Turntable Buzz

[Birchy]

CD Recorder, tape deck and turntable hooked up to amp. Pretty cheap connecting cables, but recording from tape to CD isn't a problem.....but recording vinyl to CDR comes out rubbish, as there is a background dentist's drill ever-present not just in the background. One of those sizzling sounds that you can almost physically feel. Would more expensive cable make a difference? Why just the turntable? Please help!

[anthomson]

Unlikely to be the cable - ( unless its not well sheilded and picking up noise ). Try swapping the cables just it case it is not grounded correctly due to a loose connection. The signal from a turntable is much smaller than from a tape deck so will be more susceptable to noise. Also is the turntable input going in to a proper Phono input. This is important because a signal from a turntable has a deliberate bias applied and requires additional processing via the extra circuitary found on the Phono input.

[tracymort]

Are you using a pre-amp? either on your amplifier or a seperate 'black box' unit such as a B-Tech BT26 or a Nad PP1. As already mentioned, vinyl players have a lower output than CD, Minidisc, Tuners etc so need a bit of a boost on the signal. I use the B-Tech box which you can pick up cheap from a Richer Sounds near you. Better interconnects will you as well.

[lisaj]

I take it you've also connected the earth wire to the back of the amp? sounds obvious, but you haven't mentioned it and it would cause considerable buzz.

[Birchy]

Thank you all. Problem solved !