Powerline adapter problems?

[JeffL]

Delighted with new Boulder kit including a 508 phono stage (used with MC cartridge). But if the volume is high (higher than necessary, to be honest), there is audible background noise - a ticking accompanied by low-level "motor-boating". I've been pretty careful with cable disposition, and the whole amp system is balanced XLR anyway. I had a similar issue with a GSP combo and was advised that the use of powerline adapters to allow for extension of router signal can cause this.

Before contacting Boulder I was wondering if anyone else has come across this issue and if so how you solved it.

Thanks.

JeffL

 

[Yeti]

It’s a well known problem. Hard wired or even wireless is preferable. I’m using wireless at the moment since moving into an apartment. There are two antennas on my streamer which sits on the shelf directly below my phonostage, which is a Naim superline and not renowned for its rejection of radio breakthrough but I detect no problems from the proximity.

 

[JeffL]

Thanks, Yeti. Powerline works v well for extending wifi range as well as providing sockets for cat cables, so v useful for a largeish house. But I might try disconnecting all the units and see what happens. Trouble is that wifi range is then much reduced! Oh well, can't win them all... I just don;t want to start digging more holes in walls for hard wiring.

Thanks again.

 

[DonH50]

We have coverage problems in our house due to layout, ducting, and the rails used to isolate the media room that partially shield it from wireless. I have wireless, range extenders, access points, and power line adapters in addition to short hard lines (house is not wired for Ethernet). Look into a (wireless) mesh network system for better coverage with less hassle. My dealer's contractor likes eero, but Netgear makes a highly-regarded (if expensive) system, and there are many others. I am looking at an Asus AX6600 for its combination of performance and somewhat lower cost (still not cheap). But, I am no network/IT guy, and just started researching.

 

[JeffL]

Thanks very much for this advice. Plenty for me to explore here!

 

[Yeti]

Since this thread’s original run I’ve moved house and had solar panels fitted, included with which are a couple of powerline adaptors to connect their control box. No impact on the system until I bought a tonearm that used a detachable cable but on connecting the ground wire of the Ortofon cable to my phonostage I got exactly the clicking etc noise described in the original post, whether the other end is connected to the arm or not. Leaving the ground wire hanging unconnected clears the problem but is begging static build up in the arm. Oh well, time to get the masonry drill out, fortunately there’s only one wall in the way of an ethernet cable.

 

[properlydeafened]

Powerline adapters are super noisy. I attempted to use some on a remote streamer in my living room on a circuit with AFCI breakers. The powerline adapter would consistently trip the breaker. I ended up running cat6 to that location as a solution.

 

[Jim Hagerman]

The issue here is WiFi digital pulsed communications getting into the phono input, right? Modern phonostages should have an RF low pass filter on the front-end prior to any contact with a semiconductor junction (transistor, opamp) to reduce the impact of demodulation. Phonostages are very high gain, so it doesn't take much signal at all.

Try getting all WiFi antennas placed away from the TT / phonostage.

 

[JeffL]

That last line is the key in my limited experience. We have a number of Devolo powerline adaptors around the house which work really well for extending internet reception but are a menace for the audio system. The Boulder 508 picked up all kinds of rubbish when (briefly) on the same spur as a powerline unit. All seems well now that they are about 12 feet apart or more and on different spurs.

 

[Yeti]

I’ve never had unwanted effects from WiFi but powerline adaptors are in a different league of trouble. Turns out the intermittent start up problem I’d had with my streamer was cured by their removal too.