Parasound phono pre amp

[Raffs]

I recently bought a Parasound P/PH-100 phono pre amp second hand, it works fine, however I noticed when i got close to it that there was an ever so slight hum to it, and if you place your hand on the top of it I can feel a slight vibration coming from the unit, when I unplug it vibration / hum goes away

1. is the vibration and hum normal ?
2. if not who can I take it to to have it checked out ?

I'm in JHB East Rand area , I would appreciate any advice

Cheers 

[alternativeroute]

From what I have read in this review - http://sites.thestar.com.my/audio/story.asp?file=/1998/1/01phono - it might just be the nature of the beast...

[Raffs]

thanx bud looks like that is the case after all.....................it seems like he had a fix of sort thinks i'll try and get hold of them , get their view !

[Hi-Phibian]

Depending on the space available, I would fit a new (toroidal) transformer.

[Raffs]

Hi, thanks for that , would you be able to assist, and if so what would the damage be ? $$$, i'm not as bright as others when it comes to technical issues like this

[Hi-Phibian]

I am sure I could. Dangerous to commit without seeing the unit etc and knowing exactly what needs to be done but would tell you before doing anything.

[Ampdog]

From what I have read in this review - http://sites.thestar.com.my/audio/story.asp?file=/1998/1/01phono - it might just be the nature of the beast...

Jeepers!

Can that reviewer put the smallest amount of thought into the biggest amount of words! Anyway ... a humming transformer in a pre-amplifier (using about no current)?? I am sure a modest degree of tightening up screws can fix it before one goes to a new transformer, especially if using an E-I core. Otherwise, as Hi-Phibian said. You are not putting in 240V mains into a 220V design? (The Chinese is slow to catch up on this. Even so .... ) Could there also be relays somewhere? They can also hum - which is even worse designwise. This is certainly not endearing me to Parasound.

[Hi-Phibian]

Tightening screws if there are any may work but it has been a long time since I have seen screws in commercial equipment transfomers. Most laminations are spotwelded or clamped in a wrap around frame. Some transformers buzz on one side of town and not on another.

[alternativeroute]

Jeepers!

Can that reviewer put the smallest amount of thought into the biggest amount of words!

Well. The reviewer did use 'Shakti stones' (http://www.shakti-innovations.com/audiovideo.htm ).

Speaking of difference, the P/PH-100, or rather the review sample in question, did have one area where it fell short; there was a detectable mechanical/transformer hum. The hum isn't detracting sonically, in that it doesn't translate any readily apparent effects through the transducer, rather manifesting itself as a higher noise floor. The resident Shakti Stone cured many ills here, like it did the Octave Electronics M7i preamp (reviewed AudioFile & AV #42); silences were better resolved, and gone was much of the glare and etchiness around images. To top it all off, there was a distinct leap in focus, and space around instruments became better delineated

At $200 it might be cheaper to sort out the transformer than employ 'shakti stones'...

[Raffs]

gents thanks for all the feedback, Hi-Phibian I'll contact you might just be worth my while you checking it out, and yes those stones.....definitely not a cost effective solution......they cost more than the unit, cheers !