Hiss / buzz , how to get rid of?

[Greg]

I have red a lot of the discussion about hiss and buzz but haven't noticed people who have found solution. Step up doesn't remove the problem, it does make it smaller though. I don't see step up as a correct solution to repair Devialet's faulty phono.

Maybe I should write what I have tried so far.

With Dynavector it doesn't matter if the ground wire is connected to Devialet or not. Actually I tried to remove all the wires (except loudspeaker and power) from Devialet and the hiss was still there. So even the vinyl player in not connected to Devialet the hiss is there.

With Soundsmith the buzz stopped when removing vinyl player from the Devialet. But again, the ground wire didn't effect at all, connected or not.

I’ve posted a bit about the hiss problem before. I have suffered with this using a Ortofon Kontrapunct B. Output is 0.47mV. I’ve had hiss with both my previous 220 Pro C/I and my current 250 Pro C/I. I’ve tried a variety of settings on the configurator and have never eliminated the hiss. My view is the Devialet phonostage is inadequate and cannot manage low output MC cartridges well. This has been a major disappointment to me because I know it is relatively easy these days to build a quiet phono stage. Having said that, generally they do seem to work best and quietest when they are not an integrated component of the amplifier.

I tried a 1:10 SUT and I had insufficient gain. A 1:20 SUT would be needed. The trouble with this is to get the needed gain by increasing the ratio, you sacrifice sound quality, in particular transparency, detail, micro detail and nuance. These are the very qualities that keep vinyl lovers loving their analogue source. Furthermore, whilst a SUT can offer a solution, they have other inadequacies which influence the sound, such as variable frequency related impedance. Therefore with a passive SUT in circuit, you have an unbalanced signal input.

One of the reasons I went for Devialet was the opportunity to dispense with a multitude of equipment boxes and allow me to throw away my rack. However, I have retained a small rack because I have concluded that the Devialet phonostage is not up to scratch when compared with other quality phonostages. I tried a Ray Samuel’s F-117 Nighthawk phonostage because it is very small. It sounded fairly good, but lacked the revelation of transparency and fine detail. Also it was, if you turned the wick up, electronically noisey which should inevitably be expected from a battery fed stage. Yes, contrary to popular belief, battery stages introduce noise. Do a google search if you doubt my claim.

I have just bought a secondhand Primare R32 Phono stage. It’s a big chassis, so my small equipment rack is sadly required, but boy oh boy does it do the business, fed into the 250 Pro line stage. Hiss is very slightly present with the volume turned up and the ear right next to the speaker, but at normal listening levels, any hiss is absolutely non-intrusive in the listening position even with very quiet music passages. Furthermore, the quality of sound reproduction has taken a massive step up overall. A very significant improvement over the sound quality of the inboard Devialet stage.

Steppers (SUT’s), as much as I don’t like them, are a simple solution and if you go this passive route, buy wisely because there are plenty on the market that outrageously cost more than a quality separate phonostage. They are actually a very simple small transformer component and you could save a packet by doing a very basic DIY job by just buying some quality transformers and building them into a simple project box with suitable wire and connectors. Google is your friend on how to do this.

I remain completely disappointed with the Devialet phonostage. However, if your vinyl playback is important to you, simply get a good separate phonostage. I have, and for serious listening, it is my source of choice. I have my ripped digital library on a sonicTransporter as well as Tidal streamed through Roon Lifetime and also Radio Paradise flac through a Raspberry Pi. Although I’ll listen with satisfaction to my streamed music, nothing I stream sounds as good as my vinyl system. It’s the most beautiful fully engaging emotional experience.

PS. Your buzz problem is probably an earthing issue. Check the earths from your cartridge, arm and possibly turntable as well.