2. analog
  3. 1051721513

Help, I'm going crazy with vinyl noise

I recently changed from an Aesthitix IO phono stage thru a Placette passive to an Ortofon MC step up transformer through a VTL Deluxe MM preamp (financial resons) and a Wilson Benesch Analog rig. Sounds good except every time the cartridge goes over a warp, and I mean even a teeny tiny warp, I get a scratching sound from one channel. It is loud enough to be heard when music is playing and IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

This new set up has more energy at higher frequencies, cymbals and bells are louder but they sound natural and in balance with the rest of the music. The scratching may have been there before and the former set up masked it, or maybe it is just coincidence but I suspect it is just being revealed by this new set up.

I have adjusted antiskating, tracking force, and azimuth from one extreme to the other but it has no effect. Lowering VTA has a slight effect but with the back all the way down it is still very noticeable. I know it is the trurntable because switching the leads into the transformer switches the noise.

I don't have another cartridge to try and this one cost around $3000 so I can't afford to just get another one unless I'm sure this one is bad. I had it rebuilt by Wilson Benesch a while back and it seemed to be fine until now.

Sorry for the length but I thought too much detail was better than not enough. Any thoughts? I considered bad bearings in the arm hanging up when it goes vertical but it is a uni pivot variation that they claim will last forever. My best guess is that something is rubbing in the cartridge when it makes a vertical excursion.
herman

Showing 4 responses by herman

herman OP
2,280 posts
 
Thanks TWL, but this is an MC that is designed for a transformer load of < 20 ohms, according to the spec sheet. I have tried 2 different transformers with loads of <10 ohms and one switchable from 40 to 100 ohms. No help.

Besides, it is not a noise that should be there but is just too bright, it is definitely a distortion caused by the vertical movement. I can watch the arm track a warp and occurs in sync with the warp.

Keep those guesses coming though, I am out of ideas other than replacing the cartridge.
herman OP
2,280 posts
 
Thanks for the advice Pbb. It is good to know that somebody is out there beating the "perfect sound forever" gong. I actually have a DVD-A player that I enjoy using to listen to the 10 discs I was interested in buying that I don't already have on some other media. I see there are also probably a good 20 or 30 SACD discs I would be interested in buying that aren't reissues of things I have so I may get one of those players too. Now if I can just figure out how to transfer these 3000 LPs, most not available on DVD-A or SACD, to one of those perfect formats I'll be in business.
herman OP
2,280 posts
 
Thanks so far the suggestions.

Marakanetz, I have tried another transformer so that eliminates it as the culprit. I built a simple high pass filter to eliminate subsonic frequencies, no help. I am now pretty well convinced that something is wrong with the cartridge. DRAT!

Pbb, I was pulling your chain a bit, I do have quite a few Cds that I listen to and enjoy. Probably a thousand or so that are not available on vinyl. There is too much good music that is available on digital only and I am unwilling to limit my listening to music issued only on vinyl. Besides, it is really hard to play a record in my car.

Eldartford, I switched the leads out of the turntable into the transformer. So if the scratching stayed on the same side it had to be after the turntable. Since it moved it means it was coming from the turntable. I agree that a multi format player is probably the wisest choice for digital. However, that still does not get past the problem of limited software. Most of what I would want that has been reissued I have on vinyl. It may be interesting to compare the 2 formats but I would rather spend my money on something new to me than another reissue of an old classic.
herman OP
2,280 posts
 
In case anyone is interested, I found the problem. The sound had gotten much worse so I took off the cartridge to inspect it. My eyes aren't that good and I can't see the stylus very well when it is mounted. I gently pulled on the cantilever and it slid out of the tube it was mounted in. It didn't break, I can slide it back in. I guess the adhesive they used gave up and it was free to move about.

I'm not real happy about it but at least I can send it back for repair.
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