Help... my turntable is alive!

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.

Bondmap ... A very thoughtful idea, but I have checked twice. There is no sticky feel to the belt, or the platter anywhere. I could order a new belt, but I don't want to start down the money path until I know I'm at least on the correct path.

Thanks ... John

" I could order a new belt, but I don't want to start down the money path until I know I'm at least on the correct path. "

Money path??? A turntable belt is a trivial expense compared to the cost of maintaining proper vinyl playback equipment in a Music Reproduction System and all of the gear that supports that playback including alignment tools and record cleaners and sooner or later you are going to need a new belt anyway so why not buy one now and set to rest whether that is the cause of your problems?