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Noisy Bellari VP 129?

I received a demo Bellari today & while trying to listen to it for the first time it was incredibly noisy. It is completely unlistenable. I can not turn the gain over the first mark without an objectionable amount of noise, almost feedback. If I turn the gain down & then turn the vollume up on my pre-amp the noise will be just as noticable. I also tried going direct into my amps without the pre-amp & have the same noise. I tried listening to the headphone amp & the noise is there as well. I wonder if it is the tube possibly? When I plug my table directly into my pre-amp there is no noise, although the gain is obviously not enough without the Bellari. I wish I had another tube to try but I do not unfortunately. This seems like I have a problem with the Bellari, has anyone else had this problem?
fishwater
fishwater OP
178 posts
 
I also unplug the turntable & the noise is still there so I know it isn't my Grado cart. The noise is actually similar to a hum that everyone mentions but the turntable has no affect & my other table has the same noise, it sure seems like the Bellari.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
I have one and I have a bit of hum like as if the table needs to be grounded. In my case, however, I find I can reduce the hum by moving Bellari further from my integrated. I suspect my problem just has to do with magnetic fields. Have you tried moving the Bellari around at all?
bdgregory
1,714 posts
 
I had a Bellari and this exact problem. After calling Bellari tech support, sending the unit back to them twice I determined it was a grounding issue between the Bellari and the Preamp. Try this:

Make a jumper using a cheap interconnect cable such that you connect the ground post on the Bellari to an un-used RCA input jack (outer ground only) on your preamp. The hum should go away, but if it doesn't, go RCA jack to RCA jack.
fishwater OP
178 posts
 
Macrojack, I have completely removed the Bellari from my system & only plugged in the power. With the headphone amp turned half way up it is a very loud hum. I think the tube or the pre-amp is defective. If you wouldn't mind or if it is even possible please hook a pair of headphones up & turn the headphone amp up half way, let me know if you can hear a loud hum noise.
fishwater OP
178 posts
 
Bdgregory, I have the Bellari completely disconnected. I used a interconnect cable to touch the outer nut of the ground on the Bellari to the outer portion of the jack on pre-amp, it made no difference. I could hear the cable make a scratching noise when I move it around on the jack but no reduction of hum. I do not understand exactly what you mean by RCA jack to RCA jack?
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