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Sutherland PhD Issues

I'm starting this thread up again here in the analog forum, rather than pre-amp to garner more folk's input about this issue, in which a friend 1/2 way around the world is having.

He notes that he is still having issues with auto-shut down with his Unit, and that when he unplugs phono cables from the Unit, only then will it go to sleep.

His Cartridge is the Sumiko Bluepoint 2. My question is, doesn't this sound like it could perhaps be an issue with the Cartridge itself, or perhaps Tone-Arm-Phono Cabling? Could these components still be sending signal to the Sutherland, even while not being used?

Neil, and you other good folks here, your input would be deeply appreciated, and desired, thank you, Mark
markd51
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
This is a feature of the Sutherland so why expect that other components are the cause? I mean, this is a battery powered component that has a device which is supposed to shut off the drain when no current is flowing. Have you had your friend try (carefully) disconnecting the leads at the cartridge instead of the at the phono cables? If that leads to the same results it has to be an issue with the current sensing circuit or the circuit that is supposed to open the connection when no current is present.
piedpiper
753 posts
 
God forbid you should ask directions. How 'bout asking Acoustic Sounds, their distributor? Sounds like a defect.
tarsando
578 posts
 
WRT why expect other components to be the cause--the most natural first assumption is the assumption he made--the thing is supposed to sense a signal, maybe there IS a signal. Does it happen with nothing connected? No. Your suggestion about where to disconnect makes sense too.
markd51 OP
763 posts
 
Thank you folks.
As I have earlier explained, the Unit does apparently shut down without Phono Cables being hooked to the Unit, so this is what sounds strange to me?

As Tarsando states, this could possibly be a cause of RFI, maybe due to a poory shielded Cable, faulty Roneram, or Cable Wiring, or I even thought a fault in the Sumiko Bluepoint 2 Cartridge itself?

Is it possible for the Bluepoint (or any other MC Cartridge) to be emitting some signal while it is not in play, and the entire system is shut off?

Perhaps a dumb question, I know, but I reckon if one doesn't know, then asking is not perhaps so dumb after all.

Yes, Chad at Acoustic Sounds has responded to my queries, but gives pretty much the standard procedure of making adjustments to the Sentry Pot, and this has been tried to no avail. Mark
markd51 OP
763 posts
 
Geesh!!!
I'm very sorry folks for my typos in my last response.
I'm a superb speller, but a poor typer at times.

That should've read "A poorly shielded Cable", and/or "Faulty Tonearm, or Cable Wiring".

And as I had first suspected, a faulty Sentry Potentiometer on the Sutherland PhD. No doubt a $3 part on a $3,000 Unit, which could easily go awry.

Maybe a "miracle shot" of DeOxIt might do the trick?
It wouldn't be the first time, DeOxIt had come to the rescue! lol This stuff saved my own Cal Delta Transport a few months back! Mark
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