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All my Vinyl Crackles Wtf?

Angry Possum

Angry Possum

Well-Known Member
I have a new Shure V15 V4 Cart w a Jico SAS HE stylus. Im running a very mint Technics Sl-1200 TT. No matter what albums I play, it seems they all crackle. New or Old. Wtf? Any reasons why. They all sound great but crackle. I have the tonearm weight set correctly to the cart and stylus. TT is grounded.
 
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or to be more precise, static electricity? On the cheap side try some SB (scrubbing bubbles/spray can variety).
 
All my albums are carefully cleaned with ISO alcohol, Distilled Water, and Free and Clear Detergent Concoction which I made and learned how to, from this forum.
 
How are you drying your records? Free Clear is full of anionics...have you tried adding a quat to your mix? It does sound like a static issue if all LPs are affected. That said, I have a similar Shure/Jico setup on my Thorens and it is a bit sensitive. I wonder if residue is being left behind. How many dH2O rinses are you doing? Is this happening on newly opened, un-cleaned records as well?
 
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Out of curiosity on my part, what's the relative humidity in your listening room? If you want an accurate measurement, digital cigar humidor 'Minimeter' gauges are reliable. They read out the temp and humidity on a constant basis.

just my $0.02
 
I don't really use a carbon brush nine months out of the year but in the winter months, it's a must. For me anyway.

Rake the brush across the spinning record, edge to center and ground the metal handle of the brush against the spindle.

That will only likely help if it's a static thing. If you are using old, worn vinyl, I'd suggest that a good conical stylus might be worth a try.
 
phantomrebel said:
How are you drying your records? Free Clear is full of anionics...have you tried adding a quat to your mix? It does sound like a static issue if all LPs are affected. That said, I have a similar Shure/Jico setup on my Thorens and it is a bit sensitive. I wonder if residue is being left behind. How many dH2O rinses are you doing? Is this happening on newly opened, un-cleaned records as well?
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Im using a detergent that's free and clear. Its not a name brand called free and clear. Its Purex free and clear laundry detergent. And yes it happens on albums I didn't clean.
 
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After I clean the albums thoroughly. I use a micro fiber cloth to dry and then I let them air dry on a rack for a few hr's or so.
 
FWIW... When I first take a new album out of its wrapper, I place on TT and it is static bound. So basically its not cleaning them causing the static as I weeded it out. It happens to all my albums new or used.
 
Angry Possum said:
I have a new Shure V15 V4 Cart w a Jico SAS HE stylus. Im running a very mint Technics Sl-1200 TT. No matter what albums I play, it seems they all crackle. New or Old. Wtf? Any reasons why. They all sound great but crackle. I have the tonearm weight set correctly to the cart and stylus. TT is grounded.
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Define "crackle." All records crackle to a certain extent. Is your tolerance to noise very low? :) Vinyl will never be as clean as a digital format.
 
Angry Possum said:
FWIW... When I first take a new album out of its wrapper, I place on TT and it is static bound. So basically its not cleaning them causing the static as I weeded it out. It happens to all my albums new or used.
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Try putting a dryer sheet under the platter. Also try just air drying and not wiping first.

Get some Triton X-100 to replace the detergent. It rinses away easily an reduces static significantly. Search here for mixing recipe. X-100, 99% IPA and distilled water.

Are you using distilled water or tap?
 
4-2-7 said:
Common practice is to use a "Drop" or two of common hand dish soap.
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Correct... a drop or two in a gal distilled water

I use (below)... one bottle lasts forever


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I wonder if the TT is grounded properly?

If you can feel static when you place the record slightly above your arm you have static and need to dissipate.

Another mentioned humidity and that's important.
I don't have this issue during the summer.

The OP said it happens with brand new records so it's not the cleaning.

Sorry edited because I don't want to turn this into another cleaning thread!
 
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I get some noise using any cartridge other than my Pickering. That has the brush that tracks ahead of the stylus and drains static directly before contact - really works quite well. I also use the ZeroStat gun prior to a spin to "neutralize" the vinyl. That and a good prep cleaner works wonders.

Make sure your ground is actually to ground. Lots of folk just attach the table the the system using a receiver grounding lug, but the static has to have somewhere to go. I've also run a lead from that to a wall ground to take care of that.
 
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