surface noise reduction

boxcarman

Any new cartridge needs proper alignment, do you have the few inexpensive tools and skills to do it yourself?

MM RED is an Elliptical

In any case, noise or not: I suggest you upgrade to an advanced stylus shape, i.e. Microline, SAS, Shibata

https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/stylus-shape-information

I always recommend this Microline for darn good/not too expensive, (and it has wide channel separation and tight channel balance for improved imaging):

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/line-series/vm-series/vm540ml

Deeper in the grooves; more edge profile contact surface with the groove both can improve the signal to noise factor.

Both lp grooves and stylus edges last longer when using advanced stylus shape.

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Noise: Perhaps your cleaner is good for nearly new LPs.

I Manually SCRUB the heck out of my old beat up lps from the 60’, record store/garage sale finds. Surprisingly quieter. You might try a few, see if they get a lot less noisy

A kit like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Knox-Vinyl-Record-Cleaner-Spin/dp/B07MP88FX6/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2ND3YTARXPW5W&keywords=lp+cleaning+kit&qid=1698589302&sprefix=lp+cleaning+kit%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-19

look at photo, I use the kit’s fluid container only for final distilled water rinse, having viscously scrubbed with a baby scalp brush (protect paper label with lid from soup container).

https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Scrubbie-Sterile-Cradle-Sponge/dp/B005EJ7YH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=UILMFRDCR1GT&keywords=baby+scalp+brush&qid=1698589913&sprefix=baby+scalp+brush%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

A lot more work than an automatic machine, but amazing reduction in noise.

I listen while cleaning a batch of ten, takes the tedium away.

jacobsdad2000

of course I agree with you, thanks

boxcarman, others

OP has a MM cartridge, messing with loading is all about MC cartridges.

OP,

just to clarify the basics:

what specific Phono Stage do you have?

and, what Preamp model, input are you plugging into?

you need to set that phono stage on either PASS, or 47K (not using the MC settings).

Same for any MM cartridge.

Then, Phono Stage, IF it has RIAA Equalization built in for MM, goes to any LINE level input.

IF it is simply a MM PASS thru, then it needs to go to/thru a true MM Phono Input, which performs RIAA Equalization AND boosts the MM signal to Line Level.

SOME Preamp’s PHONO input are simply an input for labeling, those require RIAA already performed elsewhere, they are simply a Line Level Input labeled phono for convenience, corresponding with a front input selector labeled Phono. Usually, those do NOT have a ground nearby; while true Phono inputs have ground connections.

Any people as frugal as me, I found this old post with details

Being frugal, non-scientific, I wash mine by hand in batches 10 at a time while listening to music. See 11th photo here

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/9511

Cover the table with a plastic sheet (picnic table cover)

The Kit:

https://www.amazon.com/Knox-Vinyl-Record-Cleaner-Spin/dp/B07MP88FX6/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=GTEIO2U2MD3R&keywords=record+washer+kit&qid=1685797482&sprefix=record+washer+kit%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A3SPLR0MSOYZ8O&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExQlJRQlpBNjNYWk1ZJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzc1NjQ4MlZPNldXVVJRV0RJRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjg5MTAwMUI2RFRKQ1gzMVY1VSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I mix other stuff with the cleaning fluid that comes with the kit

https://www.amazon.com/Spin-Clean-Wash-Fluid-Ounces/dp/B003K1FTFM/ref=sr_1_18_sspa?crid=IH4SG468Q86D&keywords=record+cleaning+fluid&qid=1685798447&sprefix=record+cleaning+fluid%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-18-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVkJGUVNQWlpCVzlNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTgxNzE4MjNXWUVKNVFRR1Q3TCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODQxMjM4UjJCMDBTTUdUSVdWJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYnRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

I get my Distilled Water at drug stores like CVS or Walgreens. I find that the staff often do not know where it is in the store, but it is there

https://www.cvs.com/shop/gold-emblem-distilled-water-128-oz-prodid-1190732

Then 91% alcohol (not available in Covid times)

https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-health-91-isopropyl-alcohol-prodid-1011920

Next, I use a bit of Jet Dry ’Finish’

https://www.amazon.com/Finish-Jet-Dry-8-45oz-Dishwasher-Drying/dp/B0014E82II/ref=asc_df_B0014E82II/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=416864191175&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7243428190909220530&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004004&hvtargid=pla-870834243839&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=93619958043&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=416864191175&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7243428190909220530&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004004&hvtargid=pla-870834243839

Scrub vigorously with Baby Scalp Brushes

https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Scrubbie-Sterile-Cradle-Sponge/dp/B005EJ7YH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2QCRFZKJJEPJM&keywords=baby+scalp+brush&qid=1685797819&sprefix=baby+scalp+brush%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A2W58AXSS61W30&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyOUwwT0ZERjVJWk41JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjQ2MDUyMzlIU0RTNjVCNVJWMSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzg4NTIxM0tVSlJCSFhJWVVDQyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Protect Paper Label with the Lid from a saved Chinese Soup container, looks like this

https://www.amazon.com/YW-YSD-2532-12-Plastic-Soup-Container/dp/B06Y6JWQTD/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3PHH7DP0PDP2P&keywords=soup+container&qid=1685797906&sprefix=soup+container%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-8

Scrub by hand, the spinner is only distilled water rinse, remove excess water with lint free cloth, final dry in the rack.

Amazing how good nasty LPs left over from the 60’s can sound, especially when playing deeper in the grooves with advanced stylus shape