To Aesthetix users

The latest on my Io Sig and RF saga, if anyone is still reading:

I moved the Io power supply away from the windows (back toward where the system originally resided), which also took it further away from the ExactPower.

Massive decrease in RF. It's still there, but nowhere near as loud. Still a problem if I'm listening to sparse acoustic performances at high volumes, or if I'm listening on headphones.

Next thing will be to try to move both the Io and the power supply even further back into the room, which will need some rearranging, to say the least.

Still no word back from Lenny at Running Spring Audio with his Duke power filter - just emailed him again.

Jim White has been most helpful and even listened to the RF over the phone to try to diagnose. I have a feeling that physical location in my apartment is going to be key here, perhaps with the addition of a dedicated line and/or dedicated power filter for the Io.

Larry, I've got to return your Versalab Red Rollers - thanks again for the loaner!

Patrick

Oh yes - from an early recommendation on this thread, I should also mention that I got some DeOxit Gold Cleaner (it came with a free sample of the Conditioner, which supposedly maintains the cleanliness).

First try was on the crappy original AC cord to my Garrrard turntable. This was almost a joke, but it was definitely the oldest and most corroded plug in my system. When we plugged it back in (and played the same piece), my audiophile friend and I virtually leapt out of our seats - the improvement was so marked! Improved bass transients, better resolution, sweeter highs - and this was only on an AC cord turning the turntable motor! Really our first reaction was being more drawn into the music (Enrico Mainardi playing a Tartini cello concerto), and then we dissected the details.

A smoothly turning turntable motor really is an important thing!

Next try was on the AC pins of the Io's power supply. The change here was much less marked, but I guess the pins were much cleaner (and newer).

More results as I gradually clean stuff. I don't have any other contacts with visible oxidation, so that turntable motor cord might have been the big winner.

Patrick

Hello Patrick,

Keep cleaning your contacts...especially those carrying audio signals. Dirty contacts here exacerbate RF. Moving that Io will make things better or disapear wrt RF.

Are you exhausted yet?!

Anyone else notice a high-pitched whine from the PS transformer? The ones at the left-front as you face the power supply. It's not audible more than a few inches away, but I wonder if it's normal. Perhaps they need to be screwed down more firmly. Or perhaps the whole thing needs to go back to Aesthetix.

I'm not assuming this is related to the RF sounds - it sounds totally different. I emailed Jim about it but haven't heard back yet.

Sorry to revive this old thread, but I finally solved the problem.

It wasn't the RSA Duke that did it... though that is currently installed. Nor was it the balanced tonearm cable from Ikeda... though that is also currently installed. Nor was it Cardas caps on unused inputs... though those are currently installed. Nor was it cleaning contacts, though they're all cleaned. Nor was it the power transformer whine, which Jim White says is normal.

Nope, it was cable dressing at the back of the Io! Due to the Io's dual mono construction, the two phono inputs are widely spaced. With all the tonearm cables I've used, the split "Y" for the Left and Right plugs can just barely be opened widely enough to plug into the Io jacks.

This forced the tonearm cable to rest directly on top of one of the power umbilical cords to the Io power supply.

The clue came when I realized that the RF was much worse out of the left speaker, and then noticed that it was the Left tonearm cable that was resting on the power umbilical cord.

So I grabbed a stick of lead bar solder that I had in my toolchest, stuck it in between the tonearm cable and the power umbilical - and - amazingly - the RF has vanished unless you turn up the volume (nothing playing) to tortuous levels.

Next step will be to ask Jim to make me up a pair of shielded umbilicals.

I thought this might be of use to other Aesthetix owners - or anyone who has a massively high-output, all-tubed phono stage and is experiencing similar difficulties.