Question on phono input noise levels

“At a nice satisfying volume I can hear the exact same sound you describe- from the door 20 feet away. Easily“

That is not normal at all. 

The Parasound P5 and P6 have gains that are somewhat low for use with a cartridge such as your Apheta 2, which is rated at 0.35 mv. Both preamps have specified phono input "sensitivities" of 52 db, with the line stage of each preamp providing an additional 10 db of gain. And Stereophile measured the gain of the phono section of the P5 as being 53.9 db.

In addition, generally speaking I would not expect a full-function 2.1 channel preamp + DAC + headphone amp costing $1495 to provide particularly good noise performance in its built-in phono stage.

Also, FWIW, I use a Herron VTPH-2 (not 2A) in conjunction with an AT-ART9 LOMC cartridge rated at 0.5 mv, with the Herron’s stock tubes. If I turn the volume control in my system to a setting slightly higher than I would ever use (which is quite loud; some classical symphonic recordings I listen to can produce 105 db peaks at my 12 foot listening distance) the hiss produced by the phono stage is only audible within about 1 foot of the speakers. The Herron (which is only a phono stage, not a line stage or preamp) provides 64 db of gain and lists for $3650.

In addition to the SUT approach that was mentioned, a number of separate phono stages are available which cost considerably less than the Herron and have received a lot of favorable commentary here and elsewhere. The Gold Note PH-10 being one example. I believe that using a quality external phono stage connected to a line-level input of your P6 would considerably improve both the hiss and the sonics that you experience when playing records.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

After carefully reading and considering all the responses above, plus some additional listening, I have concluded the following:

I believe the noise I am hearing, although much higher than I was expecting, is normal for my equipment.  I do not believe it is a malfunction.  It still bothers me, and I think I can even hear it on quiet passages of some of my classical music selections.  I think the real issue is I am experiencing the limitations of the phono section of my P6 preamp.  It is possibly made a bit worse by the gain required with a somewhat low output moving coil cartridge.

My thinking at this point is I will need to upgrade to a separate phono preamp at some point in the future.  Begin a fan of Parasound equipment, I am intrigued by the Parasound JC3+, which is about $3K, so I plan to save up for that, perhaps to acquire it some time next year.

Thank you all for responding, and for "talking me off the ledge".  After spending about $4K on a new cartridge/turntable combination, I guess I was just a bit surprised and disappointed.

On a totally separate topic, I have the Telarc 1813 Overture on a UHQR version.  I was rather surprised my $1800 Rega Apheta 2 cartridge can't track it successfully at 1.9 grams tracking force, and the turntable perfectly level and adjusted.

Oh well, so little time, so many worries, and not enough money to spend...

I’m not specifically familiar with the UHQR version of the Telarc 1812 Overture, but as I recall the cannon blasts made Telarc’s original pressing unplayable on so many high end turntable/cartridge combinations that they released a second pressing and possibly even a third that were at least slightly less challenging.

And if I recall correctly from back in the 1980s some moving magnet cartridges, such as some of the Shure models, tended to have much better luck tracking it than most LOMCs, even the ultra expensive ones.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

P.S: For those who may not be familiar with the Telarc recording of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, here is a photo of the groove on what I believe was the original release. Note especially the abrupt turn in the groove near the center of the photo!

I recall Harry Pearson in TAS commending Telarc for having the audacity to release a recording that was nearly unplayable.

Regards,
-- Al