Help! I Can Hear Weird Background Sounds Through My Speakers?!

[Gavin F]

Hi All,

Apologies as I haven't posted hear for some time, but I hope you may be able to offer some help or advice concerning a strange issue my hifi has just developed. When my amp is set to the phono stage, and the turntable is plugged into the amp, I get a weird eletronic tone that appears every minute. I don't think I can upload videos here but you should hopefully be able to view a short clip via this link (https://share.icloud.com/photos/062L94c4cmG3qLld_dEuTA4Og).

In summary, I have just re-located my hifi back to a spot in my living room where it used to live before I had kids, but I have never heard this sound before. Nevertheless, re-positioning the system is the only thing I have changed, other than perhaps where the hifi is plugged in. I have the amp and turntable plugged into the same extension cable and I have unplugged my other separates leaving just the speakers and sub plugged in to the amp. When I unplug the turntable interconnects from the amp the sound disappears, but if the interconnects are plugged into the amp's phono input, but not plugged into the turntable, the cables seem to pick some radio interference plus the noise returns. For what it's worth the interconnects are not super expensive ones but they are of good quality and as I say, I have not experienced this issue before with them. Furthermore, this issue doesn't occur when using the other inputs on the amp.

Many thanks in advance for any help you might have, this was supposed to be the first step to getting the hifi back up and running properly and it feels as though I've fallen at the first hurdle :(

[Firebottle]

Could well be radio interference from you router.

Try repositioning your turntable or router.

[Gavin F]

Hi and thank you for the great suggestion! We recently installed a new Smart Hub 2, however, even with the router switched off the sound remains sadly.

[willbewill]

My first thought is try different interconnects. Also try the offending ones into a line input with the volume turned right up - remember the phono input's gain is much high than line input.

Do you have any 'smart' electrical items near by or on the same mains circuit - try switching all household electrical devices off (including phones etc), then add them back in one by one until noise returns?

[Gavin F]

I have tried a different pair in the same set up and has the same issue. I will deffo try into a line input as you suggest though.

The hifi stand is right next to where the TV, Apple TV box etc is so I will try isolating those later too! The thing is, I have only moved the hifi back to a location where I used to have it for a number of years and there was no problem then. I guess a lot has happened since then though!

I really appreciate the suggestions and some good stuff to try out after work!

[Pigmy Pony]

My first thought is try different interconnects. Also try the offending ones into a line input with the volume turned right up - remember the phono input's gain is much high than line input.

Do you have any 'smart' electrical items near by or on the same mains circuit - try switching all household electrical devices off (including phones etc), then add them back in one by one until noise returns?

I was thinking along these lines too. If you could beg borrow or steal an off-board phono stage to run between your t/t and a line input, might be worth a go. Wouldn't have to be anything expensive.

[Gavin F]

I've cracked it! I moved the hifi back to its previous position and the noise went, I returned it to the new position and the noise came back. I was puzzled as I had previously switched off all of the mains powered electronics, so they shouldn't be causing the interference. Then it occurred to me, that we had a small battery powered thermometer that sits just outside a nearby window that transmits to an indoor/outdoor temperature display in the room. I brought the transmitter inside and placed it next to the amp and the sound came back louder than ever, but with the batteries removed it went!

So it turns out that just by moving the hifi about 5" along a wall it brought it close enough to the external transmitter to cause a problem.

I feel a bit daft now but very pleased to have got to the bottom of the issue. Thank you all so much again for your time and suggestions!

[Barry]

So all's well that ends well. Glad to hear you have solved the problem. Well done.

I have a wireless thermostat/controller for my heating system. Fortunately it does not affect my audio system, but it is something to consider if you use moving-coil cartridges that require high gain amplification.

[willbewill]

Well done Gavin, good detective work, that's the problem nowadays so many devices sending signals here there and everywhere. Enjoy your music.

[Gavin F]

Cheers guys! Massively relieved it was something simple in the end!

Currently enjoying kicking back with my records again (weird interference free!). It’s been too long! ��

[Barry]

Given the limited power permitted by wireless devices, it is sobering to learn that your unterminated pickup leads could act as antennae and allow radio frequency interference to occur.

Out of curiosity, what would you estimate the distance between the external thermometer and your turntable to be?

[Gavin F]

Hi Barry, the distance was only about 1.5m (I have now moved the transmitter of course). I suspect the issue was exacerbated as the new hifi location was just in front of a double casement window, and the transmitter was stuck to the outside of the wall adjacent to the window. As such, the only insulation against the radio frequency was the window unit! Just an unlucky coincidence. As a slightly boring adjunct to this story, the new hifi position is where I used to have the hifi before kids came along, and I didn't have this issue back then which had puzzled me. However, back then we had a different inside/outside thermometer which relied on probe on a wire which dangled out of the window, rather than a wireless transmitter.