Subsonic Rumble Solutions


I know many of you have tried to address this issue. Short of buying or building a subsonic filter (that will/may negatively affect your transparency) - what methods reduce subsonics (meaning the pumping of woofers and subs when a record is playing)?

My system:
I have a DIY VPI Aries clone with a 1" thick Corian plinth, a Moerch DP6 tonearm and Dynavector 20X-H cartridge. This sits on a maple shelf. The shelf sits on squash balls. The balls sit on another maple board floating in a 3" deep sand box. All this on a rack spiked to a cement floor. The phono stage is a Hagerman Trumpet (no built in subsonic filter and very wide bandwidth). I use the 1 piece Delrin clamp on the TT. Yes, I clean records thoroughly and there are no obvious warps, especially after being clamped.

So my isolation is very good - no thumps or thwacks on the rack coming through the speakers. But if I turn the sub on I get that extra low end pumping on some records that hurts my ears. Mostly I leave the sub off when playing vinyl, but I would like to use it if possible.

There was some brief discussion of this on Albert Porter's system thread. I'm hoping to get more answers here.

So ... what methods have you tried to reduce subsonics that you have found effective?

Thanks,
Bob
ptmconsulting

Showing 3 responses by maril555

Mapman,
I posted a response earlier today, but for some reason it dissapeared.
My TT is essentially brand new, so I don't think it's the motor.
I suspect, that Shelter 501 MK II compliance is too high for the Technics arm, and that creates an unwanted resonance. Do you think, that's a valid concern?
Well, late for the discussion, as always.
It looks I'm having the same problem with my TT- woofers and even midrange driver pumping, start. with the lead in groove.
Subsonic filter aside for now, where do I start?
Cartridge?, TT support?, mat? subwoofer?
Mapman,
Thanks for your response. Yes, it is DD table, and I use Isoplat mat with cork backing. Driver pumping seems to happen only with the record playing, and with all types of record. As soon, as I lift up the tonearm, it stops.
Could that be an issue with the cartrige compliance mismatch with the arm? I have Shelter 501 MK II on silicone damped Technics arm.
Also stock Technics feet are replaced with Audiopoints.