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Which part reduces surface noise most?

Hi all -

I have been lucky enough to hear a few turntable setups that put surface noise/cracks and pops "on another plane", which makes focusing on the music so much easier. These tables have included:

Well-Tempered w/ unk Audio Technica Cart and modified Dyna PAS 3 preamp
Linn LP12 with various Benz Micro cartridges and Audio Research phono stage
Kuzma Stabi with Cardas Heart (Modded Benz Ruby) cart /BAT phono stage

However, I've yet to recreate this phenomenon at my home. Granted, I've never spent the kind of money required to buy the 'tables listed above, but I'm wondering where the next upgrade step is for me.

I currently have a Techncis 1210 with Cardas wiring and the KAB fluid damper with an Ortofon 2m Blue cart playing through a NAD 304 integrated. The sound is pretty good, but the crackles and pops still really bother me.

In your experience, is it a function of the the stylus profile, the phono stage, low-output vs high-output, mc vs mm, or any combination of the aforementioned that will help me in my quest to separate the noise from the music?

Any input will be most appreciated, thanks!
joelv
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
Thanks Johnnyb53, I read that review too and I think that will be the next purchase, though I'm selling my cart and will need another one of those too :)

It's funny how upgrade-itis strikes, isn't it? I bought a Technics 'table, began upgrading, then before the fluid damper even arrived, I had new floorstanding Triangle speakers (that ROCK by the way!), new speaker cables, and a new old integrated (The NAD 304 that I always regretted selling back in '96). Here I am considering a new phono stage and cart already. This has been an expensive 2 months!

Tim - Thanks for the link to the earlier thread...topics really are cyclical in a forum. I wonder how to check if phono preamps utilize zero-feedback circuitry if the manufacturer specs are hard to come by? I'll go read a little on this.

Has anyone used the Benz-Micro L2? I wonder if that will get me close enough to the Ruby that I won't want to upgrade for a while.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Restock,

We use all four AIVS solutions, but as you know we're fanatics. We did try using just three (Enzyme + Super Cleaner OR Archivist + Ultra Pure Water), but repeated experiments demonstrated that all four solutions provided an audible benefit (to our ears/in our system/blahblah).

We actually do two rinses with UPW, making five steps in all. Using our somewhat slow (but very effective) Loricraft, it takes about 15 minutes/side to clean our records. We surely wish there was a faster way, but we haven't found one that compares.

Paul also thinks there's a scientific argument. The enzymes are essential, nothing quiets a record or removes mold release chemistry better. The alchohol in the Super Cleaner denatures the enzymes. The surfactant in the Archivist helps displace the alchohol. The UPW removes the surfactants... FWIW.

Aren't you glad you asked?!
sirspeedy
738 posts
 
Tim,"that" was a superb point of info,and coming from Ralph,you just know it is valid.
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
Interesting development- I bought the LP Gear AT95HE, which is the AudioTechnica AT95 with a hypereliptical stylus. $75.00 from LPGear.

It is in a different league altogether from any cartridge I've owned with regard to noise. It is, above all, extremely clean sounding. So far, with about 10 minutes of break-in, it is a little dry, but surface noise is almost inaudible on the first two records I put on, and the pops and crackles are .... well, mostly irrelevant...finally!

It's a little bass shy compared to the Ortofon 2m Blue, but sounds like it might be more accurate and definitely faster. Sounds a bit like an MC to me.

I hope the bass warms up, but even if it doesn't, I'm closer to the "noise on another plane" than I thought I'd be with a $75 cart.

If I get some time, I'll post needle drops. This is fun!
countingbackwards
138 posts
 
I'm using the Benz L2...fantastic cartridge in my system. I can't say how it will do compared to a Ruby, because I have a policy: if I can't buy it, I don't audition it. I much prefer the L2 to the Glider that I once tried - the Glider had the same overall tone, but was missing a certain balance that the L2 has.

One thing I can say - when I bought my L2, it was on order by my dealer, and he lent me his M2 in the meantime. The surface noise was MUCH less noticeable on my phono stage at the time (it was a Musical Fidelity XLP) with the M2. When the L2 arrived, it prompted a phono stage upgrade.

While a low-output cartridge is more resolving of low-level details, don't get thrown off by the 3 Benz's being the same price: the low-output model will necessitate a more expensive phono stage to sound any better than the M2.

My advice would be...with the Cambridge phono, go with M2, whether it be an Ace, Glider or Wood. If you plan on going with the L2, budget at least $1K for a good high-gain phono stage.
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