New Cartridge Causing Intermittent Popping

It sounds like you could be overloading your phono stage. What gain setting are you using on the Manley?

Sounds like static buildup. Double check the tables chassis ground. 

@cleeds , I'm using the 60dB gain setting.  

@duckmanst3, I will check that now.   

You know, I've never had an issue with static buildup that I know of, but this early summer we are already in a drought. Humidity today in Chicagoland is 27%! Static could be an issue. 

I've set my capacitance at 150pf and resistance at 350R.  

I also just rechecked the Feickert setup with HiFi News & Record Reviews protractor --linear offset technique, which I think is similar to Feickert's Baerwald settings. Things were very close but I did tweak alignment just a smidge (<1 mm).  

I just made it through a side with no popping.  I'll report back. 

Ok. Still popping away.  I'll try adjusting resistance. 

I've now tried the following:

1. Re-set cartridge alignment
2. Increased VTF to near upper level of manufacturer's recommendation, about ~1.9
3. Set capacitance at 800pF
4. Set resistance at 300R
5. Changed gain from 60dB to 48dB (popping still occurred just as frequently just not as bombastic)

I'm now going to take out my National 6DJ8 Japanese made Mullard tubes and put in Electro Harmonix 6922s--Manley spec--to see if that could help. 

It might be the stylus design!!

Line Contact / Linear Contact / Special Line Contact / Fine Line

The cross-section of a Line Contact stylus can be regarded as an Ellipse taken to the extreme and with straight vertical edges (rather than round) for deeper groove contact, as illustrated below.

The Line Contact stylus shape can be considered a later variation of the Stereohedron stylus (with its four slivers shaved off, it is sort of a double elliptical) as patented originally by Pickering in 1973.

Patented in 1978 in Japan by inventor Junshiro Ogura, the Line Contact stylus is shaped such that it allows maximum vertical contact with the groove walls whilst having a small front-to-back contact. This kind of stylus is almost always fitted with a nude diamond. Compared to Conical Styluses (that due to their rounded shape only touch the groove walls in one vertical spot, thus more easily wearing them out on that depth), Line Contact styluses can make slightly worn records (when worn as a result of the use with conical or elliptical styluses) sound almost pristine. This is because the larger vertical area can now be modulated by previously untouched areas of the groove walls.

The variations such as Linear Contact, Special Line Contact, and Fine Line all represent further refinements of the principle, usually adjusting the shape of the shank and/or the width of the contact area. The variations with the narrowest contact area such as Ortofon’s Fine Line, Audio Technica’s Line Contact, and the more generic Special Line Contact achieve the most accurate results with the best high-frequency response and lowest distortion. All the variations have in common that the stylus wears more evenly which results in a longer stylus life.

In general, the more precise the stylus shape, obviously, the better it is at picking up high frequencies but also the better it is at picking up small defects in the pressing or very brief noise spikes. Compared to the simple Stylus shapes, the Line Contact and more advanced designs require records that are cleaner and in better condition to be played mainly noise-free. But in my book a little playback noise here and there certainly does not stand in the way of my musical enjoyment, and even if so, usually, it’s nothing a record cleaning machine can’t fix.

6.  Swapped tubes. No difference.

7.  Replaced headshell leads with super snug fitting heavier gauge.  Let's see! I will note that the last cartridge (before the Ethos) that used this headshell and leads fit more snugly.  

I'm optimistic this is the issue.  Loading, gain, cleanliness of record, etc. made no difference. 

I'm 5 minutes into a new side and no popping --fingers crossed!

Thanks @yogiboy ! I agree that this stylus type has real potential to be noisier. This is a loud popping sound--not necessarily what I associate with surface noise. 

I noticed the headshell lead wires were particularly loose and didn't allow me to snap them more snugly with surgical pliers or needlenose.  Now, I just replaced them and there's no popping--thusfar. 

The past few months, I grappled with an intermittent loud pop issue in my office 2ch setup (new 2nd system). The pops were singular, but LOUD. Startlingly so. Even louder than the peak music levels. I went through all the usual suspects -- record cleanliness, static discharge, phono stage overload margins (tried 5 different phono stages). Nothing helped. Turned out it was AMP clipping, caused by severe low frequency feedback.

The KAB rumble filter stopped it (an easy solution), but I went ahead and really fixed the issue with proper turntable isolation -- which was not easy, mind you.

I’m not sure that’s what you’re grappling with here, but thought I’d mention it because this almost drove me insane. Does you incidence of pops always correspond with musical peaks / crescendos? That’s probably amp clipping. At first I was SURE it had to be static discharge, but then I started to notice the POPs were more likely to happen at the same point of certain tracks (where it was loud and especially bass-heavy), and only when the volume was high. A good example is the opening of Elvis Costello’s "(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" track on "Armed Forces", and Foo Fighters "There Is Nothing Left to Lose" (at many points on this album lol).

It seems unlikely a change in cartridge and could cause amp clipping, but it’s possible the new cart could have a generally stronger LF response (or even a peak in the wrong area), or exhibits a different resonant frequency with your tonearm, or even encourages you to use the system at a slightly higher volume than before.

@mulveling ,  As usual, you are so conscientious!  I'm glad you chimed in.  Even if this doesn't fix my issue, it's important to note. 

New headshell lead wires helped --a bit. But I still have it and it is as you describe. A LOUD pop. I've never had that before with this table, phono pre and numerous carts and amps.  I'm going to make a few adjustments. I also have subwoofers (REL T9is) that are barely on.  I mean set around 30 hz and volume so low that they are nearly undetectable. Let me turn them off. 

Looks like it could just be static buildup.  Ironic that I've never experienced this in a Chicago winter, yet I'm getting it in June. 

I experienced this same thing once in the 1990s. A loud pop ever so often for no reason I could find. I took the cartridge back to my dealer. Exchanged it and never had the problem ever again.

I’ve experienced this very issue on my Basis tt and after trying every thing possible I found it was just a slight loose ground wire causing the static buildup.

I'm struggling now!  I may need to call the dealer. 

I've now tried cleaning records with my machine.  I cannot imagine there's that much static left. I've never had this issue. 

Ground wires are locked in place.  Very frustrating. 

A simple test, put on a record and spin it up. Place the cartridge above the record but don’t lower it.  Let it spin for a while and see if it pops. Sounds crazy but what do you have to loose. :)

It’s that fine line stylus on the Goldring. It goes deeper in the grooves than your other cartridges!

Put my Benz Micro LPS on. Played the same last 4-5 sides--no issues.  Put my Kiseki on -same result. 

I called the dealer. They said this is some sort of internal issue with the cartridge. Exchange is underway. 

Thank you everyone. I'll update you Thursday when the new Ethos arrives. 

I too, suspect a defect in the cartridge considering you’re tried all the usual suspects. 
Keep us posted and good luck. 

Good luck with that. I still think the problem is with that fine line stylus going deeper into the record grooves. You will find out with the exchange. Let us know!

@yogiboy, if that is the case, why would a manufacturer make a cartridge that injects loud popping every minute or so during playback?  It's useless functioning like this. What other fine line stylus cartridges do you have experience with? Did they make routine loud popping sounds?  These popping sounds do not resemble surface noise in any way.  

I sent an AT-ART9XI to VAS to have its cantilever aligned.  When I got the cart back the cantilever was straight but the cart would pop - LOUDLY - about once per side.  It was startlingly loud.  I initially thought the pops were caused by static but tried everything I could think of to reduce it yet still experienced pops.  I eventually sent the cartridge back to Steve at VAS.  He opened it up, cleaned it out, and it hasn't popped since.

Thanks @kfscoll , this makes me feel a bit better as I would hate the issue to be in my system.  I really appreciate it. 

Strange stuff all. 
 

j have had a variety of tables over the years, and never had this issue. 
mine had a Signet TK10ML with a true microphone stylus. 
currently Audio Technics ART9xi (special line contact)

I keep vinyl clean, and clean all new/used ore-flight. 
 

I don’t think this is a stylus design issue, but as you will find out, it may be a defective cart. 
Will watch for your follow up. 

@jbhiller , Nothing wrong with your system. It plays the other cartridges fine. It is a defective cartridge. You have coils in there that act as inductors inducing a charge in anything around them. If the cartridge is not grounded internally correctly the charge can build up until it discharges with a loud pop. 

Thank you @mijostyn !  Your view makes a lot of sense.  I'm thinking there's something loose internally--maybe the ground connection the green ground post?  I really appreciate your wisdom. 

I really like this cartridge. It started to open up after just 3-5 hours and it was knocking my socks off. 

Status update.  The dealer was super gracious. The shipped out the new cartridge and it arrived quickly.  I pulled out the Feickert and got to work. 

This is a very easy cartridge to setup on a Technics 1200 GAE (most similar to the G)--grand class anniversary. 

I've made it through the first side of a record without a single popping noise!  

I highly recommend this cartridge.  My direct experience in the last 3 years involved  Kiseki Purpleheart, Benz Micro LPS, Audio Technics ART9 (the original), Dynavector 20x2, and the sole MM, a Ortofon 2m Black.  

Thanks to all for the excellent advice.  I'm very grateful for those who encouraged good diagnostics and going back to the dealer.  

After reading through the entire thread, it’s good to see a happy ending.

In the world of lp playback, as well as tubes,  there is never truly a happy end. Only that brief moment in time between changes when we are happy. :)

Thank you @noromance !  I agree--so often these situations get messy and even ore frustrating. 

@duckmanst3 , philosophically you are correct! :)

Good for you. Troubleshooting that kind of thing can be maddening. I had an intermittent crackle a few years ago. Swapped out leads, all new tubes in everything (a little premature, but I wanted to make sure), a wanky XLR connector that I sent back to the manufacturer to determinate, a funky tube socket in my phono stage that got replaced. Still no joy. I was swapping battery packs inside my line stage when I saw a bit of fluff- dust, whatever, on the contact plate. Dusted that off and viola! Back in bidness. The process did make me go through the entire system to get there, though. Glad you got it sorted. My wife says I seem happiest when I'm cursing a blue streak, sweating, grunting, and crawling around the hi-fi gear. I guess. But glad to be rid of the problem. 

Bill, your problem would make me go mad for sure!  It takes patience, diagnostics, logic, and luck to get out of these situations. 

I was also concerned about the Chinook. I'm pretty confident in my skills, but I was concerned something happened from several upgrades I made to the unit.  I told myself, I knew what I was doing and Manley even approved of them, but you never know. Even experienced techs make mistakes, equipment fails, and with electronics weird stuff can happen.