No More TT Feedback


I consider myself a fairly intelligent guy. I've been thinking my TT feedback problem was related to support vibration. If you have been following this saga, you will know I've tried spikes,foam, even built a separate platform (I needed that anyway) for my TT accessories and the TT itself. I was having a couple "Dos Equis" and I got this idea to add weight to the TT. As the record was playing, I carefully put down a cloth on my dustcover (I hear the high end tables do not have dustcovers) and put aprox 5 lbs of dead weight on top. BINGO! My vibration problem was non-existent. My dustcover is hinged in the back and the front corners were not completely touching the TT base. Therefore the dustcover and would build-up harmonic vibrations eventually being picked-up by the tonearm. Even with the cover open, it would still vibrate, so I never associated the cover with my problem. As soon as I added the weight, it made the dust cover touch and no more vibration/feedback. I tell you this running the risk of coming off as a fool, because I didn't want anyone else to make the same mistake.
handymann
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Back when I had a TT with a hinged dustcover, I would just remove the dust cover while I was playing. I never liked them and never played a record with the cover down over the table. If the cover was not removable, I would play records with the dust cover up. I had always heard it wasnt't the best thing to play a record wth the dust cover down on the TT (years ago, while I was growing up).
Thanks for the thread it motivated me to remove my CDP from the rack with my TT allowing me to fill the rack's tubes with cat litter/pea gravel mix (will replace with Micro Bearings or sand blasting shot). This removed some vibrations especially in the very low end and improved the stability of the rack.
You never know who your going to help, thanks again for getting me started!!!
Always remove the dust cover from its hinges is the best way to go as it is a major collector of acoustic energy that rattles the table. Also, look into getting some 'moon gel' pads for use under the table. The latter, found at musicians supply stores, for less then six dollars, will help. Moon gel is used by drummers to diminish vibrations.
Thanks for the "Moon Gel" suggestion. I've looked EVERYWHERE for something like that. I purchased a Clearaudio Emotion TT yesterday, but think I'm going to sell it. I'm enjoying my vinyl, but not "shure" I'm into it that much. It has a brand new Maestro cartridge that's unopened. Still thinking about what to do. My next step would be a new tube phono stage. Want to invest about 1K-or less. Right now I'm using a Bellari VP130 and it's sounds good for what it is.
Before you sell the emotion, try one of the new audiophile LP's from mobile fidelity, analogue productions, music matters, etc. There is really good sound quality to be had these days in vinyl, although you need to see how well your musical interests are represented. For example, classical offerings are rather limited, and SACD seems to be the format for that.

Used to be, vinyl was destined for the average Joe, so there are all kinds of issues with most mass market 1970's and 1980's LP's, even worse in some ways than the current CD situation because the cheapest phonos in the 70's sounded like they were in the other room compared to even an iPod.

While you have the chance, check out at least one of the better 180 gram LP's.