Not sure if this is your issue but In 2010 I have a very significant woofer pumping issue with vinyl
That’s when I had a triplanar arm and ZYX Universe cartridge
We looked at isolation, the room, Speaker porting, suspension, etc etc like you are doing.
Like your situation it was worse on the outside portion of the record and exasperated on records with subtle warps
a lot of great insight from those posting here and our local guru here in New Orleans Richard Gray and Thom Mackris of Galibier converged on a solution. Major thanks to both.
Finally resolved what was wrong
the feather test - moving a feather lightly against the cartridge on the outer side parallel to the record should move the head shell and progress the record forward
if the cartridge doesn’t respond to the feather’s light touch and move inward then The tonearm bearing isn’t moving properly
The tonearm bearing wasn’t moving suficiently so the cantilever was moving up and down some instead of the cartridge moving in mass.
It would follow the groove forward but not have enough sensitivity to track things vertically correctly in harmony with the cartridge. That was what was causing all the pumping
It also isn’t kind to your deliccate cantilever suspension.
Most likely the bearing was restricted by dust in the equation.
I had the arm sent back and the bearing replaced by Triplanar and all was well
Since then I move up to a Durand tonearm.
I know you mentioned this was occurring with two turntables but each could be suffering from the same bearing issue to different degrees.
I wouldn’t rule the tonearm bearing out.
Particularly if you hadn’t played them in a while, there were similar dusting habits or if they are located in the same environment.
It is certainly worth a test.
Tom
That’s when I had a triplanar arm and ZYX Universe cartridge
We looked at isolation, the room, Speaker porting, suspension, etc etc like you are doing.
Like your situation it was worse on the outside portion of the record and exasperated on records with subtle warps
a lot of great insight from those posting here and our local guru here in New Orleans Richard Gray and Thom Mackris of Galibier converged on a solution. Major thanks to both.
Finally resolved what was wrong
the feather test - moving a feather lightly against the cartridge on the outer side parallel to the record should move the head shell and progress the record forward
if the cartridge doesn’t respond to the feather’s light touch and move inward then The tonearm bearing isn’t moving properly
The tonearm bearing wasn’t moving suficiently so the cantilever was moving up and down some instead of the cartridge moving in mass.
It would follow the groove forward but not have enough sensitivity to track things vertically correctly in harmony with the cartridge. That was what was causing all the pumping
It also isn’t kind to your deliccate cantilever suspension.
Most likely the bearing was restricted by dust in the equation.
I had the arm sent back and the bearing replaced by Triplanar and all was well
Since then I move up to a Durand tonearm.
I know you mentioned this was occurring with two turntables but each could be suffering from the same bearing issue to different degrees.
I wouldn’t rule the tonearm bearing out.
Particularly if you hadn’t played them in a while, there were similar dusting habits or if they are located in the same environment.
It is certainly worth a test.
Tom