surface noise reduction

boxcarman

Any new cartridge needs proper alignment, do you have the few inexpensive tools and skills to do it yourself?

MM RED is an Elliptical

In any case, noise or not: I suggest you upgrade to an advanced stylus shape, i.e. Microline, SAS, Shibata

https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/stylus-shape-information

I always recommend this Microline for darn good/not too expensive, (and it has wide channel separation and tight channel balance for improved imaging):

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/line-series/vm-series/vm540ml

Deeper in the grooves; more edge profile contact surface with the groove both can improve the signal to noise factor.

Both lp grooves and stylus edges last longer when using advanced stylus shape.

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Noise: Perhaps your cleaner is good for nearly new LPs.

I Manually SCRUB the heck out of my old beat up lps from the 60’, record store/garage sale finds. Surprisingly quieter. You might try a few, see if they get a lot less noisy

A kit like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Knox-Vinyl-Record-Cleaner-Spin/dp/B07MP88FX6/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2ND3YTARXPW5W&keywords=lp+cleaning+kit&qid=1698589302&sprefix=lp+cleaning+kit%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-19

look at photo, I use the kit’s fluid container only for final distilled water rinse, having viscously scrubbed with a baby scalp brush (protect paper label with lid from soup container).

https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Scrubbie-Sterile-Cradle-Sponge/dp/B005EJ7YH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=UILMFRDCR1GT&keywords=baby+scalp+brush&qid=1698589913&sprefix=baby+scalp+brush%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

A lot more work than an automatic machine, but amazing reduction in noise.

I listen while cleaning a batch of ten, takes the tedium away.

My Denon 304 is remarkably good at suppressing surface noise.

@elliottbnewcombjr nice post, great information. 

There are certain types of styluses that are quieter if set up correctly, these include the Ortofon Replicant 100, The Soundsmith OCL, and the Gyger S. With only one exception these styluses are found only on cartridges over $2000, that is the Goldring 1042, a cartridge I highly recommend for people on a budget.

Phono stages that overload easily, overload with pops and tics, the effect is to make them louder. Using a lower output cartridge might help.

Lastly is just bad plastic. Old records that were abuse when we were kids and trash produced by the record industry. If you love that music get a digital copy.

Washing records is fraught with danger. A machine is in order, one that uses fresh fluid for each cleaning and vacuums the record dry. After that it is all about convenience which cost more. The Nessie is a great unit for the money. The Audiodesk is a reliability nightmare. Not a month goes by without hearing of an other Audiodesk that bit the dust. The Clearaudio Matrix is a step up and the best IMHO is the Clearaudio Double Matrix which does both sides at the same time and is handily the fastest record cleaning method available and it aint cheap. Things to stay away from are repeated use of the same fluid and evaporative drying by any method. 

jacobsdad2000

of course I agree with you, thanks

boxcarman, others

OP has a MM cartridge, messing with loading is all about MC cartridges.

OP,

just to clarify the basics:

what specific Phono Stage do you have?

and, what Preamp model, input are you plugging into?

you need to set that phono stage on either PASS, or 47K (not using the MC settings).

Same for any MM cartridge.

Then, Phono Stage, IF it has RIAA Equalization built in for MM, goes to any LINE level input.

IF it is simply a MM PASS thru, then it needs to go to/thru a true MM Phono Input, which performs RIAA Equalization AND boosts the MM signal to Line Level.

SOME Preamp’s PHONO input are simply an input for labeling, those require RIAA already performed elsewhere, they are simply a Line Level Input labeled phono for convenience, corresponding with a front input selector labeled Phono. Usually, those do NOT have a ground nearby; while true Phono inputs have ground connections.