Hum Problem with Grado

I recently bought my VPI Scout and set it up with a Grado Red just to get me going. I noticed a hum but only after a rather loud listening session where I left the volume way up and went to change a record. I was only a few feet from my speakers and noticed it. Turning the volume way up increases the hum...but I would never even consider listening at those levels. I tried grounding the table to pre-amp, less humm. I switched from my Kimber Hero's to AQ Diamondbacks and got even less hum, but sound was not as good.

Right now I still get an audible hum at high volumes when I am close to the speakers. Normal listening is ok. I'm sure it degrades the sound some and because of this will more than likely change to a new cartridge sooner than I thought.

Same problem for me with my VPI M4 and high output Grado Sonata. Not a huge hum, but motor induced and noticable at high volume levels. I shielded the motor assembly with two layers of mu metal and the hum is pretty much completely gone, I'd say 90% reduced. I could only hear the hum on the last three inches towards the spindle when not actually playing. But you know it's there. Easy to do and effective. A very good tweak for me because the cartridge wasn't cheap. Good listening.

http://www.lessemf.com/mag-shld.html

This might help: https://www.haglabs.com/collections/accessories/products/humbucker

Another way to eliminate the hum is simply to see to it that the motor has a wire between it an the tonearm ground. 

I tried that too, connecting ground wire to motor (bearing too).  Didn't do a damn thing... 

In this case, the problem is magnetic, and you have to deal with it very differently.

Nice rule of thumb:  If you hear "buzz", it is electric field coupling, add a ground wire.  If "hum", then magnetic field coupling, add distance.