The other Eros is not just floating around. It's in my main system attached to 2 turntables with a switch that I made with your and Doc's and Paul Joppa's help back in August of last year. The reason I made the switch was that I really love the Eros and didn't want to replace it when I added the second turntable.
As per your suggestion, Eros No. 1 is now in the system that I wanted the new Eros 2 for. Not an iota of hiss, crackling, popping. Just beautiful music. Ergo, the noise is not environmental.
Stumped again. Very baffling.
Alan