2. analog
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Please Help My TT is acting like a tuner

I have a Rega p9 turntable, Shelter 501 cart, Bat pk5 phono stage, Viva 300b amplifier and Galante Symphony loudspeakers. I never had any problems with my system until I moved.

Ever since I moved into my new home, I have been picking up radio stations through my TT. The oldies station comes through loud and clear every time I try to play a record!! I have tried everything: powerwraps, ferrite clamps, grounding, lifting the ground, aluminum foil, etc. The oldies station does not stop playing!!!

I am pretty sure it is the TT because the station does not play when the TT is not connected but the BAT phono is loud by itself and is making a crackling whurring sound.

Anyway I am beyond frustrated and am ready to sell my analog gear and just use digital. I have moved my system into every room in my house to no avail, I still hear the oldies station

Please help if you know what I can do. The Rega tonearm cable is hardwired. Is this my problem? Should I get a TT that has the ability to change out cables so that I can use a really powerfully shielded cable? Do the tubes need replaced in the BAT? Or will nothing work and should I either deal with the oldies station or focus on digital?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

rich62
jphii
485 posts
 
Is the oldies station any good?

Seriously, you may need to change the arm cable. I have had a few problems with noise in my system. I always try changing cables before I run the the whole ground loop check. I found I need a cable that really rejects any intereference. My Rega RB250 is of the OL variety, and their cabling seems to be much better than stock.

I also have a RB300 that is rewired with silver wire, and while it is still better than a stock cable, it does pick up some noise. It is not shielded.

I don't know about tubes causing this problem, but that seems unlikely. Don't quote me on this, I'm no EE.

I know others here will help, so don't sell yet! It may be something easy.
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
I've had the same issue. And when I had a BAT VKP5 and it followed to my P10SE.

Couple of thoughts...1) move your equipment in the room. Try the other side. Sometimes the RF will just be strong in that particular place. Even if just to experiment. 2) Call BAT, sometimes a capacitor might help, your bat has plug in facilities for tihs. 3)In my case, it was the tonearm cable. I've not had the issue with a Hovland and a Purist. You can get your arm rewired. 4)it's likely NOT tubes. 5)Make sure your arm cable and interconnects are away from AC cables and while listening...move your arm cable around...like a antenna (sp?) and see if the radio comes and goes...if so, that may be all you need. Ditto for the interconnects.

Anyway, my setup is dead dead dead quiet now. Scary quiet even. Don't ditch vinyl over this!

I hope others post, I'm sure there are more ideas. Do a search here and on AA. It's been written about before.
rich62 OP
30 posts
 
The oldest station stinks. All I hear is Mustang Sally. Seems like Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits is the only album the station owns... VERY ANNOYING.

Anyway. It is pretty upsetting that rega would choose to hardwire their tables with a wire that assumedly is poorly shielded. If this is the case, (even though I love the P9), I will have to sell it as I am not going to start cutting wires on a 4000 table for an experiment. I cant believe how bad my house is for spinning vinyl.

The more I hear Pickett, the more I am looking at a wadia. By the way, I own a Rega Planet and it is mockingly quiet when playing CD's.
rich62 OP
30 posts
 
JFRECH:

I think you are right and it is the cable. When I move the cable and/or the TT, the station becomes louder/softer. However, it is hardwired. I guess I should sell the table and try to buy a decent table w/ detachable wiring so that I can purchase a well shielded cable... I do not think that I am capable of cutting wires on the p9 without breaking it. Has anyone rewired a rega for this type of problem.
jimbo3
304 posts
 
Just a thought as I don't know and haven't tried it- I there some way to put some kind of shielding over the existing cable and grounding it?

Rich, I haven't re-cabled a Rega, but have done a couple other makes and it was pretty easy, even for a guy like me with little experience with a soldering iron. Just locate where the tonearm leads are soldered onto the cables and de-solder at that point and re-solder the new cable. No cable cutting involved.
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