Help! Turntable RCA cable with insane interference from LED lights...

Hey all,
I finally set up my secondary listening area after moving months ago, and I have a ton of Ikea LED light strips putting on a friggin' laser show behind & above the wall of record cubes. Only good place for the turntable & amp in the new spot is on top of those cabinets w/ the LEDs.
Come to find out those lights are throwing out some SERIOUS interference thru the RCA cables going from the TT to the amp's phono. After an obscene amount of troubleshooting (I even checked the tt cartridge!) I discovered it is strictly the rca cable picking up the high-pitched, undulating hums, crackles & popping from those LEDs. It's even when they're turned off; as long as they're plugged into an outlet the noise persists. But again, only if the RCAs are plugged into the phono stereo as well. Otherwise: beauteous audio normalcy.

I'd reeeeeeeeally love to keep that colorful visual going... Anyone know if a good n' shielded, braided rca interconnect might block that interference? The existing rca is just a 3' length of the cheaper variety (Fospower or smthng similar.) I did try another rca, the only other I had available is a stock super-cheap/free 6' long rca, and the interference was almost double! I also even powered the lights via a separate (unplugged) UPS battery pack, as to make absolutely sure it wasn't a power/ground issue. Just seems to be too close in vicinity.

So I'm hoping that just maybe ponying up for a pricey super-braided shielded adamantium plutonium alien technology rca might resolve this?

Any suggestions & all tidbits of help would be highly appreciated!! I'm afraid if a nice cable or some ferrite clamps don't work then I'll have to go without all the fancy visual mojo I was so fancy on (and already spent some hours & bucks on.)
Figured I'd ask before possibly spending a bunch more money & time on a possible lost cause...

 

Phono cables needs to have low capacitance ... blue jeans RCA are one of the lower capacitance i remember. Signal cable also.

Cheaper option it's to DIY, it's very easy.

 

I would try the Monoprice Premium shielded RCA cable
Monoprice 1.5ft Premium 2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable - Black - Monoprice.com

(They have had it in all lengths noted on the same page, 1.5 ft. to 100 ft., but often one or more lengths is out of stock and grayed out until they get more stock)

If that doesn't solve it, the lights have to go or make some other change.

 

I don't think that Monoprices cables are a good idea ... almost 100pF per meter. Very high

Blue Jeans have 22 and Signal Cable 29 ... much better capacitance.

Measuring the capacitance of some RCA cables - diyAudio

 

Thnx guys! So after checking out all of the shielding and braiding specs I'm taking a shot @ a 3' run of the BJC LC-1 for my 1st try. Also just ordered a slew of ferrite clamps to see if that helps as well.
I think otherwise I might spring for the Signal Cable Silver Resolution RCAs terminated with Neutrik ProFi's. But those are quadruple the price & I'm afraid of jumping down any snake-oil rabbit holes
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming my only real chance is a combo of some beefy, braided shielding w/ twisted wires.

 

Have a pair of good shielded rca cables are worthy ... in other way you'll always be in doubt about it. For me, brings peace of mind.

 

Nope. You could try different LEDs.

 

Well yeah, that too.
I'm just trying to avoid eating the $150 is spent on the current ones awhile back. Also, I figure if the Blue Jeans cord & ferrite doesn't solve a thing then I can just return 'em & will have also at least learned about what RCA shielding ISN'T capable of. I guess I'll then have to try a different LED system like you said, and hope for the best.

 

Try this: wrap the cable in tin foil and using an alligator clip bond it to the TT ground lug on your amp.

you could also take a piece of speaker wire and wrap it around the phono cable, say 5 or 6 turns per foot and land it to the TT ground lug.

cheap and easy to see if shielding helps.
It may not.

 

Just for some info - I don't trust more than my ears

From that comment on that forum, the Monoprice Premium I linked is 28 pF/ft or 92 pF/meter
Monoprice gives no spec for it, but a customer review (down the page dated "June 24, 2014 Guest" says they are 16 pF/ft. or 52.5 pF/meter
Monoprice 1.5ft Premium 2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable - Black - Monoprice.com
At this moment it is $4.99 for the 6 feet length stereo audio cable

Blue Jeans LC-1 claims 12.2 pF/ft or 40 pF/meter on this page
LC-1 Audio Cable Design Notes -- Blue Jeans Cable
At this moment their stereo audio cable, 6 feet, is $47

Other Monoprice similar but not identical cables that they list for video are specifically spec'ed at 22 pF/ft, or 72.1 pF/meter, like this one.
Monoprice 25ft High-quality Coaxial Audio/Video RCA CL2 Rated Cable - RG6/U 75ohm (for S/PDIF, Digital Coax, Subwoofer & Composite Video) - Monoprice.com

 

Try

Definitely trying these tmrw, thank u!

 

If going with BJC, I'd select the 1505F cable option over LC-1. It has better shielding with the double braid. I have both and 1505F does definitely block interference better. I've had occasional issues with my LC-1 but never with 1505F. 1505F is 17pF/ft so still pretty low.

 

Thanks for the tip!! Definitely will try the 1505F if the LC1 & no other tricks work

 

Just tried both, no difference in shielding that damn EMI. Got the Blue Jean LC-1 cable coming in today, hopefully that does SOMETHING. If not then I'll hafta start testing different LEDs

 

It may not be the cable. The cartridge coils may be the 'antenna'. LED power supplies (AC to DC voltage converter) are dirty, basically a switching power supply.
Most switch in the xx kHz range, up to 1 MHz.

 

There are certain things that should not be near turntables. Wifi/smart devices, mobile phones, powerline internet, dimmer switches, and yes, LEDs.

 

I though of that & unplugged the cart during my initial process of elimination. No dice. I wish that were the culprit since I could easily just switch carts!

 

You're completely right about the LEDs' power supply, the interference definitely starts up high in the audible range of kHz. I tried different LEDs today, same damn result but different high-pitched freqs.
Tried the Blue Jeans LC-1 rca cable as well with no good luck there... Just ordered their 1505F to see if that extra shielding does anything for me.

If not well then I guess I'll settle for throwin' on a lava lamp and maybe a black light
Wait... Is a black light safe?! WHAT HAS BECOME OF ME?!

 

lava lamps are safe

 

Man, what a killer listening spot!!

 

Might it work to use a linear power supply for the LED lights? They produce less EMI, right? In audiophile land they can be expensive, but I would think cheaper options exist.

 

Thanks for the tip, I'm looking into that right now
There's one on Amazon for $80 and if it works I can likely make that money back if I use it with an LED strip & sell off the Ikea ones. If not then thank Lord Bezos for free returns.