New Cartridge Causing Intermittent Popping


Vinyl Experts, I need help in diagnosing a problem. 

Before this last weekend, I had three (3) cartridges in my stable:  Kiseki Purpleheart, Dynavector 20x2; Benz Micro LPS.  None of these carts made any significant popping noise. I gave an AudioTechnica ART9 to a good friend last year. That had no such popping noise issue either.

This weekend I installed a brand new Goldring Ethos MC cartridge.  It sounds glorious out of the box and is opening up a bit. Very seductive sounding pickup. 

But the Ethos is exhibiting intermittent yet consistent popping when playing all sorts of clean, excellent shape vinyl.  The popping is as loud as the source material and disruptive.  It comes with no notice, stops and starts up with a single pop every so and so. [I haven't timed it].  I can, however, sometimes get through a side with one or no pops. For the most part it is still there. 

I setup the cartridge with my Feickert protractor.  Pretty easy setup compared to my other carts. 

Some aftermarket Jelco headshell leads were a touch a loose where they affix to the arm.  I tried crimping them down but to less than perfect status.  I've ordered new ones to see if that is the problem. 

I've never had any noise issues with my Manley Chinook phono preamp. The lion's share of my collection sounds just great with it until this issue arose. Most of my records that are in excellent shape do not exhibit snap, crackles, or pops unless you crank the volume during a very quiet passage--and even then they are not easily audible. 

Goldring says the following: 

Load resistance
100 Ω
Load capacitance
100 - 1000 pF

Playing weight

1.5 - 2.0 g (1.75 g)

This cartridge sounds wonderful--especially for the price tag.  I really want to fix this  small but annoying issue. 

Advice? 

Setup: 

Source - Technics SL1200 GAE

Phono Preamp- Manley Chinook

Integrated Amp - Marantz PM KI Ruby

Thank you folks!  Solving this is a priority for me. Your help is greatly appreciated. 

128x128jbhiller

I experienced this same thing once in the 1990s. A loud pop ever so often for no reason I could find. I took the cartridge back to my dealer. Exchanged it and never had the problem ever again.

I’ve experienced this very issue on my Basis tt and after trying every thing possible I found it was just a slight loose ground wire causing the static buildup.

I'm struggling now!  I may need to call the dealer. 

I've now tried cleaning records with my machine.  I cannot imagine there's that much static left. I've never had this issue. 

Ground wires are locked in place.  Very frustrating. 

A simple test, put on a record and spin it up. Place the cartridge above the record but don’t lower it.  Let it spin for a while and see if it pops. Sounds crazy but what do you have to loose. :)

It’s that fine line stylus on the Goldring. It goes deeper in the grooves than your other cartridges!