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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
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,531 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.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,169 posts
 
Joelv, if you saw the earlier thread from June, although the stylus profile does a lot, any ticks and pops it picks up are going to be part of the signal. It is the interaction between the preamp and the cartridge that will 'put the noise in another plane'. An example of the interaction is ringing, wherein the cartridge is inadequately loaded by the preamp/cable system. Ringing will enhance ticks and pops.

Loading the cartridge will eliminate ringing (MMs are no different in this regard as compared to MC cartridges, although the loading values are usually a lot higher). Note that different MM cartridges will load differently with the same preamp, IOW the differences you have heard may have nothing to do with the stylus at all. You won't be able to tell that until you have loaded each cartridge correctly and then performed your auditions again.
islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
One relatively inexpensive means to lowering surface noise is cartridge alignment. Many (or most) users of the MintLP arc tractor find that once alignment and overhang are optimized, surface noise becomes less prominent. Stringreen pointed this out after getting his arc tractor. I can't recommend it highly enough. Even at the new price, $110, it is a screaming good deal. You owe it to yourself to find out what your analog front end can really do. You will be amazed, I'll wager.

Enjoy,
Dan
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