Record surface noise Right Channel?


It seems like a good amount of records that I purchase I can hear record surface noise in the right channel. It seems pretty consistently the right channel. Has anyone experienced this? It seems like it does not matter what I do with azimuth adjustments. Is what I am hearing pressing errors or record wear from poorly aligned turntables. It happens mostly with used records.
tzh21y

Showing 1 response by dougdeacon

If your MC is a Micro H2, or virtually any HOMC, I agree with your dealer. Your money would have been better spent on a good MM. For less money you could have tried quite a few to find one that works well in your system and meets your tastes.

IME the only MC's worth having are LOMC's. Only they provide the benefit of low mass on the cantilever, which was the purpose behind the MC design in the first place. Even there, to get performance that clearly beats a good MM costs at least $2K, often much more.

Further, good LOMC phono amplification is also very costly. My LOMC phono stage costs $6-7K and I've not heard any phono stage for less than $5K (new) that I'd bother with for top level LOMC's. Don't buy a Stradivarius if your going to string it with nylon or use a cheap bow. ;-)

Are the costs of doing LOMC's well really worth it? That's obviously up to each individual. But at lower price points I completely agree with your dealer. Raul's MM/MI thread, now approaching 2000 posts, is ample evidence that many other A'goners agree too.