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Rega P3 Hum

UncleAng said:
@rothwellaudio: maybe this will help....

AC plug on UK wall wart for P3 ..... Rule Britannia

View attachment 2416913

North American AC outlet


View attachment 2416919



North American supplied wall wart for P3

View attachment 2416921
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Yes, UK and USA mains plugs/sockets are different. The UK socket has shutters over the live and neutral openings and the shutters will only open when the earth pin of a plug (which is longer than the other two pins) is pushed into the socket. In the UK, all plugs have to have an earth pin or else the shutters won't open. Often the earth pin isn't actually connected to anything and is made of plastic.
Anyway, a tonearm doesn't have to be connected to mains earth to shield the tonearm wires. It has to be connected to the earth pin on the phonostage (which doesn't have to be connected to mains earth either).
 
I turned off and unplugged both the PC and the monitor and it didn't have any impact on the hum. The only other device over there is the CD player. It stays off, but I could try unplugging it. Was also going to try plugging the phone stage into one of the available line-level inputs vs the phone input.

While this was happening, the cartridge broke in and I've been enjoying music. Will check in with the dealer.
 
Hey troika, glad you circled back! Rather than just unplugging stuff, move it altogether away from your system just to be sure although I'm rather skeptical at this point that it is your problem. But, it can't be difficult to do and will further rule stuff out. I really think Nashou66 nailed it.....too many users complaining of the same issue and it's a good move to go back to the dealer and at least see if the table does it there. Good luck!

Edit:

"Was also going to try plugging the phone stage into one of the available line-level inputs vs the phone input."

HUH??? I'm sure I just misread this but you would NEVER plug the phonostage into the PHONO input on your receiver/integrated amp/preamp.....always use the line input for a phonostage.
 
Fishead said:
Hey troika, glad you circled back! Rather than just unplugging stuff, move it altogether away from your system just to be sure although I'm rather skeptical at this point that it is your problem. But, it can't be difficult to do and will further rule stuff out. I really think Nashou66 nailed it.....too many users complaining of the same issue and it's a good move to go back to the dealer and at least see if the table does it there. Good luck!

Edit:
"Was also going to try plugging the phone stage into one of the available line-level inputs vs the phone input."

HUH??? I'm sure I just misread this but you would NEVER plug the phonostage into the PHONO input on your receiver/integrated amp/preamp.....always use the line input for a phonostage.
Click to expand...

I think you have that backwards: if your preamp has a phono stage input that is were you connect the turntable, not to the line level inputs. Most preamps with phono stage also allow you to select MM or MC and the ohm load for the MC.

Now if your preamp doesn't have a phono stage and you are using a separate phono stage, then you would connect that to the Line Level inputs... I'm not sure what type of equipment the OP has.
This is some advice from REGA on their Aria Phono stage:

"The Aria will work well on most surfaces, provided there is sufficient air around it to prevent overheating. To avoid any possible magnetic interference and increased hum levels, position the Aria as far away from the turntable as the tonearm lead will allow; this ensures all delicate electronics are kept away from other transformers and motors etc. Try not to stack other hi-fi components directly on top of each other. Given the nature of sensitive high gain phono amplifiers, the Aria may need placing away from high power amplifiers that use large transformers. If in the rare event that low level noise should become overly intrusive, try using the lower gain setting, and move the unit away from possible noise sources as described."
 
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krautmaster said:
I think you have that backwards: if your preamp has a phono stage input that is were you connect the turntable, not to the line level inputs. Most preamps with phono stage also allow you to select MM or MC and the ohm load for the MC.
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Fishead said:
NEVER plug the phonostage into the PHONO input on your receiver/integrated amp/preamp.....always use the line input for a phonostage.
Click to expand...

I think we are saying the same thing....if you have an external phonostage, you plug that into a line input (aux,tuner etc.) going into the receiver. If you don't have a phonostage, you plug the turntable into the PHONO input on your receiver. Reading troika's post, it sounded like he had the phono stage plugged into the phono input, which does not work well at all......:

"Was also going to try plugging the phone stage into one of the available line-level inputs vs the phone input." Suggesting he had the phono stage plugged into the phono input......

See what I mean?
 
Fishead said:
I think we are saying the same thing....if you have an external phonostage, you plug that into a line input (aux,tuner etc.) going into the receiver. If you don't have a phonostage, you plug the turntable into the PHONO input on your receiver. Reading troika's post, it sounded like he had the phono stage plugged into the phono input, which does not work well at all......:

"Was also going to try plugging the phone stage into one of the available line-level inputs vs the phone input." Suggesting he had the phono stage plugged into the phono input......

See what I mean?
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Yeah that would be a big no no since the phono stage has already boosted the signal to Line Level, plugging a separate phono stage into the preamp phono jacks would be way too strong a signal.
He should try to move the phono stage as far away as possible from everything else and see if that fixes the hum.
 
Fishead said:
I really think Nashou66 nailed it.....too many users complaining of the same issue
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The threads he linked to claimed the Rega motor was the source of hum. I would say that is a strong possibility except... see below.

rothwellaudio said:
If the turntable motor is the source of the hum it should be easy to verify. Turning on the motor will start the hum. Turning it off will stop it.
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troika said:
It hums whether the motor is turning or not.
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The only thing left to try is to disconnect the motor power supply completely as opposed to simply switching it off. If the hum is gone when the motor PSU is removed, yes the motor (or its power supply) is the source of hum.
 
My integrated amp has a phono stage option, but mine was not optioned, so it's just a line level input labeled "phono".
 
That's a new one for me......so you have an integrated amp with an input labeled "PHONO" but it is in reality not a phono input at all, just where one would be had you opted to have it installed upon purchase, right? What brand and model is that troika?
 
I see those have optional modules that can be installed for a phono section. So you are using a Rega phono section (which one?) - All the Rega manuals say to put their phono section as far away as possible from any other power source (as far as the cord will allow)- you may want to try this before anything else.
 
↑
My brief experience with a Rega Fono Mini confirms they can be little hum boxes if not situated carefully.
I replaced mine with a Tisbury Domino because of this.
 
Greenie said:
↑
My brief experience with a Rega Fono Mini confirms they can be little hum boxes if not situated carefully.
I replaced mine with a Tisbury Domino because of this.
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If the phonostage was the problem, how would that explain the hum changing as the tonearm moves?
How many more times do I have to ask this question?
 
So, it hums even with the turntable unplugged.

That points to either that one channel on the amp or the Phono Stage.
 
Right, fair observation. I guess what I meant to conclude is that I don't think it can be the turntable motor, if it's humming with the power cut to the turntable.

I have one more thing I want to try. I have also been in touch with the Rega dealer.
 
troika said:
Right, fair observation. I guess what I meant to conclude is that I don't think it can be the turntable motor, if it's humming with the power cut to the turntable.

I have one more thing I want to try. I have also been in touch with the Rega dealer.
Click to expand...

You've tried lots of things. A visit to the dealer is best. Good luck.
 
troika said:
Right, fair observation. I guess what I meant to conclude is that I don't think it can be the turntable motor, if it's humming with the power cut to the turntable.

I have one more thing I want to try. I have also been in touch with the Rega dealer.
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Ok power is cut to TT and still hum, however does the hum change as you move the tone arm closer to the spindle as it did when there was power ?

Athanasios
 
Yes. It behaves exactly the same as it does when the turntable is plugged in.

I also confirmed that it behaves the same plugged into a different line-input. The other line inputs (CD, DAC) do not hum.

The dealer offered to have me bring it in. Part of me expects it to not hum there, but, I think I've tried everything that I can here.
 
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