi noise.  If you use a Wifi analyzer, free for every portable phone, you will discover dozens of Wifi signals.  If your TV is hooked up via Wifi it too can be an issue. 

So, make sure you use fully shielded interconnect cables, and if this problem is related to the TV being plugged in or not, try using an Ethernet cable instead of Wifi for it.  Also keep Wifi routers, streamers away from your phono preamp. 

roxy1927 OP
171 posts
 

I have before with the Toshiba TV used the HA3000 and H3000 in tandem with no problem. As I said I very foolishly sold off my H3000 when the noise started.

Yes it was a hum with occasional radio signals coming through. Sometimes even talk radio!

So now I would like a good fully balanced phono stage, not that the Mano 2($150) is bad. For the money it is very good. And I want to figure out a way to resolve the hum and radio static problem with the head amp.

sbrownnw
742 posts
 

Yes, when I changed my source control from an Audio Refinement (YBA, 3.8 volt output rating) preamp that might have had a grounding issue or two to a new Atoll IN200 Evo (latest model integrated, 1 volt output rating).  Salience / Jasmine LP 2.0 mkII stage was not super noisy but I definitely noticed some noise with the older preamp vs the dead quite background using the IN200 Evo.

lewm
14,667 posts
 

Since this is probably RFI, balanced operation may not help but is always a bit better as far as pure hum issues related to grounding.  Can't hurt to try it except in the pocketbook. "Toshiba" is a reference to your old CRT TV, correct? At least you have narrowed down the problem to the degree you can eliminate it by unplugging your flat screen and probably also the HA3000.  Since unplugging the flat screen helped a lot and made at least me think it was the sole source of the problem, I am a bit puzzled about the HA3000.  That result makes me wonder whether there is another source (not the TV) that is the root source of RFI.

roxy1927 OP
171 posts
 

Yes after unplugging the TV I thought all would without a problem but having to omit the head amp is peculiar to avoid any extraneous noise. I bought it new and there was no problem with it and it certainly enriched the sound like buying a better cartridge. 

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