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Static electricity: Unique to Vinyl Systems?

I have recently replaced a turntable/cartridge and a phono preamp, but on both systems, I get a lot of pooping and clicking noises that occur even when a record is not playing. This does not happen with the digital sources in the same system.
Is this some kind of static electricity that only effects analog? Would something like a zerostat fix this?
richardfinegold
richardfinegold OP
196 posts
 
Vic Damone--yes, yes, and yes.
I only had a few minutes to play with it yesterday . I disconnected the 2 digital sources that were poweredby wall warts. (squeeze box touch and a cheap Project headphone amp). Made no difference. The other higher end digital sources ( Dac, 2 disc spinners) have high end power cords and are turned off when playing vinyl.
If I have to shut off every light in the house and disconnect all digital sources every time I want to spin a record, then I'm done playing vinyl.
I will focus efforts on humidifying the room and eliminating dust in the upcoming week, but I fear the rfi answer maybe the case here.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
If I have to shut off every light in the house and disconnect all digital sources every time I want to spin a record, then I'm done playing vinyl.
Hopefully it is only one of those things that is causing the problem. After turning everything off, if the problem disappears you would then incrementally turn things back on until you determine which of them is the cause.

The quickest way to do that is by means of what is referred to as a "binary search pattern." You would turn half of the lights and other things back on. If the problem returns you would know it is being caused by something in that group. If it doesn't return you would know it is being caused by something in the other group. Then you would turn on half of the things in the suspect group, which would allow you to isolate the cause to 1/4 of the number of things that were originally turned off. You would continue that process until you isolate the specific cause.

I have experienced some instances where compact fluorescent lights that were in marginal condition, toward the end of their useful life, emitted large amounts of RFI, while the same model bulbs in new condition did not.

Regards,
-- Al
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,590 posts
 
I have room conditions similar to the OP and have an old Radio Shack anti-static carbon fiber record brush I use on each record prior to playing. THat seems to help remove static electricity accumulated on vinyl prior to playing. Been doing this with success for a long time. I take it for granted somewhat these days but would not want to be without it. IT was a $10 or so item at Radio Shack back when vinyl was still king. Not sure if still available or who might sell a similar device these days but willing to bet they are still out there somewhere.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,590 posts
 
Something like This
dgarretson
2,608 posts
 
I have this problem occasionally in winter-- sometimes culminating in a rather loud discharge pop. The solution is to occasionally discharge the record spindle to ground with a patch wire. YMMV depending on whether your turntable's spindle bearing well is grounded or not.

Also, if you hear those sounds when the needle is off the record, try powering the phono stage off and on and see if that resolves the problem.
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