Ok, well I finally realized that I could just record the problems I have been having with distortion and popping at peaks in the record. I found a website to host the file. It is in .aif format, and is 7.8 MB large, and if anyone wants me to further compress it to .mp3 format I could do that as well.

To access the file, go to

http://www.sharebigfile.com/file/62498/Record-pops-aif.html

At the bottom of the screen, you will need to type in the "password" which is a randomly generated image of numbers and letters. Press submit. After this, you must wait for 30 seconds, and then the file will be available for download. If anyone does not want to go through this but wants to hear my recording, I would happily e-mail it to you as an attachment.

Here is a description:

The contains snippets of 4 tracks I found to be particularly problematic. They are as follows:

(1) Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays' "Ozark." Listen to the piano "stabs" and you will hear popping coming through your speakers/headphones.

(2) Bob Dylan playing "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." Listen to the amount of noise and sibilance. This is a brand new 180 gram record and I have cleaned it as well as played it over and over a bunch of times with no improvement.

(3) Dylan again, "Blowin' In The Wind." Same issues as (2).

(4) Pat Metheny's "Eighteen." Listen as he reaches with his guitar solo into a higher octave and hear the popping coming through your speakers each time he hits the guitar.

Also note that the recording was made with the headphone out of my NAD 7000 into my computer's line input. I used GarageBand to make the recording and I made sure the VU never went past the green, so there should be no that is not on the record.

The turntable is setup as follows:

Shure M97xE with brush down, tracking force set to 2 grams, antiskate set to 2 grams. Also no combination of adjustments to tracking weight/Anti-skate/VTA I have made has changed anything. I also re-aligned my cartridge last night using the overhang gauge and still had the same problems.

Does anyone know what that sound is? Thank you!!!

Hmm, it only seems to come through the right channel.

Either your record or your cartridge seems damaged. It pops hard on high gain transients, it sounds like a spark.

I notice similar crackling in my left channel on some damaged records...for what that's worth.

What's the recommended tracking force for the M97XE?

With the brush down, the recommended tracking force is 1.75 gm, which made no difference. However, the cartridge and stylus are brand new. The old one did the same thing, but MUCH worse. The new Dylan record shouldn't be worn, but I *did* play it on my old TT which could have damaged it, though I only played it once. The Metheny records are both used and could be damaged (though they look fine and the problem improved with a new cartridge). I am starting to wonder if it something with the tonearm or the headshell wiring. I don't have another one to test for now, though.

I wonder if it could be my phono inputs. Again, I don't know how to test this without another receiver or preamp.

The wiring might be bad. First maybe try switching the L and R RCA cables that go into your amp and see if the crackling switches to the left channel. It comes out of my right speaker on the computer; the left sounds fine.

From what you describe, it may be bad wires. Are those the only records that pop like that? Try slightly crimping the headshell wires. Other than that, it could be a wiring problem with your TT, and I'm not sure how to test that other than looking at everything.

Hmmm, I swapped out the wires last night. I will switch L and R tonight and see how it goes. It seems like it should switch sides, though. I don't know. Since it is used, is it possible the that jacks are dirty and not making good contact? Also, the RCA phono input could be suspect. I just plugged the TT into the CD input and cranked it up, and I didn't hear crackling like with the phono input. I wish I had a cheap preamp laying around that I could test this with.

If it is just dirt on the wires/electrical terminals, what is a good cleaner to use for them?

Is your preamp set for moving coil ? Should be set for moving magnet 47kohm. Also maximum tracking preasure is 1.75 gm with brush down.

Ok, I just did it. When I switched the wiring with the dylan record, the noise switched sides. This doesn't really seem to say much though, except that it is not my receiver (phew!) and it is something perhaps somewhere with the right channel signal within the TT someone in the signal path. Hmmm, I guess I could start replacing the RCA plugs.

Ok, I just did it. When I switched the wiring with the dylan record, the noise switched sides. This doesn't really seem to say much though, except that it is not my receiver (phew!) and it is something perhaps somewhere with the right channel signal within the TT someone in the signal path. Hmmm, I guess I could start replacing the RCA plugs.

Yeah what are you using for an amp? I'd work from the headshell back through all the cables, poke or wiggle the connections a bit, listen for ground hums, spark sounds, and short circuits through the speakers while you wiggle or poke the connections. You could narrow it down even more by reversing the connections on your headshell wires and testing the Dylan record again.

It actually sounds like the phono preamp is being overloaded. Does that unit have mc / mm switch on the back ?

Is your preamp set for moving coil ? Should be set for moving magnet 47kohm. Also maximum tracking preasure is 1.75 gm with brush down.

Hmmm, I guess that makes a difference :nono:

Now the issue is still with static in the right channel. No more popping!!!

It actually sounds like the phono preamp is being overloaded. Does that unit have mc / mm switch on the back ?

Yes, that is exactly what I thought it sounded like, clipping. And it was! I am such a newbie I didn't even think to flip any switches. Thank you!

Operate the switch several times they are known to become oxidized. That may cure the static noise.

I switched it back and forth about 20 times, no change. What should I look into next?

Unplug the phono do you still hear a lot more noise in one channel ?

Use some contact cleaner on the switch, then move it back and forth for about a minute. Make sure the power is off first.

Unplug the phono do you still hear a lot more noise in one channel ?

No noise except for the "ocean." I will try the contact cleaner thing and see how that goes.

No noise except for the "ocean." I will try the contact cleaner thing and see how that goes.

That would seem to indicate that your phono preamp/amplifier is working fine.
Then the turntable is the prime suspect.

Worst case scenario, the tonearm wire is compromized within the tonearm.
Hopefully any wiring problem is in an easier place to access, such as the headshell wires.

Plug the tt back in and lift the stylus off the record. Do you hear static ?

No, no static when the stylus is up.

Play a known clean record

Ok, clean record, no problem. It must just be Dylan then. It is brand new, do I need to really scrub at it or treat it for static?

Ok, clean record, no problem. It must just be Dylan then. It is brand new, do I need to really scrub at it or treat it for static?

It's probably damaged.

Well, I will say this. The surface of the record has a spot that looks like a big raised bump or droplet of water, and it is also warped. Right out of the plastic wrap!!! ~$20, no way can I return it (I moved away from the store and have no receipt). Oh well, chalk it up to bad luck.

Now that you say the record looks bad, for sure it's just that record. I've gotten warped records too.

Now that I've had a chance to listen to your audio sample, I would say that it sounds a lot better than I was expecting.

I know, I am picky about the sound, and it sounds much better now without the popping!