Is this test for "Grado hum" valid?

Vinyl Asylum

Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

In a thread now nearing the end of the top page, many of you suggested I try a Grado cartridge for the sound I'm looking for. But I was concerned about the renowned Grado hum with my unshielded TT motor (Oracle Paris).
Then I remembered that, years ago, I bought one of those Van Alstine Longhorn Grados. I rummaged through some boxes and found it--bent cantilever and all. It's a modified XF3E+.
So without actually mounting the Grado in the headshell, I connected the headshell leads to it, dragged it across the platter and cranked up the volume all the way. The result: at max volume, I was barely able to hear the hum from my listening position. It was quite audible up close to the speakers, though.
So my thinking is, since I never get close to turning my volume up full, the hum would be pretty much inaudible when playing music.
Is this test valid, do you think? If so, it seems I can go ahead and get a Grado. (Been kind of wanting to for years anyway.)
Thanks very much for any responses.
-Bob

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Topic - Is this test for "Grado hum" valid? - hesson11 19:45:52 12/14/05 (8)

Thanks, all. Now considering "dance" with PT-5 - hesson11 04:11:52 12/15/05 (2)

Re: Thanks, all. Now considering "dance" with PT-5 - mosin 10:28:23 12/15/05 (1)

Built-in damping system in PT-5 - hesson11 11:21:51 12/15/05 (0)

Yes - deaf_j 01:13:14 12/15/05 (0)

Re: Is this test for "Grado hum" valid? - radiocemetery 22:46:19 12/14/05 (0)

Yes this is a great start, but a different model might have different hum. - tubesforever 22:40:39 12/14/05 (0)

Re: Is this test for "Grado hum" valid? - msunkenberg@hotmail.com 20:10:10 12/14/05 (1)

Re: Is this test for "Grado hum" valid? - mosin 20:43:47 12/14/05 (0)

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