Static from Aesthetix phono stage when tt not on

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.

Likely the Io and if in both channels it is probably a power supply tube unless you are running two supplies as Albert does.....It sure wouldn't hurt to get the ICs up off the floor either.....I used to have four Rockports in my neighborhood including two similar to the System II Sirius and nobody has complained of static problems.....