VPI Classic hum


Got mine a few weeks ago. Installed it with a high-output Benz Ace H cartridge. Loved the sound but there was a hum when I turned the preamp volume past the 10 o'clock position. Later changed to a Clearaudio Concerto, the hum was quieter, but wouldn't go away no matter what I tried.

Then I read the manual closely, and it said something about using shielded interconnects. So I tried a pair of Rega Couple wires, which are made from Klotz cable, and are shielded.

And you know what, the hum just vanished! Now I'm at peace ...

Just to share with those have hum issues with the Classic. Do share your solutions.
bassraptor
Bassraptor, anything to report about the hum issue?

Mike at VPI said that I should receive my Classic 3 arm towards the ned of next week, already set up to take the Maestro. We'll see.

I agree, this is way too hard. I admire the build quality of the Classic, without qualification -- kinda reminds me of the way things were back in the 50s and 60s when "made in the USA" meant something. Ooops -- showing my age. But . . . I think the uni-pivit arm is too "unusual" for the Maestro.

In an e mail to Mike, I suggested that VPI try to disclose in its marketing data situations/cases where the uni-pivot arm is not a good match with such and such cartridge. There must be some common denominator where the arm is a poor, fair and good fit.

Perhaps VPI, as an alternative design, should provide as an option a more traditional fixed double pivit arm. I'm sure anything VPI comes up with would be top flight quality. In the end, I think whatever VPI comes up with should be, as you say, an easy plug and play situation --like the Rega. For me, I'd willing to "sacrifice" squeezing out the last "n percent" of capacity/sonics from a cartridge/arm combo for plug and play convenience. Just my humble opinion as a consumer and audiophile.
Macdad - Soundsmith not available where I live, so I have to order online ... too much of a risk to take if i don't like it ... where i live, at least the dealers let me try demo units of the cartridges i've mentioned.

Bifwynne - That hum is still there whatever I try. Tmrw, the dealer is coming over to my place to have a listen and see what he can figure out. The darndest this is the Maestro and Classic seem to love each other otherwise!

On the other hand, I could have the option of an Aries 3 ... :)

let's see.
IT'S NOT THE ARM!!!!!!

ARRGGGHHHHH. Going down the wrong road, making this too complicated.
Macdadtexas: Is the Soundsmith Zypher a MM or MC? If MC, do you know what the voltage output is? The gain in my phono pre is 58 db, so I don't want to install a cartridge with an output of too much less than 1 mV. How much does it cost?

Also, Bassraptor and I seem to have different problems with our Classic TT. Bassraptor complains of an annoying hum with his Maestro. By contrast, I do not detect any hum with my Classic/Maestro combo. Rather, I detect an anoooying bass resonance. Very different problems with same cartridge and similar TTs. The only difference is that Bassraptor has a SS arm, where I have the stock arm.

Given that you believe the problem relates to the motor in the plinth, why does Bassraptor have the hum problem but I do not?????
The Soundsmiths are all MI high output cartridges, you can check the website (www.sound-smith.com) for the particulars. They can be used with MM phono stages. I use the Soundsmith's now, but it's not the only well sheilded cartridge. Dynavector and many other manufactures make well sheilded cartridges that guard against hum.

Call NeedleDoctor and ask them for recommendations based on well sheilded cartridges, and/or start a string on here.

BTW - I tried about 6 cartridges before I settled on the current one I have in use.