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Troubleshooting 17
Troubleshooting
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Owner’s Reference
NuWave Phono Converter
Check to make sure power is going into the NuWave Phono Converter and its rear panel power
switch is in the ON position. You can verify AC power available by testing the outlet it is plugged into
with another device such as a lamp. Sometimes we find NuWave Phono Converters plugged into
switched wall outlets. These are typically the lower of the two AC receptacles and are controlled by a
light switch. If you have no power to the receptacle, check the circuit breaker feeding the receptacle.
Besides, you should be using a Power Plant to feed the NPC anyway. Shame on you.
If you have verified there is power to feed the NuWave Phono Converter, check the NuWave Phono
Converter’s blue PS logo to see if it is lit. A lit PS logo indicates there is power, but the display may
be blank. That is normal. To activate the display touch any of the 4-buttons on the NPC front panel.
If you are connecting a turntable to the phono inputs on the NPC you need to be very careful so
you do not get hum. The NPC has an extraordinary amount of gain available for low output moving
coil cartridges and it is possible to pickup radiated hum from power cords, transformers and radio
stations if you’re not careful. Always make sure you tie the turntable ground wire to the NPC’s ground
lug binding post. If you hear hum through the speakers, try moving the phono leads between the
turntable/arm/cartridge setup to the NPC around. If the hum varies when you move them you need to
find the lowest hum point and keep the cables there, get better shielded cables, or remove the source
of hum being picked up by the cables.
Hum of this type (induced) is typically a low frequency hum (50Hz or 60Hz) without any buzzing
artifacts part of the signal. If your hum is a sharper buzzing noise, it may be from a light dimmer in the
room or another piece of equipment nearby. Try turning any dimmer circuit all the way bright (or off)
and moving the NPC and the input cables around to best noise levels.
If this doesn’t solve the problem this would indicate you probably have a ground loop between
equipment and next you should follow these easy humbusting tips.
The easiest way to figure out where ground loop problems lie is by the process of elimination. You
need to determine where the hum or buzz is coming from within your system.
If the hum/buzz goes away when you remove the inputs to the power amp, your next step will be to
reconnect the amp and move further down the chain. It is important to do this in the correct order and
take the time to perform the test in a methodical step-by-step manner.
If you have a preamp, or processor that is feeding the power amp, your next step would be to
disconnect all inputs to the preamplifier or processor. Once these are disconnected, and the preamp
or processor is connected only to the power amplifier, turn the system on and again, listen for hum.
Should the hum now appear, it is a problem with your preamp or processor or their interaction with
the power amp. Before returning the preamp or processor to the manufacturer, try a cheater plug to
break a ground loop. Cheater plugs are simple devices that convert a three prong AC plug into a two
prong AC plug and in the act of converting three prongs, to two prongs, they disconnect the ground
from the wall socket. Try one of these on the preamp, or the power amp, or both.
NuWave Phono
Converter won’t
turn on
Check the logo
If you have hum
Ground loops
