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Can You Live With Crackling & Popping Noise?

I just got my first turntable, a Rega P5 and not sure whether I'm supposed to be delighted or otherwise. When I put on my first record, there was intermittent popping, hissing and crackling noise at low to moderate volume levels. Having lived with digital for half of my life, I find this to be somewhat annoying. For a while I was feeling disappointed and pondering whether I would end up selling this thing. After a while I thought what the heck, since I had got this thing home I might as well turn up the volume and enjoy the music. I started to crank it up to reasonably high levels and all the hissing, crackling and popping noise began to drown and disappear into the background music. Somehow the annoyance turned to musical bliss, well almost.

My question, especially for those who own high-end turntables, can you live with all the crackling and popping noise? I reckon all these noises will be quite noticeable especially when playing some clean vocals with minimum background music? What actually cause all these noises? Is the noise caused by dust sticking on the surface of the record assuming the record is in good condition? Is there any way these crackling and popping noises can be reduced or eliminated completely by cleaning the records?

The manual states as follows:-

"Don't worry about visible dust on the record surface, this is brushed aside by the stylus and any that collects on the stylus can be easily blown away. In general, record cleaning is overdone and one should not believe all the claims made by record cleaner manufacturers."

Does this mean that cleaning records is pointless? If that is the case how do we get rid of the crackling noise in the event the dust and fine particles are the ones that are causing these noises? Is there any easy solution to clean the records by ourselves?

For any newbie who wants to take the turntable route, I would urge you to reconsider your options particularly if you have minimal tolerance towards popping and crackling noises. Even all my good old cassette collection that ended up in the rubbish bin years ago didn't exhibit all these popping and crackling noises.

If all these noises do not exist in records then analog is really the one to beat.

Thank you for your patience.
ryder
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
When I first play new records I don't clean them as most companies suggest. I just use my Audioquest brush to get the lint off of the surface. I am always shocked at how quiet the records are.

No pops, no crackle, no hum. After a few playing they will get dirty and I will clean them, and MOST of the time the pops go away, but sometimes there remains a bit of noise but very, very little.

Older records always sound better when cleaned, but you can't always tell the condition of a record by looking at it. Some look great, but if they have been cleaned it's really hard to tell the condition.

They could sound terrible.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
an occasional snap crackle pop is one thing, but a defective or worn record is another. agree with tvad...your cartridge may also need proper alignment. the needle will also need a 'slight brush' for the alien particles it may pick up. record washing machines will only clean records, not change the original inherent condition.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,549 posts
 
Once a record is clean, an inexpensive carbon fiber brush for removing loose dust is generally all that is needed to keep it clean.
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zenblaster
504 posts
 
Tvad- I have been using the Pledge wipes for about 6 months and they are great. I was using the carbon fiber brush and found that they pushed the dirt around, and wouldn't "jump the track" to the outside of the record and off. The Pledge wipes act magnetically and pull all the dust out. Inexpensive and a pleasure to use around the turn table.
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