Vector tonearm and static issue?

Hey Dan. Intermittent problems like these can be a real bear to fault isolate. I’d think the odds are remote that a tonearm could cause the sound you mention. I’d guess that it was not the other arm, but something you did when moving to the other arm that eliminated the noise. Or else the tube changes that you mentioned, etc.

I like your idea of wiggling the wires on the Vector. If there was a fault with one or both of the signal wires within the Vector, I suppose as the arm is tracking, dependent upon how you’ve dressed the signal wires, a noise could result. Reading your thread again, you mention that the sound can occur when the arm is still on the arm-rest. Which my gut tells me eliminates the Vector from being the source of the noise. For how can a tonearm locked in its arm-rest cause any noise to result?

Dan, I think for your peace of mind, it would make sense to let Basis examine your Vector. And thus eliminate the tonearm from the list of items that might be causing this noise. I am sure Basis would be happy to verify that the arm is working properly, and provide a quick turnaround. In my years of dealing with them, they’ve been one of the good guys--always been very responsive.

Hi Tubes,

I have spent alot of time on this the last few days. Through trial and error while spinning alot of LP's I have come to the conclusion that all is well with the Vector. Once I thought I had solved the issue when I grounded both the bearing and the arm to the same ground lug on the phono stage. I also noticed that I had threaded the bear wires through the hole in the ground stud so that when I tighted the cap it was crimping and cutting the wires. So now the wires are just wound around the post.

All was well until I used the AQ brush on an LP before playing. Immediately the pop was back and there were several during the first half of the first track. Then things quieted down. I then tried just a couple of quick swipes with the brush instead of holding it for several rotations like the instructions say. Only one or two pops of significantly less intensity. I'm going to try to figure out a way to ground the AQ brush and see what that does. It is a great tonearm and I love the sound produced by it and the 103R. My plan is to upgrade to a higher performing low-compliance MC, like a Shelter 90X, once I get this issue solved. I'll have to keep playing with this to really convince myself that this is what is happening. Several times through this I've thought that I had the answer only to be proven wrong.

I agree 100% with your assessment of A.J. Conti. He has helped me out several times and is always quick to respond to emails. Now that I feel that I have a handle on what is causing this problem it does make sense to see if he thinks it is worth having a look at the wires on the tonearm. What I have found with the application of the AQ brush may be exposing a problem in the tonearm wires. They are close enough that I can hand carry the parts to them. A great excuse to visit a used LP store I know of that's on the way over to Hollis.

Although frustrating, it has been a great experience. I've learned alot more about adjusting both arms and now I have this nifty little fixture to support either tonearm when it is off the turntable. I see a multi-arm 'table in my future!

Hey Dan. Happy you've made so much progress solving this problem. I agree with your "love for the sound produced" by the Vector. As I was a happy AirTangent owner (used 2 diff AT arms over many yrs), it took a lot to convince me to leave that platform. And the Vector's performance did that easily, and at a relatively low cost.

Ha! You are going to Basis and that enables a visit to a record store. Way to go. Get some big scores.

Tubes 108,I hope,for my dear friend's sake,that you are correct,in that it is OK to move onto another arm,after the Air Tangent.He has a fabulous sounding system,but,due to ergonomic issues,has decided to move to the VPI 12.6 arm(he hates damping).I have always been able to recognize the unique signature,a good thing,on the A.T.,and hope he will not lose the "MAGIC".I'm NOT holding my breath,though.I think he's made a mistake,but it's his set-up not mine.Best of luck!!BTW,his table is a TNT.

Hi SirSpeedy. That's interesting about your friend. Wonder what ergonomic issues would force such a move. In my case, I've heard a variety of arms in various sytems and never had a desire to move on from the AT. I loved the AT; hey some of the AT models without question are extraordinary. Then I heard the Vector and I was hooked. It really is a special piece of gear. I hope your friend does like his new arm. And if the VPI arm overcomes whatever those ergo issues were, maybe even though he'll likely give up some sonic benys of the AirTangent, he will be pleased. And that seems to be the bottom line. Best of luck to him.