Audio Note Kondo IO-XP cartridge

[Juiced]

I've connected kondo overture, ear 88pb and Swallow Electric PAL-2000EP Transformer to a 'Connected fidelity Six Star' power strip.

There shouldn’t be any difference in hum when you touch, even at maximum volume.

With volume maxed, there's a noticeable hum noise when the SFz is set to 'balanced' compared to '1.5ohm'.
At normal volume, they sound almost exactly the same.

But the Six Star wasn't an unnecessary purchase.
+ it lowered a bit of brightness the Overture had which i wasn't aware of until i switched it from the wall outlet to the Six Star
+ Switching the ear 88pb from the puritan156 to the six star brought a bit of "Airiness" and speed to the sound.
+ Connecting the Micro Seikis base ground poll to the Six Star ground poll totally eliminated the electro static popping issues i had with placing and removing the Weight.

 

[mtemur]

there's a noticeable hum noise when the SFz is set to 'balanced' compared to '1.5ohm'.

It should be the other way around. This is a clear example that there is something wrong causing hum.

 

[DasguteOhr]

yes i see it but can't read (yet) schematics

View attachment 156323

my ground connection setup, let me know if it’s ok :

sme 3012r >> kondo ls-41 rca-rca cable (no ground) >> kondo sfz
View attachment 156324


kondo sfz >> built-in ls-41+ground cable >> ear 88pb phono input and ground
View attachment 156325

micro seiki rx-5000air base ground >> ground cable >> ear 88pb second ground
View attachment 156326 View attachment 156327

Disconnect the grounding cable from the SFZ and only ground the sme tonearm directly to your phonopre.Grounding is a special thing and the only thing that helps is to try it. good luck.
P.S
Normally output cable grounded is no need for separate grounding on transformers. unless you have xlr outputs.

 

[Juiced]

The issue is only with Kondo ls-41 rca to rca cable

With the original sme tonearm cable there is no hum.

 

[DasguteOhr]

The issue is only with Kondo ls-41 rca to rca cable

The shield is conected to signal ground mostly at one side of cable this works very well with mains voltage hum, but since one side is open it can act as an antenna

With the original sme tonearm cable there is no hum.

the shield not connect rca signal ground , only earth connection phono input preamp and tonearm base are brought out at both ends.
P.S
Since the signal from the cartridge is ungrounded, it is better to ground it on the load side. just turn the cable around. Trying makes you smart

 

[mtemur]

You ha

The issue is only with Kondo ls-41 rca to rca cable

With the original sme tonearm cable there is no hum.

This suggests the problem is not specific to the Kondo LS-41, but with all interconnects. The LS-41 is a regular interconnect with the shield connected to the RCA ground only on the source side. In this application, you need a proper tonearm cable, or the Kondo LS-41 tonearm version.

If you are already referring to the LS-41 tonearm cable, then there is likely an internal fault in the tonearm or the cable, or they may be physically damaged.

I have never witnessed this kind of issue with undamaged SME tonearms, SFz, LS-41, or any other Kondo components in a phono chain — and I’ve seen a lot.