Snap Crackle Pop

[sjtm]

I recently acquired my first turntable in 45 years - a gently used Music Hall 9.1 with a Grado Prestige Gold cart. I set it up last night and went to the local thrift shop today to pick up a couple of albums ( I lost all of mine in a flood years ago).

I also bought a Spin Clean and tried to select albums in what appeared to begood condition. I found one album (Maria Muldauer - Midnight at the Oasis) that was still sealed ( punched corner - I remember these used to be called remaindered). The other was used - Joni Mitchell Shadows and Light)

I followed the Spin Clean instructions and then played each album.

I have to say I was amazed at the sonic quality - I never heard an album sound so good. I am hooked.

But the quiet sections were full of noise, despite the cleaning and what appeared to be scratch free records. Very little on the remaindered album but quite a bit on the other. The level varied as well.

Did I not clean them well enough? Did I create some sort of static interference (I do not yet have an anti-static brush, but have ordered one). Any advice wouldbe greatly appreciated.

[Mr Peabody]

That is a mystery to me as well. Some of it can be record wear, groove damage. You can also play with the tracking weight a bit to see if that helps. Cartridges give a recommended tracking range and depending on your table and equipment where it sounds best can vary. I've got some records that sound quiet and some are noisy the exact reason I'm not quite sure.

I bought a brand new 200 gram, 45 rpm, high quality pressing. I thought I'd run it through my VPI cleaner to remove any particals, now I'm kicking myself because it sounds worse. On this one I think it may just be static that won't go away for some reason because it's more of a pop than surface type noise. The carbon fiber brush is supposed to eliminate the static but I guess it doesn't. I'm hoping the cleaning brush for the machine didn't scratch.

It's one of those things us analog lovers just have to live with. I will say used records are usually the worst unless you buy from someone who really took care of them.

[JohnMichael]

Those of us who live in colder climates with furnaces running and the air becoming drier suffer with more static. I find vinyl to be quieter in the warm humid summer months.

I do not clean new records other than with a dry brush to remove any visual dust and debris.

It seems the quality of vinyl can also effect the amount of noise. Manufacturing of records such as Mobile Fidelity who did not dehorn the stampers and the records would become quieter as they were played. Welcome to the many variables of vinyl records.

Yes they are worth all the trouble and frustration.

[blackraven]

Some of it could just be surface or recording noise. It could also be static. I use a carbon fiber brush on all my records when I play them. Similar to this-

Audio Advisor

A cork platter mat will also help with static.

I also keep a can of compressed air by my TT and blow off any dust or lint from the record.

Invest in a digital stylus force gauge. I bought this one but there are cheaper ones-

Electronics Stylus Force Gauge for Phono Cartridge | eBay

[sjtm]

Some of it could just be surface or recording noise. It could also be static. I use a carbon fiber brush on all my records when I play them. Similar to this-

Audio Advisor

A cork platter mat will also help with static.

I also keep a can of compressed air by my TT and blow off any dust or lint from the record.

Invest in a digital stylus force gauge. I bought this one but there are cheaper ones-

Electronics Stylus Force Gauge for Phono Cartridge | eBay

What is the benefit of a force guage in this circumstance? Or in general? I have also seen discussions about static guns. Are these worthwhile. So far, I purchased a Spin Clean, a carbon fiber anti-static brush, new replacement inner sleeves and a Zerodust stylus cleaner. The TT came with an Extreme Phono Speed Mat ( material is similar to rubber shelf liner). Are there other "essential tools" I should buy?

[sjtm]

What is the benefit of a force guage in this circumstance? Or in general? I have also seen discussions about static guns. Are these worthwhile. So far, I purchased a Spin Clean, a carbon fiber anti-static brush, new replacement inner sleeves and a Zerodust stylus cleaner. The TT came with an Extreme Phono Speed Mat ( material is similar to rubber shelf liner). Are there other "essential tools" I should buy?

Actually the mat is an Extreme Phono None Felt mat

[sjtm]

Those of us who live in colder climates with furnaces running and the air becoming drier suffer with more static. I find vinyl to be quieter in the warm humid summer months.

I do not clean new records other than with a dry brush to remove any visual dust and debris.

It seems the quality of vinyl can also effect the amount of noise. Manufacturing of records such as Mobile Fidelity who did not dehorn the stampers and the records would become quieter as they were played. Welcome to the many variables of vinyl records.

Yes they are worth all the trouble and frustration.

Well normally I would say the cold is a contributing factor, but I was in my hottub last night in suburban Boston. Viva El Nino!