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Question about background noise

’Sup?
So, I’ve been lazily progressing along on my phono pre journey, with a Simaudio Moon LP110 now in the system that comprises a VPI HW-19 MK4 with a SAMA, an aging Sumiko FT-3 arm, and a brand new (~ 55 hours or so) Hana SL cartridge. Listening to some acoustic recordings of classical guitar or some Julie London LP’s, I notice that the background is more gray than black. Like, there’s a discernible hollow sound between and during tracks (though not noticeable once the instrument/vocal dynamics ramp up).

Is this an artifact of the new cartridge, the new cartridge, the actual pressing, or something else entirely? I’m not particularly bothered by it, but I know it could be more silent.
simao

Showing 3 responses by millercarbon

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millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
cleeds- PMS?
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
cleeds writes:
Many things can contribute to noise on an LP, including dirt and a worn or improperly aligned stylus.


Q: Do any of these ever result in the "hollow sound" described?

A: No. 

And yet anyone who has listened to a lot of LPs, even really nicely cleaned ones on beautifully set up rigs, knows they aren't all dead quiet and in fact some do have some pretty odd sounding backgrounds. Which are not dirt, are not alignment, are not anything but in the pressing. Which at the very least means it is not absurd to consider.

My guess is you will find this one a little harder to take OTR.
(Off The Record. What did you think it meant?)

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The silence between tracks on records is highly variable. It can be anything from near dead silent to white noise or even sometimes a whooshing kind of sound. It can be different even between tracks on the same side of a pressing. Its nothing to do with cleaning or equipment, its just normal variations in the cutting process. Not sure if that covers it, hard to tell from your post if you're even talking about this or phono stage noise so if you want more it will help to know about what exactly.
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