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I Pick up a Radio Station when I am playing record

When I am playing record I can hear a radio station coming in very clearly, before I put the record on the turntable. If I play the record I can hear the station at low volume. Can anyone tell what the problem could be? I am using VPI Classic turntable with Dynavector 20X Medium output cartridge (VIP version), and a Tube phonostage. I am also getting a ground loop, but when I remove the interconnect from the phono stage or the turntable the ground loop is reduced. I changed the interconnect and I discovered that the ground loop get louder as I turn the volume up. Any idea what is going on?
almandog
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Someone has an over powered station near you. Call the FCC and report it. I bought a radio and threatened the guy when that happened to me. He was coming in on the tapedeck as well.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Orpheus, when you say
I bought a radio and threatened the guy when that happened to me.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean? So what was the outcome of your report to the FCC?

Almando, where does your 'separate ground wire' connect at the turntable end? Also, I really don't recommend any 'regular' IC, (like the Audio Art) for connecting a cartridge (any cartridge, but especially lo or med output) to a phonoamp. So even though the TT comes with an RCA connector block, don't think that means you can use any RCA IC's you might have laying around ;--) You still need a dedicated tonearm interconnect for that purpose. Not only will it be properly properly shielded, but it's shield will be properly oriented with respect to the (bundled) ground wire. If those items are selected and installed with care, even a nearby radio station should have little effect IMO.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
I called the FCC (20 years ago) on the HAM radio operator I mentioned earlier, and they told me they were underfunded and could do nothing...

fwiw
almandog OP
141 posts
 
NSGARCH

Point well taken I will get a phono cable soon. Any way my problem is solved. I get a good ground wire from the phono to The pre amp and the radio station went away. The ground loop problem that I mentioned is not really a ground loop. What happen is that my phono stage have the power supply separately and I had the phono section sitting on top of the power supply. I can hear a 60Hz hum from the power supply and the phono section was picking up that signal. When I remove the phono section from off the power supply the 60 Hz hum went away. So all is well with the system now but I will still get a good phono cable. Thank you all for responding to my posting.
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