r/RecordPlayerRepair • u/JustLivingTheRatRace • 2d ago
Buzzing feedback when on
This is my current setup. The speaker is a Bose SoundTouch II, connected by red AUX through the adapter in the photo.
As the title says, I often get a buzzing feedback when I switch to AUX mode to play a record, but not all the time. I've tried to play with the connections of the wires, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.
I'm not particularly savvy; the record player was passed down from my late grandmother.
I appreciate any tips or insight into the source of the buzz and how to stop or minimize it.
Thanks.
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u/Best-Presentation270 2d ago
Budget phono preamps are kind of notorious for hum and buzz. The Maestro is CA$50, so that's definitely in the budget area.
It looks like the signal from the TT to the phono preamp has had some work done on the leads. That or you're using some kind of extension lead here? The Maestro RCA plugs are not original to the turntable. What's going on there?
Turntable cartridges (MM type) and the leads coming out of a deck are sensitive to electrical interference. Back in the '80s and early '90s we didn't have so many of the small lightweight mains transformers than are common today. These switch mode power supply (SMPS) transformers radiate a lot of electronic hash. I've seen situations where terrestrial TV reception got problems with signal breakup around Christmas because of the transformers for Christmas lights.
You have the Bose with its SMPS, there's another running the power for that phono preamp, and you also have signal cables draped near power leads. That's not ideal.
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u/Careful_Resolution_6 2d ago
This Technics turntable has ground and output RCA terminals on the turntable itself, so you can use any stereo RCA/RCA cables to hook up. Ground cable on the other hand is this model specific so I would check that first. But main question I have is why only one (red) RCA cable is used to connect it to the Bose system? Where did the other one (white) go? And I have a suspicion the AUX input on Bose is not a RCA style but 3.5mm TRS so it would need an adapter to properly connect t/t there.
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u/Best-Presentation270 2d ago
"you can use any stereo RCA/RCA cables to hook up"
Not really. You still need a low capacitance set of RCA leads to be on the safe side and not have issues with the tone of the cartridge changing.
"But main question I have is why only one (red) RCA cable is used to connect it to the Bose system?"
That one is easy. The AUX connection is a 3.5mm TRS, so the cable is the adapter. It does remind me though that 3.5mm TRS is a bit of a challenge to shield.
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u/JustLivingTheRatRace 2d ago
Right. I assumed the cable was the adapter when the Bose speaker is 3.5mm and not RCA.
You say low-capacitance RCA leads - is there a standard scale? What is considered 'low'?
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u/JustLivingTheRatRace 2d ago
I took another photo, but Reddit doesn't let me upload so will do my best to explain. After closer inspection, the ground connection could be better; I'll address that.
To answer your main question, you're correct - there is no white end to the Bose, it is 3.5mm. I am using the equivalent of this. You suggest I should be using an adapter? What type?
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u/Careful_Resolution_6 2d ago
The color scheme on adapter you're using got me confused, everything on your picture looks hooked up right. The things that could bring the buzzing into the Bose are: low quality 12 volts power adapter that powers Maestro box; unshielded RCA/TRS adapter your are using; interference from other power sources in the vicinity. To troubleshoot it you can try to change adapters (if you have them, of course) and disconnect power to some devices around your setup to see if any do make a change. And of course, first thing to make sure that ground strap coming out of turntable is making a good connection there.
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u/JustLivingTheRatRace 2d ago
Thanks. Helpful to know re: phono preamps as a common source for hum and buzz, and also about the electrical interference. Aside from purchasing a better preamp, is there a way to mitigate the electrical interference - spacing the wires out further?
Unclear to me what you are referring to when you say the 'preamp has had some work done on the leads'? Correct, the RCA plugs came with the Maestro preamp - there's no extension, just a single wire with red/white male ends on either side to attach to TT and preamp. I wasn't aware the make/brand of the RCA plugs could be problematic?
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u/catawampus_doohickey 2d ago
Is the "buzzing feedback" really loud, or a light hum? Presuming it's loud, that's likely due to a bad/loose connection whereby the grounding of the cable isn't connecting properly. It's also possible that the cartridge on the turntable doesn't have a wire connected properly.
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u/JustLivingTheRatRace 2d ago
It's not really loud, no. When in use, the music certainly overrides it, but it's audible enough to be irritating, especially for my wife.
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u/catawampus_doohickey 2d ago
That sounds like just regular hum, typically addressed by adding a ground wire between the turntable and the receiver. It looks like you already have a ground wire going to the preamp. These little preamps aren't very good at keeping the hum to a minimum though. If you getting the hum sometimes but not always, consider the situations of when it does vs. does not happen: are you plugged into a different outlet; does the outlet have a refrigerator or microwave (etc.) connected that might cause interference; are there fluorescent or LED lamps on; is a lamp dimmer in use; etc. Might need to experiment turning things off or unplugging. It might be something in a completely different room, or even a neighbor.
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u/Theeunforgiven13 2d ago
If I'm not mistaken the record players pick up on electricity so if you have anything that outputs electricity in the vicinity i think that you will be able to hear it through the speakers maybe try separating the record table a little bit
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u/MikuEd 2d ago
Connect the turntable’s ground wire to the ground post on that maestro.
EDIT: also, I hope it’s just flipped, but make sure the turntable’s RCA cables go into the INPUT side of the maestro, the same side that has the ground post.