Interference in small listening rooms
Posted by: Andy Moore on 22 June 2003
Background:
A year or so ago I bought a Tom Evans Microgroove and spent quite a while sorting out a mystery hum. Although I think the unit was partially at fault (and was replaced) I found out that it was mostly a combination of earth hum via the rega wired arm, and interference from the power supply in my integrated Arcam amp. I got an incognito rewire and moved my Arcam to a low shelf on my rack, and Microgroove to a wall shelf below my Gyrodec (about 2 feet above the Arcam, 8 inches below the gyrodec). All was good...
Now:
... the hum is back, although in a quieter (non earth related)form. If I move the tonearm cables near the Microgroove the hum gets louder, and I've also noticed that the Microgroove power supply may be adding to this. The powersupply is on the floor as far from the unit as the lead allows and moving it any closer if very audible, but my room is so small that all my equipment is in a small area and the mains outlet is just a foot or two away.
Any ideas on how to reduce this interference without moving house?
I'm also hoping to buy a Nac112/Nap150 in a few weeks... but will this make everything worse with all the noise the powersupply kicks out?
PS, IMO my ancient Arcam A&R Alpha+ blows the AVI LSIA out of the water in terms of making a piece of music sound like fun.
A year or so ago I bought a Tom Evans Microgroove and spent quite a while sorting out a mystery hum. Although I think the unit was partially at fault (and was replaced) I found out that it was mostly a combination of earth hum via the rega wired arm, and interference from the power supply in my integrated Arcam amp. I got an incognito rewire and moved my Arcam to a low shelf on my rack, and Microgroove to a wall shelf below my Gyrodec (about 2 feet above the Arcam, 8 inches below the gyrodec). All was good...
Now:
... the hum is back, although in a quieter (non earth related)form. If I move the tonearm cables near the Microgroove the hum gets louder, and I've also noticed that the Microgroove power supply may be adding to this. The powersupply is on the floor as far from the unit as the lead allows and moving it any closer if very audible, but my room is so small that all my equipment is in a small area and the mains outlet is just a foot or two away.
Any ideas on how to reduce this interference without moving house?
I'm also hoping to buy a Nac112/Nap150 in a few weeks... but will this make everything worse with all the noise the powersupply kicks out?
PS, IMO my ancient Arcam A&R Alpha+ blows the AVI LSIA out of the water in terms of making a piece of music sound like fun.