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Help... my turntable is alive!

I am hearing a heartbeat through my turntable between tracks, and also when the music is very quite in the song's track. This noise is at 33 BPM in sync to the turntable rotation. It's very quiet unless of course the volume is turned up, but can clearly be heard. I don't think its rumble as it has a distinct "heartbeat" sound.

My turntable is a Basis 2500 with a Graham 2.2 arm and a Goldring 1042 cartridge set at 1.70 grams tracking force. Any guesses here? Is the bearing on the turntable shot?

Thanks
koestner
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
After doing a small bit of reading on what the 'table is about, via the Basis website, I'd say the only one who might have a clear answer for you is Basis themselves.


lewm
13,453 posts
 
Just for starters, how old is the turntable? Have you ever serviced the bearing in any way? For example, have you changed the lubricant? On the other hand, a periodic noise with that character of a heart beat is probably not due to a bad bearing. A bad bearing is likely to create a generally elevated and constant background noise.

Do you own any 45 rpm LPs? When you play 45 rpm, does the timing between pulses increase accordingly with the speed? Does the pitch change at higher speeds?
rcprince
3,080 posts
 
I agree with teo audio, I would call Basis, they are very helpful.
jperry
2,468 posts
 
Maybe there is something on or under your belt. Have you inspected the belt carefully for wear, flaws and debris?
moonglum
619 posts
 
Sounds like something could be mechanically "bottoming out" if it is periodic e.g cartridge rear end hitting a warp or negative VTA causing the thicker section of the tone arm to hit a warp(?)

It's a long shot but perhaps when the Graham counterweight is ultra close to the pivot could become momentarily grounded with an extreme warp? I'm not very familiar with the 2.2 so this could be a big misconception on my part.
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