Trouble in turntable-land? Don't panic...but don't expect instant answers. Turntables are much more complex than "plug and play" digital. Here are some tips to get some basic phono problems solved.

Hum and Noise

Stop and read this: it is totally normal to have some residual hum and noise in a phono system, especially when you have the volume cranked to max. This is the reality of having to amplify the tiny signal from the cartridge to line levels. If you want a totally silent system, best to stick with digital.

That said, if you're having BIG hum and noise problems—loud, in-your-face kind of problems—here are some tips for resolving them:

1. Use short, well-shielded cables from the turntable to the phono preamp. This is literally the most important factor for getting low noise. Seriously. Use 1m (3 feet) or less cables with 100% shielding. If you can put the phono preamp right next to the turntable and use even shorter cables, do it.

2. Don't rout your input cables in with power cords or on top of other components. Even with 100% shielding, this can cause hum.

3. Try grounding and not grounding. Most phono systems want a solid, short (1m or less) ground wire between the turntable and phono preamp. But some don't. Try both and choose the one with lowest hum.

4. Don't stack the phono preamp on top of any other electronics. This may cause hum. Same goes for the turntable—keep electronics away from it as well.

5. Don't put routers, phones, tiny PCs, or other wireless electronics near your phono preamp. These devices emit gigahertz RF signals that may be amplified by the sensitive electronics inside the phono preamp.

6. Check the wiring from the cartridge to the phono output to ensure it is solid and undamaged. The problem may not be in the phono preamp at all.

7. Make sure you're using the lowest gain. Moving magnet cartridges (the most typical kind) only need 40dB of gain. More will increase the noise floor. For moving coil, use the lowest gain that allows you to get the volume you need.

8. Don't plug a phono preamp into the PHONO input on a preamp, integrated amp or receiver. Yes, we know, this sounds weird. But the PHONO input of those devices includes its own phono preamp with 40dB of gain and equalization. This means you'll never get the right sound. Connect a phono preamp to any other line-level input, not PHONO.

Hum and Noise with Massive Distortion

1.As above, make sure you are plugging it into a line-level input on your preamp or integrated amp. That is, any input EXCEPT "PHONO." If you're plugging it into phono, you're running the signal through two phono preamps—no bueno!

2. Also, make sure your turntable doesn't have a built-in phono preamp. If it does, you're also using two phono preamps, and will get massive hum and distortion.

The Right Gain Setting

1. The right gain setting can be very different between different cartridges, but the stock 40dB setting is usually the best place to start.

2. The right gain setting gives you good volume without too much noise, and no distortion.

3. Trying different gain settings is fine, but don't switch gains while Mani 2 is on, per the manual.