SP-FORUMS

have used this portable for a few years with no problems... lately though... i've been getting an unwanted hum, from i don't know where. it's basically gotten to the point where i can't even use it anymore, being that the hum is simply too loud. i've tried different cables, standalone sockets, batteries... and nothing seems to work.

any help with this would be beyond appreciated.

Does the hum come from the internal speaker, or the RCA line outs, or both? Are you sure if you are using it with a phono pre, that you have the line switch activated? Have you tried plugging the TT into the same outlet as your other gear? What about with batteries? Still hums?

hXc... thanks for the reply

hum does not come from internal speaker.
basically starts the second i turn it on and try to sample... so i would say its probably coming from the line outs...

definitely can't be the inputs on my sp's because i am able to sample from other sources with no issues.

phono pre/line switch? not sure what this is about... i have always gone straight from the numark to the sp... no in betweens... and yes, i have tried using the same outlets, different cables, and batteries... the annoying hum remains. :/

Do you use a grounding wire? Even with bad line outputs, it shouldn't hum or produce noise, unless it's distortion meaning your turntable needs a serious fix.

thanks phemox... your suggestion gives me an idea... the only thing i haven't tried is batteries in both the sp and numark. no ground in that equation... we'll see how it goes.

definitely helped... almost okay for sampling... gonna keep messin with it... any other suggestions would be great. thanks again, phemox

hey freedom - have you recently moved the PT or the Sp nearer to any other gear? maybe yr getting some weird frequency interference on the PT from yr monitors, a guitar amp, stereo amp or another object.

try placing the turntable at different points in the room - or even just listen to the signal through the Sp while moving the turntable and see if the hum gets louder or softer.

good luck. that must be pretty frustrating.

thanks for chiming in fauna... yes, very very frustrating... especially in light of the fact that i just picked up some really interesting records.

from what i can gather... i think the problem could be coming from a strip i use that everything is plugged into. don't know what it is about asia... but every place i have lived in, has always been very limited on plug outlets... these strips and mulit-outlet adapters are the only way to get around it.

however, when i put batteries in the numark and sp... the hum was very minor by comparison.

all these strips and adapters could be the problem.

going to experiment some more with your suggestion. thanks again, fauna

New Needle? Possibly?

Dj_just_jeff wrote:New Needle? Possibly?

definitely wouldn't hurt...

think i came to the conclusion that it was ground-related. the korean plug i have for my 303 does not have the ground... BUT, when i use my 404 US w/ground... humming in decreased significantly.

thanks for chiming in...

Word! You might take the case apart and see if the ground wire that came loose. Just a suggestion. I love my pt and would be very upset if it were giving me nonsense.

Dj_just_jeff wrote:Word! You might take the case apart and see if the ground wire that came loose. Just a suggestion. I love my pt and would be very upset if it were giving me nonsense.

yep... another good suggestion... might do that this weekend... thanks again.

I've got the same problem. I bought a new needle some time ago, so I don't think that would be the problem. Never heard of hum coming from a bad needle anyway.

you know what, Ive also started to have some problems with intensive hum from my pt01 lately

I was really unable to sample shit to my 404, cuz yeah, I like the dirt and filth but there is always a line that you cant cross when talkin about sound quality.
The hum's been ruining my flow lately, no doubt.

I have the PT01 USB version, and I noticed that connecting the front metal "faceplate" surface to the side usb metal socket minimalize the hum almost to 0.

however most of you probably have the O.G. PT01, so I suggest you maybe trying to somehow touch the front metal faceplate of the pt with a thin, metal wire, and then touch the other side of this wire to the metal part of the side rca/cinch socket.
it pretty much does the job in my situation.

dunno if all that makes sense, but I guess Ive been successful with eliminating the hum, so if you need some more clarification/pictures?, just write here.

peace!

turn off buzz-mode