Dynavector 20XL

Thanks for the responses. I will try the antiskate adjustment.

The noise is persistent even when I change phono preamps, so I know it's not the phono stage.

Hi, K, it might be an azimuth problem. I've had some distortion (not really "static" though) show up with a DV-20XL when the azimuth was off. Resetting azimuth solved the problem.

You shouldn't be hearing anything harsh with that new 20XL. It sounds pretty darn good right out of the box. (I found that there was a subtle improvement with break-in.) If the harshness continues even after carefully checking alignment/antiskate there's either a problem with the cartridge or somewhere in the chain between the cartridge and the phono stage. You could try swapping the previous cartridge back onto the tonearm to see if the problem persists.

Tom

Hi Tketcham, and K...
I second the azimuth adjustment check-up, B U T as long as that refers to 'lateral' azimuth and more easily identified by "zenith" i.e. the turning left or right of the cart, and not turning left or right of the head shell (which of course is also important, to have the cart at 90deg to the record surface)
Zenith, in my experience causes much more of the described noise problem and with some records so much so, that it can sound as if the record is faulty (scratchy noise mostly from one channel).

With the correct zenith found, the same record can sound practically clean after the correction. It can happen most easily if the cantilever of the cart is not quite centred inside the cart housing and thereby leading to a misjudgement in zenith alignment.
A.

Hi, Axel, it's funny that you mention zenith as a more concise description of the vertical/perpendicular alignment of the cartridge to the record surface. I've been wondering why azimuth has become the more common term when zenith is perhaps the better term.

Tom

Ksl822,

Static-like bursts typically indicate one of three things:

1. MISTRACKING
This sounds exactly as you described, and it’s ALWAYS in synch with dynamic peaks in the music. Mistracking occurs most often on loud, pure, higher frequency passages like hard blown horns, operatic soprano, really big, well-recorded piano hits, etc.

Mistracking permanently damages vinyl, making the record noisy forever. If that’s what’s happening, stop playing valuable LP’s until you’ve solved the problem.

2. VINYL DAMAGE
Damage from prior mistracking sounds exactly like mistracking itself, except that mistracking damage can occur without the mistracking being audible at the time. Play LP’s with a damaged stylus or on a very low quality rig and the vinyl will be damaged, though you may not hear it until you play the LP in a more resolving setup. My LP’s from high school were all damaged in this way. My system wasn’t good enough to reproduce mistracking sounds, but it was plenty good enough to do the damage!

3. PRESSING VOIDS
This vinyl flaw can occur if the vinyl plug was not at proper temperature when placed in the mold. The too-cool vinyl fails to flow into all the groove modulations and solidifies in a shape not intended.

Pressing voids aren’t particularly synched with the music. If you hear static-like bursts at random moments, pressing voids are the #1 suspect. This is true whether the vinyl is new or old. I have it on records pressed in the 1950’s and records pressed a few months ago.

THE SLOW PLAY TEST
You can check for pressing voids and damaged vinyl by playing a noisy passage while spinning your platter by hand, verrrrrry slowwwwly. At 5-10 rpm no stylus will mistrack, so you’ll hear exactly what’s in the groove (at unnaturally low frequencies of course). The music will come out of the speakers as a low growl, with no sharp transients at all. If you hear transients or any noises notably sharper than the background growl, the vinyl is either damaged or very dirty.

IN PRACTICE
If you try that test and hear no damage, the likely cause of your noises is mistracking. The suspension in a new cartridge is usually stiff, so it can’t track as well as it will eventually. You can speed suspension relaxation by setting VTF to the maximum recommended for the cartridge. (The worst thing you can do is make VTF too light – that virtually guarantees mistracking and ruined records.)

If the mistracking is stubborn or the new cartridge just sounds screechy and unbearable, try the burn-in tracks on the Cardas LP. An hour there will work a cartridge a hard as several hours of real music.