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Question .. I hear a loud pop through speakers every couple minutes when playing vinyl

VPI scout
ATA phono pre

I have narrowed down the problem and it is with either the VPI or ATA phonopre. I have changed cables, amps etc and the pop remains. It happens at different points on the vinyl everytime, never the same spot.  Everything will be playing fine and then POP, then everything goes back to normal and then POP. Digital plays fine with no issues. Has anyone had a similar issue. The phonopre is like 50 hours new but I did not have this issue until last night. I have not removed the top of the ATA and changed tubes because in my experience dying tubes sound much different than this. The motor of the VPI pops when I turn it on and off and I hear this is a common problem that Scout motors have had and can be fixed easily but I dont think this has anything to do with it. My cartridge is an AT ART9 and has been flawless. I might just buy a super cheap phonopre and see if it remains. If anyone out there has ever had this issue what was the remedy?

Thanks

128x128bryantdrew
9 responses Add your response
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I run 4 tables and have always noticed I get a lot of static with only my vpi TNT. The other day I grounded my bearing to the phono pre and that seems to have worked well.

Yes, about 15 years ago I owned a VPI HW-19 MK IV turntable, and I had to ground the bearing as well as the arm.
I haven't had that issue in the three turntables I've owned since then, but I forgot about grounding that bearing.
Good call @analogluvr , that just might work.
analogluvr
859 posts
 
I run 4 tables and have always noticed I get a lot of static with only my vpi TNT. The other day I grounded my bearing to the phono pre and that seems to have worked well. 
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,786 posts
 
Re: Humidifier. Two types 1. Evaporative 2. Ultrasonic.

If using an ultrasonic, use ONLY distilled water. Tap water, even with a demineralizing cartridge, will coat your entire house with white ultrafine dust.

I've switched to evaporative four gallon Vornado. Very good so far.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Having a humidifier in the room during winter really helps with static electricity. Definitely worth the trouble.

+1, run a room humidifier, and your "pops" will vanish.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,628 posts
 
Try taking your shoes off while listening.
lostbears's avatar
lostbears
538 posts
 

 Having a humidifier in the room during winter really helps with static electricity. Definitely worth the trouble. 


bryantdrew's avatar
bryantdrew OP
21 posts
 
Thanks so much. I re-grounded everything and so far it has been behaving. Good tip with the record preserver. I am going to pick some up. If the pop does reappear I will contact Tom who is ATA and see what the next step should be as well as swap out all the tubes. BTW this phono pre has a great sound, for the money I doubt there is anything better. 
rodman99999
6,158 posts
 
Tubes can make quite a variety of noises, in my experience. No mention was made, as to whether the pop might be in only one channel. If so- swap the ATA’s tubes, between channels and see if the pop follows suit. If it’s in both, yes- static could be the issue, or(possibly) the ATA’s power supply(defective capacitor/cold solder joint/etc). In a pic of an ATA phono pre’s internals, I noticed some screw terminals, between the transformer, power supply board and circuitry. You might want to check those connections.
larryi
4,033 posts
 

This is probably caused by static electricity buildup.  The friction of the stylus running in the groove causes a charge to build up to a point where a rapid discharge (a spark) occurs.  If that spark gets into the signal path, you get a huge pop.  I don't know why it is the case, but, certain combinations of tonearms and phono stages are much more prone to problems than others.  Also, while experimenting with changes in grounding may help (e.g., grounding the tonearm and the spindle bearing to the phono stage), that is not always the case. 

The problem is most common in winter when the air is drier and static charges are not as easily dissipated into the air.  You can try increasing the humidity of the room.  I have also found that records treated with LAST record preserver tend to not build up as much static charge from friction, so that might help too.

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