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VPI Scout Hum

Hello, I have a new VPI Scout and I am getting a low hum. I worked through the whole chain and I believe I have isolated it to the TT. Basically if I disconnect the table from the phono input the system is quiet...no hum. When I plug the TT in the hum is there. I tried unplugging the tone arm plug from the RCA junction box and it just adds buzz to the hum, when I plug it back in the buzz goes away and the hum remains. If I unplug the motor the hum remains. Even if I detach and unplug the motor and put it on the other side of the house in a closet wrapped in lead the hum remains. I am guessing it is a grounding issue but the table is factory grounded under the chassis so to speak. I tried running a wire from the chassis to another ground and no change. The only thing I can think of is the cartridge. Is a hum possible from just the cartridge?? if so what could it be? non of the wires are crimped or pinched or broken everything looks perfect. By the way it is a Dynavector 10X5.

Thanks!
kozmonot
chazzbo
1,007 posts
 
Call Mike at VPI.
bshapperd
84 posts
 
Do you have an additional ground cable running from the RCA connection box on the Scout, to the ground screw on your phono Pre-amp? I know my Scout hums without this additional cable. Try grabbing the tone-arm head shell between two fingers when the table is on, and the phono channel is open. If the hum lessens, you've got a ground issue.
sgunther
187 posts
 
I have a Michell Gyro Se table and had a hum and a buzz. Does your hum change with the volume settings? I tried just about everything to remove the hum/buzz. Finally changed the cables from arm to phono preamp from Kimber Hero to Harmonic Technology truth link, ran a grounding wire from arm to linestage pre, not the phono pre, and plugged the phono pre and the linestage into the same outlet. It worked. I have not been willing to risk going back to determine if it was one of the above or the combination that did the trick. Good luck i know how frustrating this issue can be.
actusreus
733 posts
 
I listened to a record at my dealer's once on a VPI/Transfiguration/CJ/Soundsmith phono/Vandersteen system worth probably about $30,000 and the sound blew me away. But once the record ended the hum/hiss was equally shocking at the high volume level I was listening at. After that I simply assumed that hum/hiss is simply a part of the analog experience but usually doesn't get in the way of music that much. I certainly felt much better about my humble--in comparison--Scout/Soundsmith Aida cart and phono rig that was producing some hum/buzz when not playing.

That said, VPI recommends replacing the TT cables with the cheapest, well-shielded cables you can find, if there is excessive hum. I ran the Kimber Silverstreak initially from the tt to the phono stage and I replaced it with a pair of Radio Shack cables that were on sale for the whooping $1.30!!! And guess what? It actually decreased the hum! Son of the b...ch! I suggest you try that solution since it virtually costs nothing.
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
Check to see if your TT or phono stage IC's are near a power cord. That will give you a hum even with excellent cables. Move your RCA's or XLR's around a bit to see.
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