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.

 

[Juiced]

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

Yes,
and if I touch one of the LS-41 cables from the SME 3012 to the SFz, an extremely high humming noise will come from the channel.
The loud humming is different between the channels; the right is a very low hum, and the left is a very high hum.

the SME cable remains quite if i touch it.

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.
a lot.

Another thing that will add to the mystery.

With the SME tonearm cable in balanced mode, there is no hum, and when I switch to 1.5 ohms, there is a hum that sounds exactly as the hum with the LS-41 cable on balanced.

The SME has two ground cables.
a regular one with ground connectors on both ends and one with a single ground connector connected with a split cable to two RCA connectors on the SFz end.
1.5 ohm becomes quiet in addition to balanced mode.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Yes,
and if I touch one of the LS-41 cables from the SME 3012 to the SFz, an extremely high humming noise will come from the channel.
The loud humming is different between the channels; the right is a very low hum, and the left is a very high hum.

This may be due to how the kondo is wired. Normally ground wires are not connected to the secondary winding of the transformer. I have everything all my sut wired like this.

My tip is not to connect the grounding cable of the SFZ. Only grounding cable from tonearm directly to the phonopre input clamp not other side where the power connection is. why this you form a grounding loop over the housing of the phonopre. try it out
Marked red only use left one for grounding

 

[mtemur]

Yes,
and if I touch one of the LS-41 cables from the SME 3012 to the SFz, an extremely high humming noise will come from the channel.
The loud humming is different between the channels; the right is a very low hum, and the left is a very high hum.

the SME cable remains quite if i touch it.

Another thing that will add to the mystery.

With the SME tonearm cable in balanced mode, there is no hum, and when I switch to 1.5 ohms, there is a hum that sounds exactly as the hum with the LS-41 cable on balanced.

The SME has two ground cables.
a regular one with ground connectors on both ends and one with a single ground connector connected with a split cable to two RCA connectors on the SFz end.
1.5 ohm becomes quiet in addition to balanced mode.

The whole problem comes from not using the Kondo SFz, LS-41 interconnect, and SME tonearm the way they are designed to be used.

The SFz works best in fully balanced mode and provides true balanced loading of the cartridge. For that reason, the RCA negative must not be connected to ground at any point before the SFz (cartridge, tonearm, or cable).

In addition, the tonearm body and the cable shield must be connected to the ground lug on the SFz. This is easy to check and simple to implement.

 

[Juiced]

The whole problem comes from not using the Kondo SFz, LS-41 interconnect, and SME tonearm the way they are designed to be used.

but everything is connected with 3 ls-41 cables.

Even the amp internal wiring is ls-41

Kondo io-xp >>sme leads>> sme 3012 >>LS-41>> Kondo SFz >>LS-41+ground>> Ear 88pb >>LS-41>> Kondo overture

What is the right way??

 

[mtemur]

but everything is connected with 3 ls-41 cables.

Even the amp internal wiring is ls-41

Kondo io-xp >>sme leads>> sme 3012 >>LS-41>> Kondo SFz >>LS-41+ground>> Ear 88pb >>LS-41>> Kondo overture

What is the right way??

the right way is ensuring this:

The SFz works best in fully balanced mode and provides true balanced loading of the cartridge. For that reason, the RCA negative must not be connected to ground at any point before the SFz (cartridge, tonearm, or cable).

In addition, the tonearm body and the cable shield must be connected to the ground lug on the SFz.

And using tonearm Ls-41 cable between tonearm and SFz or Ls-41 + ground cable. After that again ensuring that ground is not connected to any of the RCA negatives.

 

[Juiced]

the right way is ensuring this:

And using tonearm Ls-41 cable between tonearm and SFz or Ls-41 + ground cable. After that again ensuring that ground is not connected to any of the RCA negatives.

how can i achieve this?

if you see here,
the tonearm body and headshell lock cables are not connected to the rca negatives but directly to the ground connection.

is the ls-41 a 2 conductor type shielded cable?

if not, how do others use their ls-41 rca to rca cable as balanced?

What is the "turntable shielded section"?