Hum issues with Ortofon Quintet Mono cartridge

assessor43

Well-Known Member
Nov 1, 2018
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I recently purchased a mono quintet MC cartridge and I am experiencing hum through a Pass labs Xono phono preamp. I have no hum with any other cartridges I own. I took the cartridge to my local brick and mortar where i puchased it and listened to it on the same turntable I have (technics 1200G) and no hum. They were using McIntosh preamp. I am perplexed.

Does anyone have any ideas whats going on?
 

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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My guess is improper grounding.It could be anything from a loose connection to a frayed or crimped wire.
 

assessor43

Well-Known Member
Nov 1, 2018
312
194
128
as it turns out, my phono pre and pre are dual mono so I only need 1 ground coming off the back of the cartridge, not 2.
 

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
10,517
1,774
1,850
Metro DC
Strange things happen. Try grounding the turntable to something other than the preamp. Some problems I had.
1.I misinterpreted the color coded dots on the back of the cartridge.
2. One of the connectors to the cartridge pins was slightly oversized.
3. The turntable was to close to the amplifier.

I had this problem at its' worse with a Grace F9e and a Phillips GA 212. The closer my hand got to the head shell, the louder the hum. I required professional help.
 

assessor43

Well-Known Member
Nov 1, 2018
312
194
128
Ortofon tells me I have to come out of the Phono preamp out of one channel and use a y connector Because its dual mono. Really... Cmon man.
 

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