Fiddly vintage stereo/turntable buzz question
March 9, 2023 8:01 AM Subscribe
I have a receiver that I mostly like for its mid century aesthetic, a Huldra Tandberg. I'd like to listen to records through it but there's nowhere to attach a ground wire to what I'm told is called the chassis. Not on bottom, not in back, not even if I take off the wooden panel on the back. Is there something I can do? Can post photos if it helps. For the moment I'm not listening to any of my records because of the buzz. (Which I don't think was there before the move but I didn't pay good attention to what was hooked up to what.)
The simplest, cheapest solution is trying to tape the turntable ground to something else grounded nearby - and if you haven't tried that, you should go ahead and take a minute to see if the buzz stops when the turntable's ground connector touches some other grounded metal.
You could also simply use a phono pre-amp that has a ground terminal, and is then connected to a line input on the receiver (ie, "tape"). Something like the Zen Phono or Schiit Mani phono preamps will give you excellent sound through standard line inputs on any receiver if the phono input on the receiver isn't giving you clean sound.
posted by eschatfische at 9:14 AM on March 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
You could also simply use a phono pre-amp that has a ground terminal, and is then connected to a line input on the receiver (ie, "tape"). Something like the Zen Phono or Schiit Mani phono preamps will give you excellent sound through standard line inputs on any receiver if the phono input on the receiver isn't giving you clean sound.
posted by eschatfische at 9:14 AM on March 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Hum on a turntable usually comes from a difference in the ground voltage between the receiver and the turntable. What you should have is a ground wire from the turntable that attaches to the receiver (and no other separate grounding connections to the turntable), if that's in place then the grounding of the receiver itself won't make much difference to the hum though it will of course increase safety.
posted by Lanark at 9:26 AM on March 9, 2023
posted by Lanark at 9:26 AM on March 9, 2023
Sometimes the hum is caused by the connection of the cartridge at the tone arm. With the turntable and amp on, try touching the cartridge or pushing more onto any connectors to see if this changes anything.
Usually the cause, as people say, is the lack of a ground. Many amplifiers or receivers have a connection at the rear to which to attach a turntable ground wire.
If you find no ground wire on your turntable, google it looking for images or specs to see if it used to have one that has perhaps come detached or broken off; and hook up a new one. The ground wire needs to be grounded, is the usual problem
posted by swlabr at 9:42 AM on March 9, 2023
Usually the cause, as people say, is the lack of a ground. Many amplifiers or receivers have a connection at the rear to which to attach a turntable ground wire.
If you find no ground wire on your turntable, google it looking for images or specs to see if it used to have one that has perhaps come detached or broken off; and hook up a new one. The ground wire needs to be grounded, is the usual problem
posted by swlabr at 9:42 AM on March 9, 2023
Came to suggest a cheap phono pre with a ground terminal. The Schitt is nice but a $20 Pyle unit will do the job just fine.
posted by aspersioncast at 10:00 AM on March 9, 2023
posted by aspersioncast at 10:00 AM on March 9, 2023
which Huldra is it? HiFiEngine lists several models, some of them which use a DIN jack for connection which would have the ground in it. Owner's manual for a Tandberg Huldra 9, which uses a DIN jack only, is here. (note that you have to register to view manuals - no cost to register, though). The 8 has a set of RCA phono inputs (alongside a DIN jack) - there might be something in the manual describing the ground connection for RCA input but it's in Dutch. But, knowing the exact model might be enough to find the owner's manual, which can probably at least be machine translated.
posted by mrg at 10:16 AM on March 9, 2023
posted by mrg at 10:16 AM on March 9, 2023
Huldra Tandberg
Which model number? Not the 9, as it has a metal back; the 8 has an AM antenna input with the lower terminal marked Ground. It also has a DIN input for the record player, the shell of which is used for the ground shield.
posted by Stoneshop at 10:28 AM on March 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Which model number? Not the 9, as it has a metal back; the 8 has an AM antenna input with the lower terminal marked Ground. It also has a DIN input for the record player, the shell of which is used for the ground shield.
posted by Stoneshop at 10:28 AM on March 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Argh and then I was busy all day and probably it won't do much to post pics now. Will read these responses and see what I can figure out, though. Thanks!
posted by less-of-course at 6:25 AM on March 10, 2023
posted by less-of-course at 6:25 AM on March 10, 2023
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It would help. Photos of front panel, back panel, and the ends of the cable from the turntable would be useful, especially if sharp enough to be able to read all the labels. Make and model of turntable and its phono cartridge as well, if possible.
posted by flabdablet at 8:33 AM on March 9, 2023 [1 favorite]