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
sean
6,231 posts
 
Rich62: The .01 cap acts as an RF bypass. It is also one of the values mentioned for use in the "DIY" parallel cap filtration system for one's AC system in another thread for this very reason. Given the very high gain of a phono section and the RF susceptability of most tube circuits, one would think that this would have been built in from the factory. Hopefully, this will cure your problem and you'll be able to enjoy your "black circles" once again : ) Sean
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rich62 OP
30 posts
 
UPDATE: I tried everything that Victor said from Bat, I moved the TT to every room in the house, I even bought copper tubing to shield the phono cable. All this to no avail.

I am beyond aggravated, the oldies station is loud and clear. I even think if I tweak it I can get a good soundstage for Mustang Sally.

Kidding aside, I am getting out of vinyl and buying a cd player. I did not get into this game to hear noise and an oldies station through my TT. So... That is it, game over. I am not having fun and therefore, the TT, phono and cart will be sold.

Thanks to everyone for your help, I needed to know that I was doing everything I could before I made this decision. It is ashame, I would stay in vinyl forever if it wasnt for the house I live in.

-Rich
jphii
485 posts
 
Rich,

Sorry to hear that. I kinda like Mustang Sally, maybe once a year! Try one more thing before you get rid of it. Turn off all the breakers in your box, except for the stereo outlets. If it stops, you have a bad ground somewhere, or it is bleeding through your house wiring. If that cures it, you may need dedicated outlets. I don't know if this is an option, but I hate to see somebody getting out of vinyl.

One other question: How old is the house? Old wiring could be the cause. When (if) you try turning off breakers, put the whole system on a power strip and use one outlet. That may help narrow it down.

Hope it helps,

Joe
rich62 OP
30 posts
 
House was built in 1930. It is stone and has plaster walls so it is impossible to rout a dedicated circuit on the second floor. The wiring is all BX shielded cable.

I am done with experimentation and tweeking. I just want to listen to music, not screw around with grounds and wires. Digital may not sound as good as a TT but, it is user friendly and a cd player will not receive the local oldies station.
s23chang
619 posts
 
I have the same issue in my house too.
It is a ground loop issue.
I put a piece of copper tape from the metal chasis of the preamp to the shell of the output RCA jack (ground ) and did the trick.
Adding a small .47 cap from output RCA jack ground to the chasis also did the same trick.
Hope this helps

TT might not be the source of the bad ground.
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