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Proximity Hum And How To Eliminate It

I own a phono stage with separate power supply, whenever I put the power supply near the phono stage unit I get 60hz hum caused by the proximity of the 2 units being close to each other. 

Previously I could avoid this because I was able to locate them far enough apart. Because of circumstances I now have to place the units close to each other.

Does anyone know how I can eliminate this proximity hum, either by shielding them from each other with something or????

128x128alan60
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@alan60 , Inductive hum is very hard to stop. This is one of the reasons toroidal transformers are so popular, they are less prone to doing this. Just for fun, is the power transformer a toroid? 

This may seem counterintuitive but try floating the ground on the unit. Trust me on this, stranger things have happened and it is a cheap thing to do. I have several cheaters in reserve just in case.  Frankly, my best guess is that nothing is going to work except distance. The real choices are distance vs new phonostage. Sucks doesn't it. Expensive vs impossible. Time to get creative.

alan60's avatar
alan60 OP
177 posts
 

Thanks guys, will give floating the earth a try and contact Thomas to see if he has any suggestions.

A new phono stage is definitely an option.

fusian
129 posts
 

I finally got rid of the last vestiges of a very faint hum by….moving the cables from phonostage to preamp around. I can’t believe it made this much difference, but the proof is in the pudding. Now I am terrified to move anything for fear of losing the silent background.

Such a black art!

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