Issues with heavy noise using RCA cable connection to Record Player


Greetings,

I have a Denon DP-450 USB record player using the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge on a Yamaha TSR-7810.  It was using old Audioquest (AQ) Ruby X3 RCA cables and there were no issues to speak of. I had a pair of Synergistic Research (SR) Foundation RCA interconnects that I wanted to try to use, so I switched out the AQ Ruby X3s. Suddenly, there is an extremely loud buzzing hum from both speakers that gets louder as you increase the volume.

I wasn't using the grounding pins, so I got a grounding cable and connected to both the player and receiver.  That did nothing. I tried to see if it changed if the motor runs on the player, or if it goes away when music is actually playing, and tried to see if that noise happens on any other input on the receiver. I narrowed the scope to the phono jack. I decided to try a completely different cable and brought out my aging Monster Cable Reference 2 RCAs.  No issues.  No hum. No buzz. I went back to the AQ Ruby X3s and again, no issues. As soon as I put the SR Foundation cables, horrible buzz/humming noise again.

So the issue appears to be with the SR Foundation Cables. What's going on with these?  They never presented a problem with other components that were using it.  It seems to be limited to use on a record player.  I tried seeing if I could find the answer out on the web, and the answers are perplexing at best.  It could be a faulty cable, but as I said, it will play music through it and has no issues on other devices. The other issue could be capacitance?  Apparently that is an important spec when using RCA cables on a record player.  I am not sure what the AQ Ruby X3s and Monster Cable Reference 2 are doing differently. Is there something I am missing or haven't ruled out?  Do I need to find an alternative method for grounding when using the SR Foundation cables?

Thanks in advance for assistance.

128x128guakus

@kellydc3 So, you know that there DOESN’T NEED to be a physical difference for the phono cable; not for MY equipment. So, I am "carping" that I was NOT using improper cable. You all seem to just be defending Synergistic Research rather than dare assume the cable could just as well have been faulty.

They've burned me more than once.

Yet here you are once again, now trying an $800 SR silver line level IC with -- of all things -- a plastic USB turntable. A total mis-application if ever there was one. Your thread doesn't read as someone earnestly seeking help, resolution, or enlightenment. It reads like someone who's being supplied SR products specifically to complain about them. Very tiring to see this same pattern of antics constantly applied to this manufacturer.

@guakus It is amazing to me at how far your denial stretches. ANY CABLE that doesn't have proper shielding when using it for the small, low voltage signal of a turntable will have the same problem. That is why SR makes a cable specific for that usage. You might ask the designer himself. Many high-end cables have a series for standard interconnect and shielded phono interconnect - some manufacturers optimize for sound quality for the usage. In my own system, I use unshielded RCA cables for most higher-voltage applications (sounds better in my system) and the shielded version of that same cable for the low voltage turntable output. However, you are not alone - many "audiophiles" assume because their previous series of cables (all shielded) worked in any usage, every other manufacturer's cables should do that as well.

@mulveling "It reads like someone who's being supplied SR products specifically to complain about them." Yeah, typical aggressive audiophile-ism. When someone doesn't 110% agree with what a person has been told, they have to find some other way to bash another user.  I find that this happens when such suggestions are actually wrong and they're too embarrassed to accept it, so they lash out.

But, just for posterity to others who might read this thread, I will address your specific concern:

"So the issue appears to be with the SR Foundation Cables. What's going on with these?  They never presented a problem with other components that were using it.  It seems to be limited to use on a record player. " <- I narrowed the scope to the issue being specific to the SR cable.  That isn't brand bashing.

Now, the answer that has been given is that the cable isn't shielded for phonograph use. That is likely true and I don't deny that it's true.  However, the "plastic turntable" doesn't require a phono-specific shielded cable to operate according to the instructions.  That creates a dilemma.  Sorry that it bothers you so much.

@kellydc3 I find it more amazing that folks such as yourself are incapable of helping anyone without first insulting them. "but, but, but, I didn't insult you!" Oh but you did, good sir:

" Improper application of a product is not the product's fault." <- that is auto-implying a lack of intelligence and sarcasm.  That happens to be insulting, in case you didn't know.

You could have left that sentence out of your response and it would have been a perfect and reasonable response.  You adding that, was your way of insulting someone.