What can I do to eliminate the random static hits that I'm getting with playing all of my vinyl. About 4 or 5 times a side, there's a medium loud pop right down the center. It doesn't happen in the same place if I play the LP again and it happen on every LP I've played in the last couple of weeks. The wall mounted turntable is a WT Simplex and it's grounded as always to a Herron VTPH-1MC. Nothing has changed in my system recently, but the weather has changed I guess.... it's dryer. Floors are hardwood so no spraying the carpet to increase humidity. Help!
It's static build-up from 2 likely sources: 1. Belt running on platter builds up static. 2. Lifting the record off the platter builds up static. You can see that as you play more records both factors are increasing.
Get a Zerostat gun. They work. Shoot the bare platter, the record before you put it on. If it's a severe case you might need to do it to the belt.
You can also spray the belt with anti-static spray, which you can find on the net.
I'd suggest first buying a good humidistat to see just how dry the room is, near the system. Then you can get a better handle on how big a problem you have and how effective the various fixes are. For instance, I gave away my Zerostat after discovering that it was really not doing the job, even as a band-aid.
The only really effective solution in my case was an 8 gallon humidifier from Sears whose filters cost $18 and don't last more than a couple months, so it's hardly a cheap fix. But it works, and nothing else did. Believe me, I tried everything mentioned above and even draped copper anti-static tinsel over the system. At least that had a festive look :-)
I almost hate to open this can of worms, but my place is quite dry and I have previously had issues with very loud static discharges. I found that applying Gruv Glide completely cured the static problems. I won't say it made the records sound better, because it didn't - but IMO it didn't make them sound worse either. In any case, it works for static and I'll leave it at that.
Well, walking by the humidifier works sometimes. Other times, not so much. I've ordered a Zerostat. Will report back. This really sucks. I might have to go the Gruv Glide route if all else fails.
Squeeze slowly, release slowly on three spots of an album (12, 4, 8 o'clock positions) with the album sitting on the platter not moving. Repeat in the center but don't release. Move the Zerostat away from the turntable and release. The trick is not to hear a click as the zerostat is squeezed and released.
Repeat before each play (both sides) and if you have an RCM after each cleaning.
Or... some mammals find that winter is a fine time to hibernate until spring.
Using a Xerostat is kind of an art form in itself, but if it is used properly it should at least ameliorate your problem. Mapleshade makes a record brush that is said to simultaneously drain off static charge. (It must be grounded in order to do this.) I bought one but have not yet tried it, since another inmate or two said that it sheds its bristles onto the LP surface, not a good thing.
I like the Mapleshade gizmo. It doesn't (but may eventually?) shed some metal bristles, but why should I care?...I'm sweeping the record before playing with the brush anyway. The metal bristles are very soft. The brush is very effective.
Zerostat comes today. I've also tried cleaning every record before I play it on my Loricraft PRC3. The first song is usually fine but by the end of the LP, it's pop city again.
Zerostat here. It works, although some LPs the static returns by the final groove... but a major improvement. I'm sure as I perfect my technique, things will get better. That and a good rain. So Cal has been glorious every day this month but it's an electrically charged desert. My skin hurts from the static.
Hmm. Still not completely gone. Maybe it's time for the Furutech. Seems like the humidifier is what helps the most. If I leave it on all day, evening listening is static free. By the morning, the static has returned since I can't keep it on overnight.
Gruv Glide will cure it. No gimmick that you use before playing the record will work because the act of playing the record - dragging the stylus over the vinyl - will cause it to build up. Again, I make no other claims for the product other than static removal. And that is 100%. Just make sure you use as directed - no more and no less. Best of luck.
Dragging the stylus over the vinyl causes static build up? That would mean we would all be having the same problem.
More likely it is the movement of the air on a rotating vinyl platter that is causing it. The dryer the air, the more static.
I'm fortunate enough to have a whole house humidifier so that the winter time dry conditions caused by central heating are ameliorated. I still use the Milty Zerostat for further treatment.
It seemed logical that the friction of the stylus in the groove could cause static - like rubbing a balloon on your sleeve and sticking it to the wall. But I guess it may be the dry air moving over the rotating platter as well. It's academic. In any case, the GG will cure the static, which is what the OP is looking for. A whole-house humidifier like you have is the best solution, but not everyone can install one, for one reason or another.
Thanks for the suggestion. GG makes me nervous given all the money and time I spend keeping the LPs clean. Isn't there some degrading of sound? I've done a seach and there's a lot of controversy about GG.
Don't buy it if it makes you nervous. IMO, it does not degrade the sound, but others disagree. When you first apply it, the first playing will collect a bit of residue on the stylus, which could build up to the point where you might hear a dulling effect, as with any excessive build up of dust. In my experience, this is minimal after a play or two and you end up with static-free records. Again, that's up to you. You've tried the miracle cures and they didn't work. So basically you're left with 3 choices - try the GG and make up your own mind, get a better humidifier for your home, which is probably the best solution, or just use the gimmicks you have and live with the static pops. Best of luck to you either way.
I have a little hologen light right at my TT for changing records. It is very bright and you can see fine particles of dust or stuff in the air landing on the record.
Under normal house lighting, you wouldn't see it. Would it help to have a small fan near the TT blowing air so that these fine particles don't land on the record. I am considering doing this.
No , I don't have a humidifier. On one site I belong to a member did find a solution. He bought a small Panasonic fan/ ionizer which he has mounted over the turntable on a swivel apparatus similar to what a lamp would be on.
He previously used a Furutech destat but found the results ran out by the end of the record. He reports the Panasonic is on for the whole side of an lp and does a much better job. You can search for the thread here www.canuckaudiomart.com
The buildup is due to the belt running on the platter. This is, in effect, Van de Graaff generator.
The ionizer fan will work. Extremely thin conductive ribbon or thread lighly touching the belt, pulley, or platter, with the other end grounded, will work. Anti-static liquid or spray applied to pulley, platter, and belt will work for osme amount of time. Zerostatting the belt and platter will work to some degree for a while.
The fan is easiest and will not color the sound like a mat will. If you love the sound of the mat then it may be a win-win.
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