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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!
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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.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,486 posts
 
My take is that the record cleaning machine has little to do with this. In order to get the clicks and pops on another plane, your system has to be capable of 3 dimensionality. That means, that your CD player and/or tuner has to exhibit 3 dimensionality as well. Next in importance is the cartridge/arm/setup. I agree with Raul that the sound at your ears is the sum total of everything.
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
Countingbackwards - Thanks for the valuable feedback re: L2 usage...I feared that once I went down the expensive lo-output MC road, I'd want to spend more on a phono stage.

Stringreen - You're so right. I noticed last night that the new cartridge is definitely more of holographic imager than the 2mBlue.

More listening revealed that the AT95HE has less overall resolution than the Ortofon, less bass, more of a veil over everything, yet better 3D imaging, better tracking, and way, way less surface noise.

Does anyone have experience with this or a similar cart? I wonder how long it will take to break in.

Also, if this cart hints of what the AT150ML can do, I can't wait to try that one!
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
I am going to conclude, then, that stylus profile plays the biggest (not the only) role.
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