Pop heard when stylus dropped into lead-in groove

I discovered the culprit. I had the gain set on my phono stage (Aesthetix Rhea) to the highest setting (75). I don't remember going there, but perhaps I was experimenting and forgot to return it to where I normally have it set (62). I also had my VTF tracking at the high end of the recommended range, so I scaled that back slightly as well. The combination worked to amplify what we all hear as normal to the point where it sounded like a static charged particle. I still hear it, but it no longer draws attention to itself. Its nice to "fix" things for free.

Hi Stew. glad that everything worked out. FWIW, that's why I mute my phon stage.

My gear includes an ARC Ref3 line stage and an ARC PH-7 phono stage. The PH-7 does not have a gain control -- instead, it's gain output is set to full throttle. By contrast, gain control is handled exclusively through the Ref 3. Ergo why I mute the PH-7.

Hence, if my stylus "pops," I don't want full throttle gain going through the amplification circuits of my PH-7. I have no idea what if anything could happen if there was a transient overload (pop) -- and I don't want to find out. Similalry, I don't want that type of transient surge amplified through the rest of my rig and ultimately into the speakers. It may (??) do no harm, but I can't see how it can help anything -- unless I want to scare the sh*t out of the roaches and rats. So, for all these reasons, that's why I mute my phono stage everytime I play a new record. FWIW.

Bif,
If you have your volume set for "normal" listening on your
Ref3, what sort of damaging blast do you think will occur?

If the volume pot was turned way up, say for another source
with much less gain than the phono , then I could understand
your concern.

Chashas, as I said in my post above, my phono stage does not have a gain control. Instead, it runs full throttle output of 58db gain straight into the line stage. As I also said, "I have no idea what if anything could happen [to my PH-7 phono stage] if there was a transient overload (pop) -- and I don't want to find out." So my first concerrn goes to the phono stage. That is, why would I want to surge maximum gain through the phono amplification circuits when I can play it safe and mute the phono inputs when I lower the stylus onto the record, thus eliminating any risk of a transient surge.

In your last comment, you say that "[i]f the volume pot was turned way up, say [from] another source with much less gain than the phono , then I could understand your concern." I believe that your comment might have missed my point, or perhaps I don't understand what you're saying. All I am trying to get across is that by putting my phono pre on mute when I change out records and lower the stylus onto the record, is that not only may I be protecting the phono pre, but unless I also mute the Ref3, I might also damage the rest of my rig downstream, including the Ref3.

In summary, as is the case with most of us, I have a lot of money, time and energy invested in my sound system. I would rather be safe than sorry. That's my only point here.

Hi Bif,
understood about safety. and much safer than sorry. I do know the ph7, and there's nothing that's going to hurt the ph7 if you have a pop go through your system from your record. Now if the gain is set very high from the preamp or line stage, then of course there's always a chance you could take out a tweeter.
now, if you don't want to hear that pop go through your system, like many of my friends, then of course mute till you know the stylus is in the correct groove. but this fear you have of things blowing up is ill-founded.

now, fears i do have are static electricity--sometimes in the winter it can be so severe that if you touch a piece you could take it out. and of course some cable being pulled out while a unit is on.

but yes, better safe than sorry. it surely doesn't cost anything to flip or switch a mute button.
take care