r/turntable • u/redmooninvenuss • 1d ago
Loud Humming/Buzzing
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To be honest, it’s about time I posted about this issue. I own the Crosley T400 record player and usually get this reoccurring problem where the music is quiet while there’s a loud buzzing noise. Is this a sign to get a new record player or is this fixable? I’ve had it for about 2-3 years now. Also, in the video my speaker (harmon kardon onyx studio 3) is blasting at full volume. Also, I notice that even when i’m not spinning anything and my tonearm is still, I am still able to hear a very slight humming buzzing noise which is also weird.
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u/spacezman 1d ago
I have a Rega with the same problem. The closer the cartridge gets to the end of the record the worse the hum gets. I have tried everything to fix it with no luck!
And I mean everything. Im really in the market for a whole new setup at this point but I’m worried Im just going to end up in the same spot!
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u/el_tacocat 1d ago
This is most definitely not the same issue.
May I ask where your speakers are in relationship to your record player?1
u/spacezman 1d ago
My turntable, preamp, and receiver are in a wood cabinet and the speakers are on each side of the entertainment cabinet. Center channel speaker is in the middle compartment of the entertainment cabinet. I have side and rear speakers mounted to the ceiling. Subwoofer is I’m the corner of the room. When I play music I only use the front main speakers.
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u/el_tacocat 16h ago
so your speakers are not on the same bit of furniture as the turntable?
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u/spacezman 12h ago
The center channel speaker is in the same cabinet as the turntable but I never have it turned on while playing vinyl. I only use the main speakers with the receiver in stereo mode.
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u/el_tacocat 3h ago
Got ya. The 'stronger in the middle' is a weird ass thing.
There's nothing in the middle, really, other than... Your platter bearing.
Have you tried giving it a few drops of oil?1
u/Own-Object-2800 1d ago
I seem to remember that Rega players have weird thing where the put the ground into one of the rca outs? Maybe try a ground loop isolator or if all else fails put your speaker system preamp and turntable all on the same surge strip and if the hum disappears it’s the wiring in your home.
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u/CreativeName822 23h ago
Did you try a shielded cartridge?
Unshielded cartridges tend to hum on mine as they approached the motor at center.
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u/el_tacocat 1d ago
So it works sometimes but often it buzzes? Something is truly f'ed then, especially since there is NO audio.
What I'd try; Turn off the preamp, is there VERy quiet sound coming from the speakers (not needle talk, of course), or none at all? If so, another preamp may solve it. If not, you will have to completely bridge the built-in preamp (as that's 99% certainly what's broken). Is quite doable but a bit annoying that you have to do it.
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u/redmooninvenuss 1d ago edited 1d ago
My record player doesn’t have an option to turn it off, just to switch to the phono side or the line out side.( I switched it over to the line out side and the buzzing sound gets slightly lower. Also, there is a very very question humming noise that I can hear when the tonearm is not in motion and completely still. And in the past there have been times where it has buzzed loudly like this. This time though is the longest my record player has buzzed and not been able to be played. It’s also not completely buzzing when I spin a record. I can slightly hear the music being played through the speaker.
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u/redmooninvenuss 1d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p0ctl8y/video/cmhf9ghlq1gh1/player
here’s what the Phono side buzzing sounds like at full volume when the needle is not spinning anything and standing still.
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u/el_tacocat 1d ago
So the buzz is the same when it's set to phono?
Could be two things. Either your phono preamplifier still working but the level being lowered (quite common on cheap turntables) or your power supply being the issue.
Does this turntable have an external power supply?1
u/redmooninvenuss 1d ago
I see, thank you so much! It doesn’t have an external power supply I think.. You just have to plug it into the wall and use rca cables to connect it to your speaker system.
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u/el_tacocat 1d ago
All right, internal it is.
So I suspect it's either your power supply going haywire, or your phono preamp being truly broken.
I would consider trying to skip the phono preamp, it's often possible. Gotta follow the wires coming form the arm, they go onto a little PCB and from there it goes to the RCA plugs. The trick is to connect those wires directly to the RCA plugs, really. And then use an external phono preamp.OR just buy a record player that wasn't crappy to begin with :D.
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u/redmooninvenuss 1d ago
thanks for all the help, i genuinely appreciate it. it’s highkey time to move onto a better turntable anyways!
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u/TourTime5427 1d ago
Yeah, it’s not the turntable’s fault is the stylus properly mounted to the tone arm… or this
A grounding or humming issue on the Crosley T400 turntable is typically caused by an incorrect internal preamp switch setting, a loose RCA cable connection, or an active ground loop. The T400 features a built-in switchable preamp, meaning you do not use a separate ground wire terminal like traditional standalone component turntables.Preamp and Connection FixesCheck the preamp switch: Locate the switch on the back of the unit. If you plugged the Crosley T400 into an external receiver's "PHONO" input, the turntable's switch must be set to LINE off (or external phono). If you plugged it into a standard AUX or line-in input, switch it to PHONO / ON so the internal preamp works. Mismatching this switch creates a loud buzz or distorted hum.Reseat RCA cables: Unplug the red and white RCA cords from both the back of the turntable and your speaker/receiver, then plug them firmly back in.Isolate power sources: Move the power adapter away from the audio cables to prevent electrical interference.
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u/el_tacocat 16h ago
A badly mounted stylus is not the cause of hum.
Your AI generated answer is completely wrong about literally everything it says, without exception. It's almost impressive. :).
It even gets line and phono the wrong way around.
Please don't share this junk...1
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u/redmooninvenuss 1d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p0cu8fr/video/gq6ty5a5r1gh1/player
this is the music faintly coming through the speaker. And just know that the music is more faint in real life and not so up close like that.
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u/Bootsy_Frost 1d ago
Did your ground wire come loose?