Really Big Pipe Hum

cinellipro · Newbie Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Florida

Hi. I recently purchased a Fonlo Thingee with the Really Big Pie and love it. It replaces a Musical Surrounding Phonomena II which I considered to be a good preamp pushing a nuded DL-103r. However, I found the jump in sound quality in the FLT to be dramatic. Along with deeper cleaner bass and pinpoint imaging and soundstage, I'm hearing more three dimensionality and layering in the insturments. I'm delighted with the investment.
I have a question about the Ground/Lift switch located at the bottom of the power supply. When it is set to Ground all is quiet, but when it is set to Lift, there is a fairly loud constant hum (feedback noise) coming out of the speakers that is not affected by volume or attenuation. I'm wondering if that is something I should remedy with a line conditioner or is that a circumstance of where I live. Or should I not fix what may not be broken
Thanks for your valuable feedback.
Cheers

BlueKnight · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject:

Looks like the GL switch works as advertised. Nothing wrong with your Thingie. When you have many components on the same circuit, you will get a 60hz hum. Hence the Lift switch to break the...cycle. Don't forget that many houses have their electrical polarity in reverse in many outlets.

You can purchase a cheap polarity tester at any electronics store.
_________________
Mike

Gilbert Y · Advanced Member Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 2290

cinellipro

If your system is quiet with the ground lift switch in ground position, leave it that way. Don't use the switch unless you need to lift the ground. The loud hum you heard was not feedback. It was the hum being pick up by the circuit because it is not being grounded.

As Boo Lite said, the ground lift switch works as advertised. Nothing wrong with it.

cinellipro · Newbie Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Florida

Thanks for the great advice. The preamp continues to break-in and the sound is incredible. I expected improvements, but not to this level! It is most noticable when I play a record I haven't heard in a while. Then the sparks start to fly.

BlueKnight · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:52 pm Post subject:

BTW, Cinelli Pro makes some pretty awesome road bikes! Which one do you ride?
_________________
Mike

cinellipro · Newbie Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Florida

I used to ride quite a bit and indeed had a cinelli nautilus road bike. Still ride occasionally, but not as much as I should.
Th fonlo thingee has really kicked into gear and seems to have broken in. If it conitnues to get any better I'm going to need an external defibrillator.

cinellipro · Newbie Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Florida

Hi everyone! I just purchased an Ortofon Cadenza Red to replace a Denon DL-S1 cartridge. A bit of an improvement, but I was expecting a few more fireworks. I'm thinking it might be that the input impedence or capacitance in the preamp should have a different plug than the ones I have for the Denon. Any suggestions appreciated.
Best wishes and happy holidays.
R

Ortofon Cadenza Red Technical Data
•Output voltage at 1 kHz 5 cm/sec 450 μV
•Frequency response 20 Hz - 20 kHz -3
•Tracking ability at 315 Hz at recommended tracking force *) 80 μm
•Compliance, dynamic, lateral 12 μm/mN
•Stylus type Nude fine line, Al. cantilever
•Stylus tip radius r/R 8/40
•Tracking force range 2,2-2,7 g (22-27 mN)
•Tracking force recommended 2,5 g (25 mN)
•Tracking angle 20º
•Internal impedance, DC resistance 5 Ohm
•Recommended load impedance 50-500 Ohm
>Cartridge weight 10,7 g

Totemman · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject:

Have you tried not using loading plugs?

cinellipro · Newbie Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Florida

I removed the loading plugs. Had my adult nephew over to do comparison testing and he concurred that it sounded cleaner without plugs (with the Ortofon Cadenza).

Totemman · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject:

I am glad that you have found this really simple fix to work. I have friends using cartridges like the Shelter 501 and they found that not using loading pins was best. As an owner of the MM Grado Sonata I can tell you that my experience with the Fon Lo Thingee has taught me that it is a wonderful sounding phono preamplifier and that it can be made to bring out the best in most lower (under 1500 dollars) end hi-fi cartridges. My personal configuration is Fon Lo Thingee+ Sp Capacitor Pack + Really Big Power Supply.