Static from Aesthetix phono stage when tt not on

Hi Albert,

I've had the Rockport about a month and the Aesthetix just a little longer, but there have been a few problems with the Aesthetix in shipping and it's been back to California twice.

The static is transient almost line static which occurs whether there is a record playing or not. It's a slight pop-crackle which doesn't occur when the Aesthetix is just warming up. It's not as pronounced a pop as record pop, it's more a creckle. I try touching everything and it doesn't eliminate it or creat it.

Any thoughts?

Bill E.

I have been told that in spite of the reputation and high quality of the Caddock resistors chosen for the Io, some of these have mechanical failure that causes noise and microphonics. They are the large black resistors near each group of tubes. You can try tapping them with a NON conductive tool to see if there is a reaction.

Be extremely careful touching things inside the Io. There are two supplies that together measure near 1100 volts ! I would very much like to keep seeing your posts here at Audiogon.

It the noise equal on both channels or limited to one?

Do you have a spare set of tubes to try? Is it both channels? Or just one?

One more thing Bill. Even if the Rockport is turned off, the motor controller stays on all the time ( I think ). Do you have the one built by Rowland? If so, you might use a VOM to measure the output or chassis to ground and be sure there is not a leaking cap in the circuit.

Is the air supply pump for the Rockport on the same circuit with the other gear?

Bill, my first thought would be to use the basic testing methods we would use with any component. First unplug the entire phono rig from your preamp, and see if there is any change. If it goes away, the problem is somewhere before the preamp. If it doesn't, then it is in the preamp or after. Assuming the problem went away, plug in just the IO without the turntable. If problem shows, then check the IO by swap-out. Being a dealer, you must have some other phono section around somewhere. Swap out the IO for another phono section and see if the sound goes away. If it does, then you know it's in the IO. If not, then continue the process back to the turntable, with the swap-out method. Obviously, you can't swap out for a new Rockport, but if everything else checks out, you may have to just plug in some other turntable to see if that does it. With new equipment, once you have isolated the problem down to the offending item, then have it replaced by the manufacturer under warranty.