eth2 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I have set up my VPI Scout with an Ortofon 2m Black cartridge to my NBS/VRD's and Khorns. even with new vinyl I am getting pops and crackles. I have washed all the albums. Also the highs are screechy. Any thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 You didn't get a phono preamp yet, did you? Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eth2 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 You didn't get a phono preamp yet, did you? Bruce My NBS has an MM phono circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Ah... are you getting more bass now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eth2 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Ah... are you getting more bass now? Yes, but the treble sounds tinny. I am also having horrendous problem with static. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 If you have a LOT of pops and crackles the record is toast. If you have a few and the record is otherwise excellent and it still bothers you GET OUT OF THE LP BUSINESS NOW. Analog isn't about silky black backgrounds. It's about the music. I listened to a stack of 78s yesterday and some of them had about 50/50 signal to noise. Didn't care, the music was all I heard. While I am at it...one of them from 1937 "Blossoms on Broadway" had mind blowing bass and punchy horns that rival a lot of recordings from right now. Blew the PAWs mind as well, so it wasn't just me. Dave 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Yes, but the treble sounds tinny. I am also having horrendous problem with static You need to either take it and the preamp into your dealer, or get one of them to visit you. At what you paid they should be willing to do that. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eth2 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 There is a lack of clarity in one channel (I.e., a general buzziness). When I switch the cables at the TT the problem moves to the other channel. Therefore, it is coming from the TT. I just do not know where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 There is a lack of clarity in one channel (I.e., a general buzziness). When I switch the cables at the TT the problem moves to the other channel. Therefore, it is coming from the TT. I just do not know where. Seriously...hie thee to thy dealer! Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) Like Dave said, take it back to the dealer and let them check it out. OTOH, did you set up the turntable/arm/pickup yourself or did the dealer/someone else do it? Is the vinyl/turntable gig something new for you or is this a "going back" experience? In my experience, if the turntable/arm/pickup are not setup properly, it can be a source of all the things you describe, except maybe static. I see you're in Ithaca, NY. It's winter time and you are in a cold region. Indoor humidity levels are quite low this time of year. In my house, even with a blower-type humidifier installed directly into the HVAC duct at the furnace, when the outside temp drops below zero the humidifier can run 27/7 and barely keep the indoor humidity at 30%. It's enough to prevent static shock. As far as the vinyl goes, don't wash it. Use a highly purified (ie: distilled) cleaner. Smirnoff Silver (triple distilled) is a perfect 50/50 alcohol/water mix for cleaning records. I apply with a small squeeze bottle directly to the edge of a record cleaning brush like a DiscWasher brush. Cleaning with any kind of alcohol will remove some of the vinyl's natural lubricants. After the records are completely dry I apply GruvGlide according to the manufacturer's directions. This is surface treatment that reduces drag & distortion, improves tracking & eliminates static - forever, helping to keep both record & stylus free from contamination. One treatment lasts forever. I have records that I put this stuff on 30+ years ago and I don't have nary a tick or pop from them. Sometimes the tracking angle of the stylus or its azimuth alignment can aggravate ticks & pops. Welcome to the world of vinyl. I have thousands of records in excellent condition & some of the best record playing equipment ever made. I hardly ever use it. I'm all digital now. I use a laptop PC with J River Digital Media Center as the source and feed the digital data directly from the computer's RAM (no spinning HD) to a direct digital amplifier via HDMI at 192Khz/24bit. The PC will do the upsampling if the file is lower resolution. Same thing with the SACD player (@176Khz). Personally, I don't understand all the reviving fascination with vinyl. The whole process, from cutting the record to playback has so many flaws I could write a book about it. It's amazing that we can get as much out of it as we do. Al I can figure is most people have never heard an all digital system. Those that think they have, almost certainly have some analog somewhere in the signal path. And that is the weak link. Or they are much younger than I & grew up in a lossy digital world of MP3 & AAC. Having never heard a hi-res digital system, when they discover vinyl they think its the greatest thing since sliced bread. No, wait, that's too old too, LOL. Edited February 23, 2015 by artto 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 You have Entered "The Vinyl Zone" 1 washing an LP can make it sound better or worse depends on HOW it is cleaned and WHAT is used in the cleaning Process 2 everything you mention is EASILY attributed to set up issues, a cartridge a bit askew can cause pops, clicks, static, and yes tinny treble, 3 check the connections on the cartridge itself, and then your phono cable a loose connection can cause the mentioned lack of clarity / static.........one other thought if you performed the setup yourself it is easy for a first timer to get the cartridge wires wrong IE....out of phase or left and right channels crossed Vinyl Playback is a labor of love, if you love the sound stick with it and in the end you will be rewarded with excellent playback SQ, Even brand new 200gram vinyl requires near perfect setup of all parts involved Table, Platter, Arm, Cartridge, If you have access to the dealer I agree I would get there help with setup If you have no local access to the dealer I would say try and get someone with experience to help, barring that hunker down and start researching setup, Take your time and be patient Good luck with it Earl, A great Reference web site for vinyl is VinylEngine http://www.vinylengine.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Adjust your VTA by dropping the tail of the cartridge slightly. Be sure to also adjust your VTF, because now you will be tracking at a lower force. It also sounds as if you might be mistracking but I don't think the VPI provides an anti-skate adjustment. As for cleaning records, you should always use distilled rinse water. And it's also best to use some sort of vacuum cleaning device instead of letting them air dry. Nitty Gritty makes cleaners that are relatively inexpensive. I use a NG 2.5 myself with Disc Doctor cleaning solution. Shakey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eth2 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 I bought a disk washer and used distilled water and the solution the washer came with. The dealer told me he had a computer aided setup machine(?) The dealer is about 200 miles from me so I may have to pay a local dealer to check it. I will never try to save 5% again by going so far from home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKNorton Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 First of all, can you try using an LP that hasn't been washed? I've used vinyl very happily for the last 18 years and I've never used a disc washer. If problem is still there, then vta, downforce or cartridge alignment could be out. if I remember correctly screechiness might suggest that tone arm base needs to be raised slightly in its adjustment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Earl, if you take it back to the dealer take your preamp with you. It really doesn't matter as it isn't a preamp problem...but it will give you confidence. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) if you ask me... it is a resistance issue with your moving magnet and the "stock" loading of the nsb. most boxed pre amps with phono sections come with a standardized 47k loading, when in fact many moving magnet cartridges need a much much lower load. even if he recommended load is spec'ed at 47k, many carts could use either a higher or lower load rating at the phono pre amp... the results are usually a very thin and tinny sound or an overly rolled off sound. the solution, another cart that better matches the phono pre amp you appear to be married to or another phono pre amp that allows for load rate changes. fyi... living in the low humidity desert, I have ALL KINDS of snap crackle and pop issues. I tried EVERYTHING to get my records to sound cleaner and more black, up to and including making my own fluid. it wasn't until I moved to discwasher fluid II/III(dont use IV) that I finally found a consistent solution. Now my records are all clean and all I do is use a discwasher brush with a bead of pure distilled water and THAT IS IT... pure black back ground with my already clean records. another thing is, just because a record is new doesn't mean it is made well or clean sounding. some of the worst LP's I have purchased have been new manufactured LP's and no level of cleaning or playing back has yielded better sound. Consequently, some of the best recordings I have are also new manufacture. another note, is that clear vinyl is supposed to be the best sounding because of the lack of color/impurities is supposed to be the best... I have not found that to be actually true. Edited February 23, 2015 by Schu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 if you ask me... it is a resistance issue with your moving magnet and the "stock" loading of the nsb Another good reason to take the preamp to the store as well. We can safely assume that if other sources sound fine in the chain that it's an issue somewhere between the TT and line level. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 just because a record is new doesn't mean it is made well or clean sounding. Totally agree with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I use same equipment (NBS & 2M Black) and have no such issues as Earl is experiencing. Just another data point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Interesting indeed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.