Low-level "fluttering" noise, possibly produced from cartridge.

Posted by: Graeme MacArthur on 18 July 2018

Hello all,

I have a Linn Sondek/Akito/Krystal/Lingo4, all only weeks old, plugged into a Stageline K into Naim amplifiers. There is also an ND5-XS in the system.

There is a low-level "fluttering" noise audible through the loudspeakers when the turntable is selected on the pre-amp. It's quiet enough not to be audible when music is playing. At high volume other "dirty" noises are also audible. If the turntable is disconnected from the Stageline, there is no noise. If I reconnect it and turn off the mains to the turntable, the noise persists. This makes me think that it's something being picked up by the moving coil cartridge.

I've tried disconnecting the ethernet cable from the ND5-XS and that makes no difference. I do use ethernet over mains but there is normally no noise from this at all.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this noise?

Thank you for any help.

Posted on: 27 July 2018 by Graeme MacArthur

I'm pleased to report that I've solved the problem. There's a Google ChromeCast plugged into the ND5-XS which I never use and had completely forgotten about. This was sited behind my Headline headphone amp. Moving it further away has solved the problem. I tried mains conditioning, which couldn't have helped that problem and alternative phono stages (Stageline S and Cyrus Phono Signature) which both completely changed the character of the interference, without stopping it.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Posted on: 27 July 2018 by Richard Dane

Good news!