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

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Next up, Static Electricity. I forget who (sorry) but it was suggested that wiping a record with a dryer sheet might affect the pumping. I observed the pumping with only the mat  to get a visual baseline, then applied the dryer sheet while the platter was spinning. The amplitude of the woofer excursions diminished visibly while I was wiping the mat, I’d say by 80 to 90 percent.

It would appear that the correct answer is, levels of static electricity not enough to arc but enough to influence the Hana ML while operating in balanced mode

This makes zero sense to me…

The cart is generally a thing that generates a current, and the electrical field would seem to be difficult to get into a twisted set of differential wires.

And to get enough charge on the LP to merry-go-round in a pile of electrons, and generate a magnetic field, would be difficult.

And to do it with Every LP you tried?
And even a just with a mat alone?
And never without a mat or LP?

I think I am back to the @lewm idea of oscillation in the phono stage. That would either need some different loading, or to block the low freq with a high pass capacitor in-line. The later could ameliorate the problem, but it does not illuminate the mechanism.

OP, You also said that the pumping frequency of the cone was directly proportional to the hand-powered rotation of the platter. Surly the static build-up would be caused by rotation speed? When you moved the platter by hand, wouldn't the static be grounded by your touch?

Gremlins.
Is the turntable spindle - bearing assembly - bearing housing (somehow) connected to the ground? If not, could you try to conjure those gremlins and lead them away by connecting the bearing housing to the chassis of your amp? 
I had problems with static buildup, especially in the winter months. My TT is a big chunk of Delrin... If I didn't touch the LP first then lower the cartridge on it, there would be audible (and scary!) discharge. On the end I approached the problem in the same way as I did the power surge: if it hurts my system, it hurts every other device in the house. So, I bought a new and much better humidifier (at the furnace, whole house). Humidistat is set at 30% in the summer and 45% in the winter - and tweaked from there. Someone already commented that humidity in your house is low. Even 5% makes a noticeable difference. And yes, there is that damn "sweet spot" even with that...

@holmz 

This makes zero sense to me…

Agreed

The cart is generally a thing that generates a current, and the electrical field would seem to be difficult to get into a twisted set of differential wires.

And to get enough charge on the LP to merry-go-round in a pile of electrons, and generate a magnetic field, would be difficult.

And to do it with Every LP you tried? 
 

Yes
 

And even a just with a mat alone?

Yes

And never without a mat or LP?

Never, no movement at all

I think I am back to the @lewm idea of oscillation in the phono stage. That would either need some different loading, or to block the low freq with a high pass capacitor in-line.

The PPA-2 has an 18hz Hi Pass filter which has been engaged for every experiment . It apparently does have any effect on a signal that operates as a sloping sine wave in the cycles per minute domain. I say that as a guess.

@noromance I also used an AQ anti static brush while touching the tonearm.

@bato65 I just moved into this house so it’s one thing at a time. If I were to add a central humidifier I would lose the experience of dry cracked skin, sinus trouble and static electricity discharges that leave scorch marks on my dog.

I’m thinking an SUT might be a solution. Any thoughts on that?