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Phono stage hum - Rega Aria

Hi folks, trying to solve a hum issue and would appreciate any thoughts. Rega Aria phono stage, into a PrimaLuna Dialogue tube preamp, then to Bel Canto SS mono's. 

With the tonearm NOT plugged into the phono stage, there's a hum.(especially when set to MC vs. MM)
Rega powered off, no hum while preamp at max volume. Turn the phono stage on, there's the hum...I hold the phono stage in the air, 4 feet from everything, same hum. When I hover it over my preamp, the hum gets much louder due to interference. Magnaplanar 1.7i speakers very quiet until that phono stage enters the chain.

Haven't tried a cheater plug...but have tried 2 diff interconnects (Better Cables/Silver Serpent and BJC LC1) from the phono stage to the PrimaLuna, and 2 different power cables (Furutech FP-S022N and factory cable) into a Furman Elite 15-DMi. 

Either this Rega Aria is a noisy phono stage, or I've somehow got a ground loop in there with it. It's really not bad at lower volumes, but sucks when that hum breaks the silence at louder volumes between songs/sides. 
Opinion - is this phono stage a weak link in my system? Maybe it would be fine if I find a way to eliminate that hum. 

JA Michell Gyro TT
Rega RB 808 tonearm
Ortofon Cadenza Black cart
Primaluna Dialogue Premium preamp
Rega Aria phono stage
Bel Canto M500 mono amps
Furman Elite 15-DMi power
Magnaplanar 1.7i

Better Cables/Silver Serpent interconnects
Blue Jean Cables for phono and Maggies
Furutech FP-S022N power/outlet

Cheers, thanks for any advice! 
128x128malmc02
malmc02's avatar
malmc02 OP
30 posts
 
@hagtech I read your document, thanks. You’re saying hiss is “normal” and is “what we are trying to achieve.” The hiss I hear disappears when I touch the aforementioned RCA to a ground, which tells me maybe it can be eliminated(or at least mitigated) somehow. For the hum, I have already gone through all your recommended steps. So long as the phono stage is connected to the preamp, it generates hum regardless of my whether the tonearm cables are connected to it. Regardless of which of several outlets and power cables I use, or whether I isolate the phono stage by holding it in the air away from everything. Wave it around, and the hum is unchanged. Multiple phono stages, and different phono stages have different level of hum. Your PDF also suggests my problem may be too many grounds, hmm, not quite sure what to try next. 
revreed
37 posts
 
Don’t know if you solved the hum problem, hopefully you have and can point me in the right direction.

 I just bought the Aria to match my Rega Planar 8 w/ Apheta 3 cartridge and get the hum issue too. So guess that eliminates your cartridge. My older preamp has MM/MC built in and when I use it with the turntable no hum, dead silence. I wanted the Aria for improved Sonics, brand matched so less problems (haha) and better loading for my cartridge.

I too have tried everything I can think of to no avail. Rega only points you back to the Rega reseller so I’ve reached out to them.

 If I come across a solution I’ll post it here, unless you’ve solved your issue.


malmc02's avatar
malmc02 OP
30 posts
 
Hi revreed, sorry to hear you’re having a similar issue. Do you get the hum at lower volumes or only when you go way up? I was not able to solve my problem...however I did experiment by switching to a different mm/mc phono stage, and the hum was significantly reduced. Could be the Aria has a flaw? 
conde64
1 posts
 
Hi I have an Aria Mk2 with exactly the same problem. After months of experimenting, swapping out different cartridges, cables, turntables and loaning various mains conditioners etc.nothing has worked for me. I thought I could live with it but hold on, why should I have to?

I’ve come to the conclusion there is an internal design or component mistake by Rega which is generating the noise. Yes I understand no stage is dead silent but too many people seem to have the same problem. So my question is does anyone have the same MC hum problem with the new Mk3 version? I understand its had an electronics tweak as well as a facelift.

Ultimately I’m going back to the dealer with my MK2 and will do a side by side comparison. If the MK3 shows no improvement with the MC hum noise, then I’m sorry Rega, as much as I love the sound of the Aria, this is a major design flaw and I’ll be buying a better one without the same problem.

Without listening to it yet I really hope the Mk3 steps up to the plate. If they have fixed the problem, then I shall remain a Rega owner.
dramatictenor
183 posts
 
Hi, I had similar problems when I switched from MM to MC, which is a bit like an antenna for stray noise. In my case, there is a nearby broadcast antenna that was generating RFI. The MMs weren't as susceptible to it. After trying most of the things you did, I started bringing home different phono stages. The one which rejected the noise, sounded amazing and met my budget was the Parasound Halo JC3 Junior. Dead black. Can even turn the volume way up with nothing playing an no hummers', hiss or anything else (not a useful test for listening to music, but proves how silent the Halo is).
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