Help... my turntable is alive!

moonglum

I’ve just been told my earlier post was deleted by a Moderator.

Perhaps because you engaged in insult rather than discussing the topic.

I fail to understand the problem you (Cleeds) have with the words “negative & positive” in relation to a tonearm’s VTA ... why would you take the reference point "zero" on the Y axis to be associated with a cantilever? I didn’t mention cantilevers at all and would challenge you to show me where in this thread?

This “convention” was NEVER directly associated with the cartridge.

VTA - Vertical Tracking Angle - is the angle between the cantilever (measured from the cantilever’s pivot to the stylus contact area) and the record surface. That is simply what it is.

One clear erroneous assumption by you was equating the expression “NEGATIVE VTA” (SETTING) directly with a cartridge rather than a tonearm VTA adjuster

VTA refers to the cartridge cantilever, by definition. That’s not an assumption on my part, but the actual meaning of the term. You prefer to ascribe your own definition to the term "VTA" for a purpose that defies reason, except perhaps to conceal your confusion on this topic.

cleeds you should stop it right here you are upsetting moonglum which makes him glum when that happens he writes something nasty about you and false about VTA and then the moderators have to delete it again and again as they have here. It is wasting everyones time as you have already figured out moonglum has his own definition of VTA that is different than everyone else’s and if you push him he just insists "everyone know’s what I’m talking about." He also has endless analogies about pilots and sealevel none of which make any sense but he will just keep this mindless banter going from the comfortable home of mommy’s basement where you are the only person interfering with his little world of made-up reality so please lets all leave moonglum alone we have probably hurt his self-esteem pretty badly.

moonglum you might want to google VTA and then you will find its definition and proper use.

OP here... It seems we are a bit off track. Does it really matter which side of the egg you crack?

Upon further examination, it is not a record warp. I am still having the problem even with flat records. My cartridge is not bottoming out. My VTA is OK by sight. The tonearm is horizontal to the record surface, and there is some daylight between the cartridge and the record. My cartridge, Goldring 1042 is just built to come close to the record due to the cantilever being short. The "heartbeat" sound is still present, but only after the first few minutes and then going away a few minutes after that. I have tried several different records, but still the same effect. While I haven't completed all of my investigation, I wanted to keep you up to date on the latest swing from my previous post.

Just a thought - your belt could be sticking.  Whenever I change belts on my Thorens 'table, I "bathe" it in baby powder, then gently wipe the excess powder off with a clean paper towal.  This tends to minimize belt sticking.  It's a cheap potential remedy.