So Weird- No Stylus Contact Woofer Pumping with Hana ML and Elac PPA-2


I observed the weirdest thing I have ever seen in audio. With the cartridge positioned above the record, tone arm locked up and platter spinning, the woofers were pumping on my system. I googled every permutation of query I could think of but came back with no hits. That’s when I decided to video the problem- link below:

Mystery Woofer Pumping

I could type out all the details but the video pretty much covers everything. I thought ya’ll might be interested in this.

 

mitchellcp

Attention Deficit Disorder? You’re probably just noticing it because you weren’t paying attention before.

@ejb14

1. Isn’t woofer pumping caused by infrasonic frequencies (below 20hz)?

Yes it is

2. The PPA-2 has a rumble filter and I believe that I saw it turned on when the woofer pumping is occurring - doesn’t a rumble filter filter out these frequencies precisely for this reason - to prevent large woofer excursions?

The weird thing is that the hi pass filter works, I have some real nasty LP’s that rumble and the filter knocks it out. So your guess is as good as mine. Also the pumping was worse with the filter off- real audible bottoming out stuff.

3. Not sure how static would cause the cartridge to output signal in the infrasonic range. Even so, the Funk Firm mat claims to be static free, yet with just that mat on the platter still exposed this issue; so if not static, then what?

I’m still all in with team static, until a more likely explanation is revealed or Peter Madnick see’s this and can explain it.

 

I wonder what would happen if you changed cartridges. Both the mat and the record elevate the rotating surface toward the suspended stylus. Every rotating surface has son "fan" effect and may air currents around the stylus and cantilever.

Put both the record and mat on the table. Using the lift what does stylus elevation do to the intensity of the pumping. With the stylus suspend over the spinning record carefully slide a piece of cardboard over the surface of the record holding on to it. What happens to the pumping. Air currents could be interacting with the unloaded resonance of the cantilever's suspension?