What exactly causes clicks and pops on vinyl?


Hello All,

I'm sure that this topic has been discussed before but I am a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information here in the forums.

Can the Illuminati tell me what exactly causes clicks and pops on vinyl? Is it static, dust, soiled grooves or a combination of the three?

How do you go about eliminating most, if not all of the noise? I have a very limited budget now (recently bought a home) and cannot afford exotic record washing machines - even the KAB device is a bit out of reach at the moment with yet another interest rate hike here in AU.

Budgeteers, I would love to hear your solutions.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Jan
jsmoller

Showing 1 response by amater

Clicks and pops heard during playing vinyl record are caused (beside factoy defects in new vinyl) by (1) "added portions" in the record groove (dust, dirt particles) or (2) "missing portions" (scratches). In the first case cleaning (dry with carbon brush or washing) would avail, in the second case there's nothing to be done.
Some (two to five) sudden louder pops are as often as not caused by stucked particle of dirt, which can be removed (by wood toothpick, for example).
To Pbb - sometimes record washing is unavoidable, mostly with second hand records (from careless owner).
Jan, if you can not afford a record cleaning machine, hand wahing is still at yous disposal.
A.