@richardbrand I would avoid any strapped stereo cartridge, as it's no different than using a stereo to mono splitter. Also, so many cartridges today build their mono cartridges from the ground up that strapped stereo cartridges are becoming a thing of the past. As to why some designers opt for two balanced mono coils and some for one coil appears to be subjective. Anyway, I'm beginning to regret I said anything but my suggestion was just out of curiosity. Even if you did play those particular records with a mono cartridge and the anomalous noises disappeared, I'm still not sure what you could do about it.
Where do classical vinyl records get their rumble from?
Recently converted back to vinyl from silver disks, I am struck by how much rumble seems to be inherent in the new and used vinyl I am buying.
A case in point, is a recent Deutsche Grammophon (DG) recording (487 7484) of Mahler’s Second Symphony made at a live performance at the Sydney Opera House (I was there). The first set I bought was amongst the dirtiest pressings I have ever had, but the second set was much improved. However, there is a persistent rumble whether played on my Holbo Mk2 air bearing system or my venerable Garrard 301 (new bearing from Classic Turntable Company).
Mahler typically has huge dynamic range, from muted off-stage performers to hundreds of musicians going hell-for-leather.
The rumble could be partly caused by the venue’s air conditioning system, but I hear similar background on a Telarc recording (Stereo 10051) of Saint Saens Organ Symphony made in Philadelphia. Telarc even arranged to have local roads shut down for the recording sessions.
Similar efforts were made by DG when recording the organ at Notre Dame in Paris, where recording was done late at night to reduce traffic noise. My copy includes Dolby Atmos on Pure-Audio Bly-ray (DG 486 1466).
I was beginning to think the rumble was inherent in my tables, but then I played a German Direct Metal Mastered (DMM) set from In-Akustik for Clearaudio’s 40th anniversary (INAK 78051 2LP). It includes some Telarc tracks. This set has the quietest background I’ve never heard. There is virtually no rumble, exonerating my tables.
So apart from the recoding venue’s air conditioning and traffic noise, why do so many classical records seem to have built-in rumble? Could it be from the mastering lathe?
I am really only thinking about classical recordings where the dynamic range approximates the signal to noise ratio of vinyl, meaning that very low-level signals are musically important, while simultaneously bumping against the noise floor.
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Since all mono laquears are cut with stereo cutting heads these days the need for a "mono" cartridge is moot, the groove pitch and every other factor is the same as stereo. Simply switching your phono preamp or integrated to mono sums the vertical stereo stylus excursions completely canceling them out and eliminating the surface noise that's picked up. A surface that's already quiet might not show any audible improvement noise wise by doing so. Using an MM stereo cartridge that has the option of a spherical stylus, with what I believe is a .7 mil radius for ancient mono vinyl would be more than satisfactory in this case |
@faustuss A true mono cartridge is better for playing mono records because its generator is exclusively sensitive to horizontal (lateral) movement. Because mono records only contain lateral groove modulations, a true mono design completely ignores vertical movements, which drastically reduces surface noise, clicks, and pops. Anyway, this isn’t a mono cartridge forum so I’m disinterested in talking about this any further, thanks! |
I wasn't the one who brought it up and I made a very salient point. You can be dismissive and try to put a period on it because you don't appreciate a poster's input, its not going to stop me. Oh, it's a thread and if your records are noisy, its your fault.
The above remark required absolutely no effort. I bet you're just as laissez-faire regarding everything else you do. There are innumerable legitimate sources of information both on the internet and in print if you um, make the effort. You can both grab your smart phones and go back to watching your Hello Kitty cartoons now. |
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