Another thing that may emphasize surface noise is a piece of equipment that has a 3db peak,at or near the surface noise.A cartridge,speaker,amp,or other gear are +/-3db quite often.A system that has very little noise might have a -3db dip in the noise area of the frequency response.
Surface Noise - another question
On a scale of 1 to 10, my surface noise is about a '1' (1 is low, 10 is high). I have a TNT Jr. w/super platter and upgraded flywheel motor (VPI belts), JMW 10.0 arm, a Benz Glider (High output-not the new 'S' - about 8 years old but probably only 200 hrs on it), Cardas Phono cables, and an innersound phono stage (not set to high gain, 47k ohms, 100 micro farad capacatance setting). I use the Living Voice Carbon record mat and BDR record clamp. I am referring to basically new records, cleaned w/VPI 16.5 with Walker Audio 3 step (or Needle Dr fluid), and Milty Zero Stat. Stylus is always cleaned with either magic eraser or Needle Dr. or the Zero Dust and cartridge is recently degaussed. Rig is as perfectly leveled as possible, on a Billy Bags Pro Stand. VTF set to high side of mfg recommendation - 2.2 grams; speed dead on (VPI SDS, KAB Strobe), VTA is dialed in as all is in focus and azimuth must be pretty close to dead on as my soundstage is spot on. Here is my question - how can I get the surface noise down? (I have heard rigs with NO surface noise). Assuming records are in as perfect condition as you can get, do you think it is the cartridge that is giving me the little surface noise; phono stage? Other? (New TT?)
Appeciate the input of the vinyl gurus - I'm sure you have the answer.
Appeciate the input of the vinyl gurus - I'm sure you have the answer.
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- 31 posts total
Cerrot, have you tried load resistances that are much lower than the 47K you are using? And have you tried various load capacitance settings? Along the lines of Ralph's excellent post, those values will directly affect both the frequency and the amplitude of the ultrasonic resonant peak he referred to. It's hard to be more specific or quantitative without knowing the inductance of the cartridge, but after plugging various values into the calculators at the Hagerman site I wouldn't be surprised if something in the area of 10K to 20K, and the minimum possible capacitance setting, proved helpful. On another note, I want to say that it seems to me that a lot of the reason that opinions diverge on the objectionability of lp tics, pops, and surface noise is probably that people are listening to different kinds of music. Assuming equal pressing quality, those noises will obviously be much more noticeable and objectionable on a well recorded classical symphony, with wide dynamic range, than on a dynamically compressed rock recording having a dynamic range of just a few db. Regards, -- Al |
- 31 posts total