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Tonearm Noise

Hi. I am curious if anyone can tell me if it's normal to hear a loud noise when lowering or lifting the tonearm. The sound my tonearm makes is similar to a mike being tapped or dragged, however, once the stylus hits the record its very quiet. Do I need to apply lubricant or oil to it to reduce friction, I've read somewhere here that doing so will create more problems because oil or lube will attract dust. if it helps my TT is a Nottingham Interspace Jr with a Interspace arm. Thanks.
rangefinder
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
Does it happen at both the inner and outer groove when you lift/lower the tonearm? If so, at the same level?

My thinking is that the cartridge or arm is picking up some kind of EMI or RFI maybe from the motor or improper grounding of the internal tonearm wiring. Maybe just try moving the interconnects around or try a different grounding location.
dhl93449
455 posts
 
I can hear a microphone type of noise from my ADC LMF carbon fiber tone arm. Has a "wood" type of sound if you tap it sharply or move it up and down within its rest clamp. You need high gains in the phono pre-amp to hear it though. With an AT 150MLX mounted, I hear this at pre-amp gains of 55-60 dB, far above the normal gains used for listening. This arm is undamped.
rangefinder OP
18 posts
 
Mofi, it happens at both inner and outer groove. I've tried moving the interconnects. I have a Pioneer Pl-A45D and I don't experience the same thing. I did change the cartridge clips to JA Michell premiums before I packed the Nott when I moved to a new place.
ldvalve
21 posts
 
i think your problem is more likely grounding issue . also check all the headshell wires to make sure they are tight fit to the cartridge pins.
john_tracy
341 posts
 
Yes, you will hear a noise in your speakers if you tap on your tone arm. It is like a microphone! You cartridge is a transducer and very sensitive to vibrations. It turns mechanical vibrations recorded in the groove into an electrical signal. Even very tiny vibrations. If it didn't make noise through your speakers when tapped on the arm I would suspect a dead cartridge. DUH.
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