When it comes to turntables, there are two main causes of humming: ground loops and feedback.
1. GROUND LOOP
Humming caused by grounding issues can be very easy to correct.
The cables included with your turntable include a ground cable.
The first step to fixing a turntable hum is connecting this cable to the grounding terminal on the back of your turntable.
Tighten the nut down on the cable connector.
Repeat these steps on the grounding terminal of your amplifier or speakers. If your amplifier or speakers don't have a ground connection, loosen a screw from the case or back panel of the amplifier or speakers and tighten it on the other end of the ground cable.
If using a preamp, it is best to ground from the turntable to the preamp, then from the preamp to the amplifier or speakers.
2. FEEDBACK
Your turntable is a sensitive piece of audio equipment. This can lead to humming or feedback in some situations.
To avoid this, follow these simple rules:
Keep your turntable on a flat, sturdy, level surface.
Your speakers should not be on the same surface as the turntable, the vibrations from the speakers can be picked up by the stylus creating a feedback loop.
The turntable should be placed away from sources of static and vibrations.
If the issue continues after grounding, you may need to add a ground loop isolator to the RCA connections or power outlet.
The steps below will help you find the source of the buzzing.
If you connect another device to the speakers such as a smartphone, does the humming follow the speakers or the turntable?
Connect the turntable to a different power outlet, directly into the wall with no power bar.
If the speakers are on the same surface, it may cause a feedback loop where the stylus picks up the vibrations of the speakers. Speakers should not be kept on the same surface as the turntable during playback.
Disconnect the headshell and re-attach it. Ensure the locking nut is secure.
Check the connections from the headshell to the cartridge, you may need to crimp these connections if they appear loose.
Confirm you have the turntable grounded using the included grounding cable. If a grounding nut is unavailable, you can loosen a screw on the case of your amplifier or speakers and tighten it down on the grounding cable.
Remove the RCA cables from the connections and firmly reinsert them.
Try a different set of RCA cables.
Try reducing the volume during playback, at max volume, hum may be present due to feedback.
