Frustrated with Vinly

Looking at the settings on my phono stage dip switches, this is what I see:

- 100pf
- 47k
- RIAA curve
- 40db

OK. So we can say at this point that the phono stage settings are not contributing to the tics/pops/crackling problem. From a sonic standpoint, though, chances are you’ll find that changing the 100 pf setting to zero will be beneficial in the treble part of the spectrum. Although that will depend on the unknown capacitances of the phono cable and tonearm wiring, as well as on how complementary the change is to the sonic character of the rest of the system.

Another setting change that I suspect would be sonically beneficial is to lower the setting of the antiskating dial on the turntable. As is the case with many such turntables, the instructions for yours say to set the antiskating dial to the same value as the tracking force, which IME is invariably much too high. In fact if you’ve set it in that manner you may notice when you view the cartridge from the front while the stylus is in the groove of a rotating record that the cantilever is deflected to the left (toward the center of the record), rather than assuming the nominally straight ahead position it assumes when the stylus is lifted off of the record. I suggest setting the antiskating dial to about 60% of the tracking force, i.e., if the tracking force is 1.8 grams set the antiskating dial to about 1.0 or 1.1.

The others have given you lots of good suggestions about the tics/pops/crackling problem, so I don’t have anything to add at this point. I was going to suggest that you buy some Mobile Fidelity record sleeves, but Noromance and Antinn beat me to it!

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought new pressings only to have them sound worse than used records I picked up for a few dollars.

This is a problem of modern mastering, recording, pressing... i agree.

This is true, i don’t buy re-issues normally and rarely buying new releases, but those vintage LPs and 45s from the 70’s (if the pressing is good) are just fantastic and i do not use any special cleaning machines, just a simple method described above (even a bath with distilled water is too complicated for me). If the grading is strong VG+ or Mint- i have no problem with quality, i can’t remember anything like serious ticks and pops that bother me, the music is louder anyway. Maybe i am not audiophile ? Forgive me, but majority of audiophiles always overestimate the problem, especially those who get used to digital, so i can understand. But since i only play vinyl in my system i am happy with vintage records without any special treatment.

I don’t care about fancy anti-static inner sleeves like those from "audiophile" pressing etc, clean paper inner sleeves are fine for me.

Why not just enjoy vinyl like the previous generation did without all that crazy time consuming treatment ?

I know that some people are going crazy over the years, like in every hobby, but telling about all that habits (especially to a newbie) like a "must have" is too much. It’s not necessary! You can go too far and in the end you will start talking about pure energy, because the one from the power socket "is not clean enough and noisy", right? This guy ended up with his private source of electricity for example. With all respect It can be an endless quest for people who can’t just enjoy what they have.

The nature of vinyl is minor background hiss and some light crackles (depends on condition of the vinyl). Old Japanese original pressing always quieter because of the virgin vinyl formula, still can be 10 times cheaper than new audiophile re-issues in a fancy inner sleeves.

I am happy to ignore audiophile pressings and reissues, instead i am happy with original pressing made just like musicians intended to present their music for the masses at normal price. Vintage vinyl all the way!

Those overpriced reissues made for the sect of audiophile elitist is not what normal music lover really need, there are tons of original pressings around and people who trying to tell they are not as good as the audiophile pressing are just ....

Variation on the Spin Clean theme... give this very economic solution consideration...

First, try two Spin Cleans. The second for just a distilled water rinse. Second, if you are not ready for the investment of an ultrasonic cleaner maybe the KAB-EV1 would bring the reduction in clicks and pops you seek. Here is their website followed by a Youtube video which documents the benefits of the device - evidence that I can also demonstrate by my own use.

https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/rcleaner.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE0ATYCXstk

Basically this is a cost friendly device to allow you to vacuum up the liquid from the vinyl once you have used the Spin Cleans. As they explain on the website - it is a nitty gritty cleaner but without a vac. You would use your own household vac as a substitute. Personally I use an Eureka Mighty Mac cleaner...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWReJHgbVvg

Yes, an investment in MoFi inner sleeves as well as any new outer sleeve will also pay dividends in keeping out static and keeping covers from falling apart.

I look forward to buying my first ultra sonic cleaner. In the meantime this combination of devices has kept my vinyl frustration to a minimum.

Hi jay,
If it is new records you are playing cleaning them will not do anything except make things worse. Some record companies just do a crappy job of pressing records. I have $75,000 worth of record playing stuff and I never clean a record I purchased from new. A dust cover and a conductive sweep arm are all I use.Having said all this
Some phono amps will do a better job of amplifying the signal without exaggerating the pops. I also think MC cartridges are more forgiving in this regard.
Having said all this, some people are more aggravated by extraneous noise. Tradition and romanticism do not matter as much. They are better off staying with digital sources.   

Use a zero stat gun before playing and spot dry clean/remove dust with audioquest’s new brush....should make a difference. I swear by vinyl revival products from the uk, great cleaning results from a manual form of record cleaning, but it is pricey. I hardly ever buy brand new records.....I have had great success in procuring sealed original pressings, whether they be 1st pressings or 2nd run pressings (heck even 3rd). They sound a heck of a lot better than anything available today at least to my ears. Most of today’s new records are not from original analog tape, but are derived via digital means albeit no better than just buying the compact disc. There are of course some exceptions, for instance classic records (defunct, but now bought and owned by acoustic sounds), and some mofi recordings.
Also, in my opinion only, you really need to spend upwards of $1500 to $2000 on a turntable outfitted with a high quality moving coil cartridge (again my opinion, not to snob moving magnets) to really hear what vinyl is all about. The Hana El moving coil is a great cartridge for example, but you will spend close to $500 bucks. It’s big brother the SL is even better with the shibata stylus. Leveling the turntable to the nines as well as isolation such as a sturdy turntable shelf can make a big difference, as well as playing around with the VTA. I’m new to adjusting the VTA and I’m a believer as it made a world of difference with my hana el. You know what's more frustrating than tics and pops? Breaking a tonearm lead while changing out a cartridge...then having to solder it back on! 🙄