My Dumb Question of the Day


I feel strongly that I should ask a dumb question every day. Audiogon's turn.

When I am playing an LP I clearly hear the music when the amp is off. I know that this is how the phonograph has worked from the beginning (the old wind up Victrola at my sister's house), but is this really a good thing. Would better more efficient coupling improve the signal to the cartridge, would better damping of the tonearm improve the signal, basically, is this accoustic phenomena less noticable on a really high end turntable.

I'm using a Clearaudio Champion with Aurum Beta S and RB300 arm.
jpharris

Showing 1 response by bombaywalla

Lots of idle chatter & smart alec remarks but no real answer until Wes came to the rescue. Thank you, Wes!

Indeed, Jpharris, what you are hearing is shock waves as outlined in the turntablebasics.com website. I was going to reply to this effect but Wes beat me to it. I'm a bit surprised that a cart. w/ a quality as high as Aurum Beta S is producing shock waves! I have heard the same cart. on a Nott. Interspace but it was quite as can be. I wonder what the reason might be in your setup??
I once had an AT96E cart. on an old Dual & it produced loud shock waves that I could hear at my listening seat & in the whole room, in fact. My G1042 is much better - stuck my ear as close to the cart. w/o touching it or the tonearm or the LP - not a squeak.