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Ground loop b/w amp and phono stage

I recently bought the Ayon Triton integrated and when it is connected to my phono stage, Pass Labs XP-15, there is a major buzz coming through the speakers which increases as you turn up the volume. You can even hear it through the music when played at high volume. Needless to say, I'm not playing vinyl at the moment. But when I used the CD player, there is no buzz at all. It's only there on the input which the phono is connected to.

I have used cheater plugs, cheap cables with the ground removed, I've connected the amp directly into the wall plug, I switched from unbalanced to balanced interconnects, and am currently out of ideas. The Pass worked perfectly with my previous solid state mcintosh gear.
ssayeed
jea48
4,425 posts
 
But when I used the CD player, there is no buzz at all. It's only there on the input which the phono is connected to.
Not a ground loop jmho....

Do you have the TT grounded to the phono preamp?
What happens if you disconnect the TT from the preamp and install shorting plugs on the phono preamp inputs?
ssayeed OP
37 posts
 
Yes, the TT is grounded to the phono stage. I don't have any shorting plugs but will get some and give it a try. I was told by the dealer who sold me the Ayon that it's a ground loop but based on some of the stuff I have been reading and the fact that the volume increases the buzz, I don't know if this is the case.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Try another phono stage. I don't know why or what, but sometimes Pass gear doesn't play well with other gear. That is not meant as a put down, just what I've experienced.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
This is a temporary fix, but try getting an AC ground cheater from the hardware store and put it on the AC cord for the phono section. It may be that the phono section has its ground connected right to the wall, which means you have a ground loop. See if that sorts it out.

I ran into this problem with an electronic crossover at the recent RMAF.

The preamp should be the only thing in the system that has a hard connection to the AC ground, and even there it can be dicey, as so many components in high end audio don't have their grounding systems properly thought out.
ssayeed OP
37 posts
 
Jea48, if I do that, there is no sound. I tried an rca cable plugged into the input section of the phono stage though (Kent at Pass Labs asked me to this) and the buzz returned. Don't think it is the table as I have 2 arms and have tried both. And yes, the ground is connected firmly. Am going to borrow a phono stage from a friend tomorrow and will see if that fixes it.

Atmasphere, I have tried cheater plugs as mentioned in the description at the beginning of the post and there was no change.
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