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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:The UK Music Conference
Notice:Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:RDGENG::CROOK
Created:Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1381
Total number of notes:39269

878.0. "hi-fi hjelp please" by CHEFS::IMMSA (adrift on the sea of heartbreak) Wed Jul 31 1991 17:55

    Bear with me please.
    
    This is about music ( a bit) and is in the UK but I am aware it is 
    probably in the wrong conference, but I *am* desperate. 
    
    Also - understand that I am *not* a technical person.
    
    Having said that - I have faith that someone will offer advice. It
    doesn't usually fail ;-)
    
    When I upgraded my hi-fi, I kept the deck from my original kit but for
    one reason or another the lead from deck to amp is not long enough to
    reach.
    
    So, I had an extension made with phono plug connections to lengthen the
    cable, but I got an awful hum. Experimenting, I took out the
    "extension" and connected the deck without it and the hum reduced
    considerably so I chopped off the phonos and rejoined the wires by
    twisting and taping them together. 
    
    Are you with me so far?
    
    Bottom line is, it didn't really work - I must have been kidding myself
    {;-( I still get an awful hum.
    
    So - I cannot configure so the deck can be plugged into the amp without
    extending the cable somehow. I am loath to replace the entire length of
    the cable because where it goes into the deck there is a very
    complicated looking gismo with lots of connections soldered to it - and
    that's beyond me.
    
    Can anyone offer a remedy. 
    
    I would really appreciate it if the p*ss takers could save their
    comments - I know it might be tempting but I am getting really fed up
    with this problem - and I'm not really in the mood.
    
    Thanks
    
    andy  
    	
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
878.1Close.UFHIS::TLACEYA crime in the wink of an eyeWed Jul 31 1991 18:029
    
    
    
    	No idea, but try asking in MALLET::UK_AUDIO, thats
    	where the techies hang out.
    
    
    
    	Tim.
878.2Hope I have explained this clearly enoughCRATE::HAZELMillion-to-one chances crop up nine times out of tenWed Jul 31 1991 18:1639
    This hum sounds like it might be mains hum. I have had this problem
    occasionally, and it is often caused by the signal line being shorted
    to the earth line in one of the phono connectors.
    
    If the connectors are the type which unscrew, try opening them up and
    checking the wiring inside them. If it looks as though the wire
    soldered to the middle pin might touch the earth connection, then this
    could be the problem. You need to stop the two touching.
    
    Here is a diagram showing a cross-section of a phono plug, to try to
    clarify things:
    
    
                ---------------------++--------------- <-- earth connection
                                     ||
                                     ||
                                 ================  <--- signal connection
                                     ||
                                     ||  <-- insulating material
                                     ++---------------
    
    The signal connection is surrounded by the earth connection, which
    forms a sort of cylinder. The wire comes in from the back (left hand
    side of diagram), and is of the coaxial type. The screen of the coaxial
    cable (that is, the wire mesh which surrounds the central insulated
    strand of wire) is soldered to the earth connection of the plug, and
    the central strand is soldered to the signal connection.
    
    Check whether any part of the earth connection, or the coaxial screen,
    touches any part of the signal connection or the signal wire.
    
    You may need to check both plugs, and also any connections to them at
    the record deck end.
    
    Is it only the deck which gives this trouble?
    
    
    Dave Hazel
    
878.3CHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakWed Jul 31 1991 18:5212
    Thanks for the info so far.
    
    Yes it is only the deck and of course when I tape a record (gasp - for
    use in the car of course ;-) ) the hum comes out and makes it
    unlistenable to.
    
    I will certainly try the advice in -.1 and if it does not work, will go
    to the audio conference.
    
    Thanks again
    
    andy
878.4CHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakWed Jul 31 1991 18:5511
    I forgot.....
    
    The hum persists even without the phono plugs - when the two ends of
    the wires are separated, twisted together and taped with insulating
    tape.
    
    My son is a qualified electrician and has helped my with the technical
    bits but he is not an electronics man, so finding the actual cause of
    the problem is rather beyond both of us!
    
    andy 
878.5ODDONE::FIDDLER_MWed Jul 31 1991 19:395
    It might be something to do with impedance and wires matching and
    loadsa techy stuff like that.  The audio conf is a great place to aslk
    this sort of Qn.
    
    Mikef
878.6Thanx for the helpCHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakThu Aug 01 1991 11:218
    OK Thanks.
    
    I'm on my way to the audio conference.......
    
    dum di dum di dum...(cough)
    
    
    andy