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Which part reduces surface noise most?

Hi all -

I have been lucky enough to hear a few turntable setups that put surface noise/cracks and pops "on another plane", which makes focusing on the music so much easier. These tables have included:

Well-Tempered w/ unk Audio Technica Cart and modified Dyna PAS 3 preamp
Linn LP12 with various Benz Micro cartridges and Audio Research phono stage
Kuzma Stabi with Cardas Heart (Modded Benz Ruby) cart /BAT phono stage

However, I've yet to recreate this phenomenon at my home. Granted, I've never spent the kind of money required to buy the 'tables listed above, but I'm wondering where the next upgrade step is for me.

I currently have a Techncis 1210 with Cardas wiring and the KAB fluid damper with an Ortofon 2m Blue cart playing through a NAD 304 integrated. The sound is pretty good, but the crackles and pops still really bother me.

In your experience, is it a function of the the stylus profile, the phono stage, low-output vs high-output, mc vs mm, or any combination of the aforementioned that will help me in my quest to separate the noise from the music?

Any input will be most appreciated, thanks!
128x128joelv

Showing 9 responses by joelv

joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
I suppose I forgot to mention that I am a Disc Doctor user. And while I'll agree that cleaning with good stuff -including vacuum machines -helps reduce noise, I haven't found that it does that magic "renders the noise insignificant" thing I'm talking about.

To further illustrate: listening to slightly noisy records on my current system, I "see" a sonic picture somewhat like noisy film - the action and scratches are both on the same plane. In contrast, when listening on the Well-Tempered table I mentioned, I felt like I was looking through a window at a live performance, and the little crackles were like smudges on the glass that I could easily see around.

That's what I'm aiming for. I hope I'm being clear :)
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
TVAD - which version of the ACE were you using?
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
The consensus seems to be that the solution cartridge-related, and as I'm not totally happy with my current cart, I will experiment.

I'm curious about:
1) Audio Technica AT150MLX
2) LP Gear modified AT95SA
3) Shure M97E
4) Benz Micro ACE (any output versions better than others?)
5) Grado Prestige Gold
6) Used higher-end Benzes

I am very open to suggestion on this end. I wonder if I should just suck it up and save for something over $500.00?

Thanks for all of your help!
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
Raul - The holistic approach to audio enjoyment is a great one.
I am definitely tightly focused on this one aspect, but as I can't afford to upgrade the amplification yet (NAIM or tubes), I choose to focus on the source.

Headsnappin - Your idea is a great one, but I am now located too far away from any of the aforementioned faves for that to be practical.
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
I really like the Record Doctor stuff, but early on I learned too I rinse and rinse and rinse the record afterward. I suppose we're all too liberal with the cleaning fluid..?

I have to admit that the $169.00 Cambridge phono stage has now piqued my interest. It's such a small price, cheaper than a new cart, hmmmm. Everything I've read about it so far is glowing.

Has anyone compared this to something more expensive? Is it really a giant killer?
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
Thanks Johnnyb53, I read that review too and I think that will be the next purchase, though I'm selling my cart and will need another one of those too :)

It's funny how upgrade-itis strikes, isn't it? I bought a Technics 'table, began upgrading, then before the fluid damper even arrived, I had new floorstanding Triangle speakers (that ROCK by the way!), new speaker cables, and a new old integrated (The NAD 304 that I always regretted selling back in '96). Here I am considering a new phono stage and cart already. This has been an expensive 2 months!

Tim - Thanks for the link to the earlier thread...topics really are cyclical in a forum. I wonder how to check if phono preamps utilize zero-feedback circuitry if the manufacturer specs are hard to come by? I'll go read a little on this.

Has anyone used the Benz-Micro L2? I wonder if that will get me close enough to the Ruby that I won't want to upgrade for a while.
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
Interesting development- I bought the LP Gear AT95HE, which is the AudioTechnica AT95 with a hypereliptical stylus. $75.00 from LPGear.

It is in a different league altogether from any cartridge I've owned with regard to noise. It is, above all, extremely clean sounding. So far, with about 10 minutes of break-in, it is a little dry, but surface noise is almost inaudible on the first two records I put on, and the pops and crackles are .... well, mostly irrelevant...finally!

It's a little bass shy compared to the Ortofon 2m Blue, but sounds like it might be more accurate and definitely faster. Sounds a bit like an MC to me.

I hope the bass warms up, but even if it doesn't, I'm closer to the "noise on another plane" than I thought I'd be with a $75 cart.

If I get some time, I'll post needle drops. This is fun!
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
Countingbackwards - Thanks for the valuable feedback re: L2 usage...I feared that once I went down the expensive lo-output MC road, I'd want to spend more on a phono stage.

Stringreen - You're so right. I noticed last night that the new cartridge is definitely more of holographic imager than the 2mBlue.

More listening revealed that the AT95HE has less overall resolution than the Ortofon, less bass, more of a veil over everything, yet better 3D imaging, better tracking, and way, way less surface noise.

Does anyone have experience with this or a similar cart? I wonder how long it will take to break in.

Also, if this cart hints of what the AT150ML can do, I can't wait to try that one!
joelv's avatar
joelv OP
103 posts
 
I am going to conclude, then, that stylus profile plays the biggest (not the only) role.
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