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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
ssayeed OP
37 posts
 
Jea48, I tried all those suggestions except the TT switch. I have used four different interconnects between the amp and the phono and used all the amp inputs on the amp.

Ghost rider, the phono is on the shelf below the amp on a wide shelf, but I have moved it to different parts of the shelf and even off the shelf altogether. No change.

Atmasphere, yes I used cheater plugs on the amp. I also used a cheater plug on the power conditioner. No change.

If I do not connect the ground wire to the phono stage, the sound is reduced but it is still there. Any more ideas?
jea48
4,425 posts
 
If I do not connect the ground wire to the phono stage, the sound is reduced but it is still there. Any more ideas?

Ssayeed,

Did you try to connect the ground to the chassis of the integrated amp? Maybe a screw on the bottom of the amp.

Have you check for proper AC polarity orientation?
Sometimes that can cause a buzz. Maybe the amp is crossed....

http://www.boundforsound.com/tweak.htm

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/acpolarity.html

and then there is this.
http://www.jensen-transformers.com/an/an004.pdf

http://www.jensen-transformers.com/an/generic%20seminar.pdf

Just grabbing at straws..... Have you tried unplugging the TT from the AC power receptacle and checked for buzz?
dhoff01
73 posts
 
Maybe a silly question, but did you try shorter cables? I had a hum between my TT and phono stags, and went from a 3 meter RCA to a 1 meter RCA between my phono stage and preamp. The hum immediately disappeared.
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Read through the posts - not sure this test was tried.

Turn everything on system as if ready to play lps. (amp/preamp/phono stage if any /TT).

Put system on mute. Put volume/gain knob at lowest point.

With the platter NOT TURNING lower the needle onto the lead groove of an lp.

Take system off mute and start to slowing turn up volume until the noise is audible.

Now start to move the phono cables slowly . Move them up / down / sideways.

Is there a change to how loud or quiet the noise gets ?

If YES you are getting interference from other sources onto your cables.

See if moving them abit helps.

If not you will have to reposition them or maybe move your TT.

Let me know if this helps.

Cheers Chris
almandog
141 posts
 
Ssayeed,

How did you solve the ground loop issue?
I am having the same problem with my turntable and I have already tried every that you did in this thread, and also what others suggested.

Please let me know if you had solved the problem.
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