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

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

Put my Benz Micro LPS on. Played the same last 4-5 sides--no issues.  Put my Kiseki on -same result. 

I called the dealer. They said this is some sort of internal issue with the cartridge. Exchange is underway. 

Thank you everyone. I'll update you Thursday when the new Ethos arrives. 

 

I too, suspect a defect in the cartridge considering you’re tried all the usual suspects. 
Keep us posted and good luck. 

Good luck with that. I still think the problem is with that fine line stylus going deeper into the record grooves. You will find out with the exchange. Let us know!

@yogiboy, if that is the case, why would a manufacturer make a cartridge that injects loud popping every minute or so during playback?  It's useless functioning like this. What other fine line stylus cartridges do you have experience with? Did they make routine loud popping sounds?  These popping sounds do not resemble surface noise in any way.