Static from Aesthetix phono stage when tt not on

I'm embarrased to say that I'm having a hard time recreating the problem. Mike Lavigne reminded me that the platter is not conductive so that every time I take a record off it builds up static in the Rockport. Also, he suggested that the central ac may be creating some line static when it cycles on.

I'm going to take a lot more time listening and do my best to isolate the issue.

I'll try your recommendations and get back to this thread as soon as I know more.

Bill E.

Hi,
Looks like by having 2 ground bar, you created a ground loop. Try to use single ground for audio gear.

Using a silver-based ground wire helps tremendously, especially if you can find an 8ga silver litz wire for ground.

Silver plated ground bar helps further. Common Home Depot ground bar may be zinc plated and
have dielectric effect.

Bill, you wouldn't want me to come over with my Aloia preamp w/phono stage now, would you? (if you don't tell Andy, I won't ;~). Although I'm not up-to-date with your wiring scheme, I thought that you had planned a dedicated (supplementary) earth ground for the system, via the dedicated circuit box - the AC should not be an issue if you've got this. I believe Extremephono has a point about possible ground loops - one pole in the ground is enough.

As you haven't mentioned any problems with playback via the AAC-II, your efforts should concentrate on the IO --- power supply vs. grounding scheme.

Good luck, and be careful if you go poking around (I mean in the IO unit).

Arooj

I've been through a series of trials and it seems that the TT produces static on removal of the record because it's an air bearing under the platter and the tonearm is an air bearing.

In addition the phono stage is making funny ripping like crackling noises which appear to be static mostly from the left channel. There are some pops which seem to be record hiss and pop, but the strange sound is intermittent but occurs a number of times per minute. It appears to start after the unit is warmed up for a few minutes.

There were strange transient noises yesterday and I learned that Aesthetix IO's with two power supplies like to be separated by a lot of air. So, I moved the power supply from the middle shelf to an amp stand to the right of the turntable and they have not returned. It probably didn't help that it was about 100 outside yesterday and the Tenors and the Aesthetix don't really help the temperature in the audio room.

I swapped five of the nine tubes on each side and the noise still comes from the left channel.

When I disconnect the TT the noise is the same and when I disconnect the IO from the Tenors it disappears.

What is the problem?

I don't know.

Bill E.

Bill, it seems to me like it is a leaky cap, possibly in the power supply of the IO. I don't know the layout of the IO, but since it has dual power supplies, can you switch the left power supply module to the right and see if the noise changes to the right channel? This might isolate it to either the power supply or the audio section. If you can pin it down to one, or the other, it will identify the item to replace.A cap problem would occur sometimes after warmup. If it were mine, I would return it under warranty. This is too expensive an item to be playing around with, and they should be happy to let you have a replacement for your new item and let them worry about fixing the problem. Their reputation is on the line, and I doubt that they want any questionable units floating around in the hands of unsatified customers. If you bought the IO second hand, then have the factory or your technician check it out. I think that isolating the problem as best you can is all you can or should do, and then let a repair professional handle it from there. I hope this helps you.