phono preamp crackling

first, thank you for the replies.

to photon46, yes it seemed that when i placed the phono preamp in different locations relative to the TT that the freq of the crackling noises would change. i'm no sure now however, read on.

to audiofeil, if it is excessive gain in the system, what am i to do? i am new at this.

i just played about 1.5 hours of vinyl. for three sides worth of music i had no problems. then the crackling started. i moved the phono interconnects back and forth but that didn't produce any effects.

i put back on the first record, i.e. the one where i was having no crackling, but now there is crackling, so it's not the records.

maybe it is a build-up of static electricity. however, i have no carpet nearby (wood floors). also, the humidity here is 65% today which is enough to deter static electricity, though perhaps not enough when playing vinyl. i don't have a zerostat gun so i haven't tried that. another $100!

also, i have not been using the mat that comes with the TT, i've been placing the record directly on the platter with no mat. seems like this would make for less static, but i really don't know. i guess i could try the mat, but then i have to readjust the tonearm height.

as for the IC's from the TT to phono preamp, i assume they are shielded. the ic's came with the TT (marantz 15s1). the owners manual didn't say one way or the other about shielding.

thanks again.

mapleshade makes a similar zerostat type device called the ionoclast for $40.00. i live in the deep south where humidity is often 70%+ and i have wood laminate floors as well. i still have issues with static when playing records. static is created by friction (the needle and your lp). i've heard that an rcm helps to reduce static, but i'm low on funds after some new upgrades so i can't comment directly on this.

thanks kg. i'll look into the ionoclast. i live in the deep north, and things will only get worse when winter arrives and my furnace kicks in.

Assuming you're using the stock Clearaudio cartridge the Marantz ships with, you're working with a 3.6 mv cartridge signal. That's pretty middle of the pack, nothing unusual there. Not sure exactly what the GCPH's lowest gain setting is, but I'd make sure you're using it. (That gain block is adjusted with the left blue knob on the back of the chassis.) I wouldn't think a 3.6 mv signal should overload any competently designed MM phono stage. Also make sure the output gain of the GCPH isn't set too high also. Don't want to overload the input on your Cambridge either.

Photon46
GCPH has 40dB RCA and 46dB when using XLR for it's low (MM) gain setting --- and of course 47k loading not to forget.
Then you can use the 'volume knob' for further adjustment. NO WAY will you overload ANY functioning Line-Pre-Amp with a 3.6mV cart that way - rather the opposite would be the case since ~ 4.7mV be pretty much centre spec. for the GCPH.
Greetings,