grado hum

It could be a ground loop or incompletely grounded tonearm cable. Check your ground lead on the tonearm cable first. If it still hums, try lifting one of the ground leads from the cartridge. Your Music Hall TT might also have the same problems as rega TTs have with Grados due to magnetic interence from the motor.

While checking for ground loops or other grounding problems is worthwhile, Grados often hum if operated within the range of the motor field.

Changing to a cartridge other than a Grado is one option but you can also look for shielding material to apply to the bottom or your platter or around your motor. Someplace there is a magazine article on modifying a Thorens or AR table to allow use of a Grado but I don't recall where.

thanks folks. If anyone has that article I'd love to read it. Anyone have any suggestions for other cartridges that would sound good with the music hall? Loving the grado soundstage, but not he hum...

I don't know your budget, but I'd consider the new ZuAudio modified Denon D-103 for $399. Just make sure you phonostage has enough gain for a moving coil cartridge.

This is one disadvantage of a 'table with an inboard motor. I recall that Grado carts are particularly prone to hum via motor interaction - a problem noted by some users of the Oracle 'tables. If this is the problem (it could also be related to grounding issues as thsalmon notes) then a new cart might help, but a table with an outboard motor will put an end to the issue for good.

Marty