VAC Preamp: Is my Phono stage failing?

SOLVED! Well, almost.

Maineiac, Thanks, I really wonder how much I would need to spend on an outboard tube Phono Preamp to be significantly better than the VAC's.... sounds like it might be a lot. I would love to audition the Fosgate Signature, it's received good reviews and it looks so cool.

Pubul57, I spoke with Brent at VAC and he never heard of this problem and said to send it in for a check up. I guess the very notion of being without music for a few weeks was bad enough to kick my brain into gear and identify the problem's source.

My system is on two 20amp dedicated lines and all components are fed power from a AC regenerator that completely isolates the system from the wall power. I also have a hot tub in the back yard on its own separate 20a circuit.

Every time the hot tub motor turns on, the hum shows up in my phono stage. If I then turn off the tub, the hum disappears.

Considering the system and the tub are on completely separate dedicated circuits AND my gear is completely (supposedly) isolated from the wall power... how could this be?

I'm calling the electrician back in and I'm going to call PurePower and have a little talk with them. I don't think this has anything to do with my VAC.

The plot thickens:)

The techs at PurePower were awesome, and they're in Canada, so they worked on thanksgiving! We narrowed it down to a safety ground loop. The unit is fine, as is my VAC. Seems this safety ground cannot legally be disabled, so I'm counting on my electrician to at least separate the safety grounds for each circuit so they don't bleed over. What remains a mystery is how this hum got into the signal path... Any ideas?

My system is on two 20amp dedicated lines and all components are fed power from a AC regenerator that completely isolates the system from the wall power. I also have a hot tub in the back yard on its own separate 20a circuit.

I don't quite understand this. Do you have one AC regenerator or two? If it is only one, and all components are powered through it, how is the second dedicated line being used, if at all?

Regards,
-- Al

Sorry Al, I should have clarified. My two channel analogue music system is my first priority. The PurePower regenerator is on this system plugged into the first dedicated line.

The other dedicated line is feeding the home theatre system which I keep completely separate. Although they are the same room, when I'm listening to vinyl, all power to the digital HT system is off. I use two Panamax power conditioners on this system.

When I'm in critical listening mode, i even turn off the refridgerator, which is quite loud in our open-plan home. Now, if I could only remember to turn the fridge back on, I would get fewer of those looks from my wife!