Ok....with my old speakers and the 2MB there was surface noise more so than my other carts but it was not as if it was really loud or annoying. But with my new speakers the noise is much like not even there as much as before. Some how the new speakers have eliminated lead in hiss, cracks and pops seem much better now. Back ground hiss is pretty much eliminated as well between tracks...How is this possible? Im starting to wonder if this is why they named it 2m BLACK! Because all of a sudden with the speaker change, the background is silent and dark as in BLACK...nothing there especially on newer vinyl. Can you explain this? Was my old speaker to cheap to help out the more expensive cart in hiding the noise?