[drphoto]

Sorry, just got back from work. I'll check the wiring tonight. I think the wires go to the correct place, but one might be loose, though they felt tight when installing.

Pre is Mapletree 4SE Ultra which is MM pre w/ 48dB of gain.

TT, for now is on top of rack and pre is 2 shelves (24" or so)

Money is certainly an object, as they don't pay pharmacy interns very much. Originally I was just going to get that $40 Grado and slap it on the freebie Thorens and be done with it.

[kingdeezie]

I know this might be ridiculous but....

Could this be a bad tube, or really bad tube noise?

I used to have the MAD 4SE Ultra, and when I went from a MM Ortofon to a Dynavector 20X HO; I noticed that when I turned the volume up past a certain point it would get really noisy. The Denon has even less output then the Dynavector, so I imagine you are cranking the volume pot even higher. 

Eventually I got to a point where I just bought a better, separate, phonostage and didn't have to worry about it anymore.

Perhaps try switching out the phono tubes?? 

[TheChairGuy]

Originally I was just going to get that $40 Grado and slap it on the freebie Thorens and be done with it.

Some do end it there, ya' know....but, you seek better, it seems and are curious enough to know why a bunch of us glow over vinyl. 

If you persevere thru the random crap right now, you'll likely be rewarded with such delicious analog playback that you'll shortly be one of us 

Besides, a buyer at Walgreens told me recently that Pharmacists are in demand and command a serious salary after the 5 year ordeal.  You'll make up your red ink sometime soon

John

[drphoto]

I suppose I could put the Tempest back in and see. Maybe it is tube noise.

If that works, there is a guy here offering a fairly inexpensive outboard phono pre. I'd like to keep the MAD, as I love it's line level sound.

Yeah, I know there are way better tube pre's, but this one is sure nice for the money.

BTW, John. Pharmacist make a decent salary, but I wouldn't call it 'serious' money, especially considering the investment made in education, and the level of stress, well at least in the clinical/hospital environment where I now work. Hell if you just want to make money, go into investment banking.

I didn't play w/ any audio stuff tonight. They wore me out at the hospital today. I'm the only person who knows how to process take home 'scripts for patients discharged over the weekend, so I ended up staying an hour over to get them finished. Then I just wanted to catch the US Open.

[drphoto]

I believe it was a slightly loose wire after all. Good catch guys and thanks so much.

But now I have the more traditional problem of low end noise from the subs, much as people first thought I was having, so I'm going to have to figure out better isolation.

I think I'll give the wall mount a shot.

Thanks again to all. One more step forward.

BTW: From 65 hz up, it sounds wonderful.