Pop heard when stylus dropped into lead-in groove


I'm not sure whether I recently developed this problem or if I just didn't pay it any mind before. However, now that it has entered my consciousness, it has become a constant source of angst. I have checked anti-skate, added damping fluid to the well (Aries II), cleaned the stylus. I'm at a loss. I have an Aesthetix Rhea and admittedly it is a high gain phono stage which has a tendency to accentuate pops and clicks. Is this phenomenon normal? Is it a possibly a sign of stylus wear? Once the music starts to play, there are no problems with tracking, distortion,etc. Could it be the blunting of the stylus is magnifying the impact of the stylus as it navigates the transition from the lead-in groove to the recorded portion of the record? Assurances welcome.
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Showing 3 responses by chashas1

Ah. To mute or not to mute, that is the question...

I, too, am an unmuter. I like to know where my tips going.
I have friends that mute like there's no tomorrow. I just dont see the need.
Now if several are cueing during the same listening session,
It could be wise to mute for various unbeknownst volume settings.
Bif,
If you have your volume set for "normal" listening on your
Ref3, what sort of damaging blast do you think will occur?

If the volume pot was turned way up, say for another source
with much less gain than the phono , then I could understand
your concern.
Hi Bif,
understood about safety. and much safer than sorry. I do know the ph7, and there's nothing that's going to hurt the ph7 if you have a pop go through your system from your record. Now if the gain is set very high from the preamp or line stage, then of course there's always a chance you could take out a tweeter.
now, if you don't want to hear that pop go through your system, like many of my friends, then of course mute till you know the stylus is in the correct groove. but this fear you have of things blowing up is ill-founded.

now, fears i do have are static electricity--sometimes in the winter it can be so severe that if you touch a piece you could take it out. and of course some cable being pulled out while a unit is on.

but yes, better safe than sorry. it surely doesn't cost anything to flip or switch a mute button.
take care