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Rega P3 Hum

troika

troika

Super Member
I know this is a thing, but I could use help understanding it a bit more. My new Planar3 hums. I don't hear it while music is playing, but it's constant when that channel is active, even if the motor isn't spinning.

I figured out yesterday that as the cartridge approaches the deadwax...it stops...
This is opposite of what I've read otherwise. With the arm up, it hums in the cradle, even with the platter not spinning, but if I move the tone arm across the record, the hum goes away as it moves to the center and is completely gone before it reaches the deadwax.

The table is to the right of the amp (Creek A50iR). I moved it further to the right to a different table and it didn't change anything. The Rega Fono stage is on the shelf below it, I've considered moving it under the amp instead of under the turntable, but that would involve clearing the shelf and moving it around doesn't seem to effect the hum, so I'm not convinced that would work.

I just picked up this phono stage and it replaced a Pro-ject Phono Box which also hummed, which is one reason I switched it out for the Rega. If I unplug the turntable + lead from the stage the hum stops, so the stage doesn't hum on its own, which I wouldn't expect it to, but it was still good to rule out.

I've read some mention of adding a ground wire, but none were detailed enough to follow instructions on, but I also know that the table has a ground integrated with the - RCA lead.

The phono stage doesn't appear to have the original power supply (not Rega branded), but since the hum was present with the preceding stage, I doubt that is causing it.

I can live with this, but it would be cool if it were quiet.
 
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troika said:
I know this is a thing, but I could use help understanding it a bit more. My new Planar3 hums. I don't hear it while music is playing, but it's constant when that channel is active, even if the motor isn't spinning.

I figured out yesterday that as the cartridge approaches the deadwax...it stops...
This is opposite of what I've read otherwise. With the arm up, it hums in the cradle, even with the platter not spinning, but if I move the tone arm across the record, the hum goes away as it moves to the center and is completely gone before it reaches the deadwax.

The table is to the right of the amp (Creek A50iR). I moved it further to the right to a different table and it didn't change anything. The Rega Fono stage is on the shelf below it, I've considered moving it under the amp instead of under the turntable, but that would involve clearing the shelf and moving it around doesn't seem to effect the hum, so I'm not convinced that would work.

I just picked up this phono stage and it replaced a Pro-ject Phono Box which also hummed, which is one reason I switched it out for the Rega. If I unplug the turntable + lead from the stage the hum stops, so the stage doesn't hum on its own, which I wouldn't expect it to, but it was still good to rule out.

I've read some mention of adding a ground wire, but none were detailed enough to follow instructions on, but I also know that the table has a ground integrated with the - RCA lead.

The phono stage doesn't appear to have the original power supply (not Rega branded), but since the hum was present with the preceding stage, I doubt that is causing it.

I can live with this, but it would be cool if it were quiet.
Click to expand...


Try connecting a GND wire from your rega Phono Stage to the Creek Amp.

Athanasios
 
Nope. It was a good suggestion and worth a try, but it didn't make any difference at all. While I was in there, I relocated the phono stage under the amp vs under the turntable, but that didn't help either. I also touched the ground wire to various spots on the tonearm with the other end on a ground terminal, but no dice.

Any other ideas?
 
troika said:
Nope. It was a good suggestion and worth a try, but it didn't make any difference at all. While I was in there, I relocated the phono stage under the amp vs under the turntable, but that didn't help either. I also touched the ground wire to various spots on the tonearm with the other end on a ground terminal, but no dice.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...


Unplug the turntable from power and see if the hum stops , right at the wall or power strip etc.

Keep signal wires connected.

Nashou
 
It did not!

However, if I unplug the stage (with the TT plugged in) the hum stops.

We're getting closer. The power supply doesn't say Rega on it, so I don't think it's original. Confidence level that a proper Rega power supply for the stage would resolve it?
 
IIRC the p/s doesn't have the Rega logo - I may be wrong. I doubt a change will improve things.

Using a ground wire would've been my suggestion. The earth point, hidden in the arm pillar, may have moved slightly.

Do you have a different cartridge to try? A PITA but maybe worth a go if you do.

That said, I'd speak to your dealer.

I wish Rega would properly earth their kit, it causes no end of problems.
 
troika said:
However, if I unplug the stage (with the TT plugged in) the hum stops.
We're getting closer. The power supply doesn't say Rega on it, so I don't think it's original. Confidence level that a proper Rega power supply for the stage would resolve it?
Click to expand...
No surprise that there's no hum when the phonostage isn't powered up. A different power supply won't do any good.
Does the noise stop abruptly when the arm moves closer to the spindle, or does it fade away? If it stops abruptly it suggests to me that there's a broken wire somewhere that makes contact when the arm is moved far enough. If it fades away, that suggests that the cartridge is picking up hum from a magnetic field (from a mains transformer or motor) and finding the source of the magnetic field would be useful.
First off, you need to check the arm wiring with a meter.
 
Aren't REGAs powered by a wall wart? Where is that in relationship to the tonearm/cartridge. The hum is from a magnetic 60hz field from a nearby source. Find the source.
 
WaynerN said:
Aren't REGAs powered by a wall wart? Where is that in relationship to the tonearm/cartridge. The hum is from a magnetic 60hz field from a nearby source. Find the source.
Click to expand...

The source is the unshielded circuitry underneath. I do believe the internal arm earth tag is not making contact.

But, yes, that is conjecture.
 
Just for comparisons sake, my coupla-year-old Planar P3 sits next to its power supply with no troubles. Not using separate preamp, but one internal to receiver. The wall wart is a Rega PS2 100.

I hope this is helpful...


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20211203_110459.jpg
 
Do you have a linear power filter to plug everything into? If you have stuff plugged into a cheap power strip you'll get all kinds of noise. I use a Furman PS8 for my family room system and an expensive Furman Elite 15DMI for my main system - I get no noise from any of the equipment using either of them.
 
I do not have any kind of power conditioner. For those of you not following my story this month (2 threads) I auctioned a used P3 with. pro-ject phono stage and got him from it as well, so it could something external to the equipment, like my power source or some omnipotent interference that doesn't care what pieces I'm using.

I could try a power conditioner and had consiy that. I can also add an internal Creek phono stage and return the Rega, which would save me some money, rather than throwing more at it. Any thoughts on the likihood of that solving the hum and thoughts on how it might effect my overall sound?

I replaced my amp a few months back and prior to that, was using the internal stage on an 80s NAD receiver. I have definitely improved my hifi, but I don't recall there being a hum before. I don't get a hum on my CD channel, so this is limited to phono.
 
Creek stages are excellent, maybe worth a try. I doubt it'll be worse than the Fono.

I doubt a power conditioner will work. For some reason you're probably getting the hum from the t/t.
 
Unfiltered power is dirty, noisy, and poorly regulated (volts/cycles are all over the place). Adding the Furman Elite 15 DMI made the biggest difference in the quality of sound in my system. And it made my old fuzzy Hitachi TVs picture look like a new 4K model.
 
troika said:
I do not have any kind of power conditioner. For those of you not following my story this month (2 threads) I auctioned a used P3 with. pro-ject phono stage and got him from it as well, so it could something external to the equipment, like my power source or some omnipotent interference that doesn't care what pieces I'm using.

I could try a power conditioner and had consiy that. I can also add an internal Creek phono stage and return the Rega, which would save me some money, rather than throwing more at it. Any thoughts on the likihood of that solving the hum and thoughts on how it might effect my overall sound?

I replaced my amp a few months back and prior to that, was using the internal stage on an 80s NAD receiver. I have definitely improved my hifi, but I don't recall there being a hum before. I don't get a hum on my CD channel, so this is limited to phono.
Click to expand...

I had a hum I couldn't track down. I was moving equipment around and never connected the CD player and it was nice and quite. I added the CD player a week or two later and listened to CD for a few days. When I went back to my Phono listening I had a new hum? I t took me a few hours of messing around to remember i add the CD player. I disconnected the RCA's from the Pre amp from the CD player and all was quite again. SO I added a GND from CD player tp pre amp and that helped a lot. My CD player was an Adcom 750 .

Athanasios
 
@krautmaster

Not doubting you or dismissing your advice, but can you clarify for me whether you think this is causing/would resolve the issue I'm describing or if it is just meant as general advice?
 
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That's easy to try, thanks


Nashou66 said:
I had a hum I couldn't track down. I was moving equipment around and never connected the CD player and it was nice and quite. I added the CD player a week or two later and listened to CD for a few days. When I went back to my Phono listening I had a new hum? I t took me a few hours of messing around to remember i add the CD player. I disconnected the RCA's from the Pre amp from the CD player and all was quite again. SO I added a GND from CD player tp pre amp and that helped a lot. My CD player was an Adcom 750 .

Athanasios
Click to expand...
 
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