Most problems of this type are not caused by pickup of electromagnetic fields through the air, which would be potentially helped by shielding (if it is properly grounded).
They are more often caused by differing ground potentials between the chassis of the components that are involved, which causes extraneous currents to flow in the shields of the interconnects between them (which are connected to chassis, and which serve as the return path for the signals the interconnects are carrying, resulting in the extraneous currents being seen as signal by the load device). That will only be helped by foil if it provides a path between the components that is both complete and of lower impedance than the shields of the interconnects.
With both the TT and the preamp having 2-prong plugs, and ac safety ground therefore not being connected to the chassis, they both have chassis that are pretty much floating with respect to ground. If they happen to float to different levels, it would result in the extraneous current flow that I spoke of. When you touch the faceplate, you affect the level to which the preamp chassis floats.
So I would again suggest trying all possible combinations of ac plug polarities (which affects the levels to which the components float). Also, try connecting a wire between the preamp chassis and ac safety ground (the screw at the center of the ac outlet cover). Also, the other things I mentioned in my last post that have not yet been addressed. And seeing if anything can be done to improve or shorten the connection between preamp and turntable ground.
HTH,
-- Al
They are more often caused by differing ground potentials between the chassis of the components that are involved, which causes extraneous currents to flow in the shields of the interconnects between them (which are connected to chassis, and which serve as the return path for the signals the interconnects are carrying, resulting in the extraneous currents being seen as signal by the load device). That will only be helped by foil if it provides a path between the components that is both complete and of lower impedance than the shields of the interconnects.
With both the TT and the preamp having 2-prong plugs, and ac safety ground therefore not being connected to the chassis, they both have chassis that are pretty much floating with respect to ground. If they happen to float to different levels, it would result in the extraneous current flow that I spoke of. When you touch the faceplate, you affect the level to which the preamp chassis floats.
So I would again suggest trying all possible combinations of ac plug polarities (which affects the levels to which the components float). Also, try connecting a wire between the preamp chassis and ac safety ground (the screw at the center of the ac outlet cover). Also, the other things I mentioned in my last post that have not yet been addressed. And seeing if anything can be done to improve or shorten the connection between preamp and turntable ground.
HTH,
-- Al