General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

Register / Login

---

[ Follow Ups ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ General Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Re: Would a power conditioner help?

Posted by Bruce from DC (B) on April 24, 2007 at 16:10:23

In Reply to: Would a power conditioner help? posted by Mark Tinordi on April 24, 2007 at 00:54:56:

Well, the problem is that the switching power supply in your computer generates RF . . . and your phono stage is picking it up. This may be coming back through the powerline . . . in which case a good power conditioner or power strip with isolate outlets (especially ones for digital components). If you follow Bambi's suggestion and get a non-toroidal isolation transformer, that might work too. . . just be sure that the computer is plugged into the power on the primary side of the transformer. I specify non-toroidal because these units have a higher RF rejection than toroidal units.

My concern is that the computer is radiating RF into the air, which your phonostage is picking up. If that's the case, no amount of power conditioner, isolation, etc. will do the job. Because of their high gain, phonostages are particularly susceptible to RFI. Relocating one or the other might help. Having them close to each other is definitely not good.

Is there any way you can just shut the computer off when you're playing records? That would be the best . . . and the cheapest solution.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---