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Please help diagnose sudden turntable problem

Hi everyone,

I just encountered a very sudden problem with my turntable. I have a fairly new Marantz TT15s1 that was sounding great until yesterday afternoon. I noticed an unusual amount of static, but I chalked that up to the dry air from running the A/C for a couple of days. I used a zero stat gun, and that seemed to help a bit.

Today, however, the problem got significantly worse within the span of a couple of albums. Now, I have significant static and distortion, sometimes completely obscuring the music. It sounds like an amp being overdriven. I have tried two different phono amps and two different preamps, but in every case I get the same sound.

The Marantz has a captive tonearm cable, so I can even swap that out. It's a Clearaudio Virtuoso cartridge that looks to be in excellent shape. The stylus is not bent or damaged. All the leads are plugged in securely. I'm at a loss.

Any ideas would be welcomed. Thanks!
Scott
smrex13
slaw's avatar
slaw
5,785 posts
 
My experience with Gruv Glide:

(1) In order to hear an improvement, you have to have a very revealing system
(2) This improvement isn't of a nature that over-rides the following negative aspects
(3) The application method (a fabric pad)+(this inherently is a source of static energy)
(4) If you can't find a way of putting but a few drops on the applicator pad, you will have put TOO much on your precious vinyl. Your stylus will pick this up and show it to you as a black blob on it's next visit to a Zerodust cleaner.
(5) The slight sonic benefit, to me, isn't worth the trouble or the cost.
(6) Bad investment... other more important issues await.
(7) I vehemently disagree with Chayro here!
smrex13 OP
423 posts
 
Slaw - I've tried both tubed and SS gear, and I get the same problem. The only interconnect I haven't changes is the captive tonearm cable, and if that's the problem then I'll have to have the tonearm rewired.

The static seems somewhat less problematic when I use SS gear rather than tubes. Other than that, I don't notice any difference regardless of what I do.

I may have the chance to swap in an older cartridge later today, so I'll keep y'all posted.

Thanks, Scott
davide256's avatar
davide256
362 posts
 
If the stylus is nude mounted ( pierces the cantilever for mounting) I doubt it's the cartridge as most failures with nude mounted stylus are catastrophic, it won't work, or looses volume. If its solder mounted the stylus can break free but usually playing with the lump of solder left causes worse symptoms than static.
I'd suspect interference in tonearm travel; try using an air can source to blow out dust/lint in the tonearm bearing area and if you have one of those fishline anti-skating arrangements make sure it's correctly run, not catching.
davide256's avatar
davide256
362 posts
 
Oh.. I forgot the very obvious 1st check... make sure your stylus pressure is correct. If the pressure is too light, it will cause static. If the turntable was moved or jostled its always possible the tonearm counterbalance is no longer right
slaw's avatar
slaw
5,785 posts
 
Smrex13: Don't give up on analog dude! It sounds as though some of your purchases were used, therefore makes it harder to diagnose a particular issue. This may be chalked up to a "lesson learned" in the end. In the mean-time I feel your pain and hope it is resolved quickly.
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