Stereo VCR hookup problem

[audiodrome]

I just bought a Sony Hi-Fi stereo VCR for my bedroom because the price was right and I have a lot of great stereo music programs. I connected the VCR ,audio out into the "Tape 2" input of my pre amp and all was well, initially. As I'm laying there watching a movie, all of a sudden I start hearing a soft buzz (like a 60 Hz hum) slowly creeping and getting louder and louder until it is as loud as the program. If I switch the input selector to something else and then back again to Tape 2, it goes away and everything's back to normal - the same goes for unplugging the audio cables. Sometimes it goes away by itself, but not to often. It always comes back again though. I'm assuming that the cables are picking up interference from an external source (antenna, other wires, etc.) and the audio cables are building up a charge of RF noise. The switching or unplugging of the cable then dissipates the charge. Is there anything I can do to solve this problem permanantly? I've tried changing cables, but this didn't do anything either. Maybe it's a grounding mystery? This "buzz" seems to plague every device that I try to use in that input (other VCRs, DAT, DVD, etc.). I thought maybe this might be some sort of common electrical audio problem that some of you tech types might have come across in your travels. Thanks

[Sckott]

1. Test input.

Take something else, like a CD player or something you can plug in quickly using the same cables. Better? Same?

2. Test cables. Remove and replace cables. Check for consistency in connection. I might be convinced that some weird capacitence is happening, but you would have to check with a volt meter (Ohm) and short one end of the cable (pos to neg) to test the other end.

Heck, everyone should have 3-4 RCA patch cables around the house, built, bought or kept around. Sometimes ya gotta rip em out and start over again.

[BradOlson]

I start over again with all the cables I have every time I reconnect my stereo as I do use it as a PA system for special events.

[b&w]

My assumption assumes you have the cable hooked up to the vcr also. If t you dont then this probably isnt going to be applicable. If you do have the cable hooked up to the vcr then you might have a pretty common problem with the ground loop from the cable system. We install a different manufactures product of this all the time. This should fix you right up...


http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F003%5 F002&product%5Fid=15%2D579

[Tony Plachy]

Paul, It could be that you have a weak and intermittent ground connection on you input selector switch. If you break the ground connection any where in the circuit you will get hum. I had an old NAD reciever that had the same problem on its speaker selection switch.