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Oh no!! Not Another Turntable Feedback Thread!!

Judasentinel

Judasentinel

New Member
I know this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, but every situation is different and no two scenarios can offer the exact same solution. So here is mine. I hope that you guys can help me with it.

Equipment:
Audio Technica AT-LP120X USB turntable with VM520EB stylus set to 2g tracking force
Schiit Mani 2 pre-amp
Denon 660H receiver
Klipsch RM600 speakers placed left and right of the turntable, around 4 feet away from the turntable
Klipsche R120SW subwoofer placed in the opposite corner of the room inside a sandbox made of cherry and MDF base.

The turntable is placed on a 2 inch thick purpleheart wooden block placed around 5.5 ft above ground on metal pipe brackets screwed into the wall studs. It then connects via 3 ft long RCA cables to the pre-amp, which is also sitting on a smaller shelf screwed into the wall stud, around 1 ft below the turntable. Ground wire from the turntable goes to the Mani 2, and then another ground (just in case) goes from the Mani 2 to the Denon receiver.

The TV sits on a 2 inches thick wooden TV table (top shelf) with the amp on the lower shelf.

As soon as I place the needle on the platter and turn the volume up, I start getting feedback that keeps getting louder and louder as I turn up the volume knob. The wall seems to vibrate a lot too, and no amount of isolation and insulation seems to help. There are 9 half-moon shaped racquetballs placed flat side down on top of the purpleheart slab, and then there is a plywood piece on top of these balls. Then the turntable sits on top of this plywood piece.

I have been told again and again that installing a shelf on the wall is the best solution to eliminate (or at least reduce) the feedback. I have had no such luck. The feedback gets dimmer when I touch the turntable body, but it comes back as soon as I remove my hand. I have all the speaker wires separated from the power wires. I have tried plugging the turntable, amplifier and pre-amp all into the same power strip and no change. I have reinforced the ground on both the turntable and pre-amp ends, and no luck.

I dont know why the walls vibrate so much when I am not even playing any music. Funny thing is that when music is playing, it doesnt have the feedback. Only when the needle rests on the platter or a record. If I cough loud, I can hear myself in the speakers!! What's up with that? How is the stylus needle picking up my cough sound? If I touch the turntable, or the plywood, I can hear the sound of the touch in the speakers.

I am at my wit's end. Tried sand box, and no luck, Tried rubber feet under speakers and no luck. Speakers are at least 4 feet away from the turntable. The subwoofer is 10 ft away.

What am I doing wrong? I had a Dual 1218 turntable until last month, which had ZERO feedback. It developed a strange hum and is in a shop for repairs. Meanwhile I bought the AT-LP120X, after reading reviews that it is actually (potentially) better than the belt-driver Fluance. I am regretting the decision, if it is the turntable itself.

Can you guys help and point me in the right direction? I dont want to continue to throw money at this, not knowing what the issue is and keep buying solutions that do not work.

Thanks.
 
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I had been told that the new AT 120 fixed the issues that plagued the original one. With a budget of $500 USD or so, what do you experts recommend?

Alternatively, I can get a cheap Hitachi HT45 for $150 with an AT95E stylus. Would that be ok as a temporary solution until I can afford something better in a few months?
 
I have an AT-LP1240 with a Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge. I don't have a feedback problem with it. It's heavier with a rubberized dampend chassis.
I would suggest getting a subsonic filter. KAB USA has one that people seem to like. You can try dampening the player, that might help some. I've read some have used Dynamat with good results. Honestly, if you like how the turntable sounds and performs other than the feedback, I would try a subsonic filter if the feedback had a low tone and the woofers are huffing. Does the feedback reduce or go away when the bass is turned way down?
 
Thank you for your suggestions. The feedback doesnt have that low tone that one associates with a subwoofer. It starts off as a faint rumble/hum, and then gets louder and you can tell the frequency changes (annoyingly similar to the microphonic feedback) as the volume is increased. Doubt the subsonic filter will solve the problem, based on what you said and what I have read on the KAB website. I do not honestly mind the sound quality, but my Dual 1218 sounded so much better :(

I have tried turning the subwoofer off and the feedback is still there, which makes me think that it is the RP600Ms, but then they are at least 4 feet away from the turntable. The TV is 1 ft away from the turntable, and the computer is almost 4 feet away from it. My PS4 is also 4 feet away.

I can tell that the plinth of the turntable is hollow and cheap plastic. The feet are very good quality with nice rubber isolation. I dont mind it but this annoying noise at 70 db or higher volume has me beat. I only listen to heavy metal or classical music. Neither are listened to at low volumes for me....
 
Two layers of this stuff cut in four sections. Place under each foot, you can keep it flush with the outer edges of the table. If it fits as one piece, all the better.

CA9B1AD2-669B-4AA4-8269-9B32B7FF237D.jpeg
 
Do you guys think the Fluance RT82 will be a good option? I can use my At520EB stylus with it, and call it a day if it is any good.
 
Rapscallion said:
The AT 120 is made of lightweight plastic. There’s nothing to stop it from essentially ringing like a bell when you turn the volume up. You could probably add a bunch of modeling clay inside to reduce it some, but to be honest, it’s probably not worth the effort.
Click to expand...

I have the real thing AT wishes it was, for this reason. I can make many turntables throw their arms in the air. I know few can afford them.
 
For $500 there are a lot of pretty good tables that should pass the feedback test like your dual.
There are lots of direct drive Japanese decks from the 80’s that should work. JVC, Denon, Pioneer, Marantz, Mitsubishi, Kenwood and more. They tend to be trouble free and sound good. The key thing is to pick them up. If they are light, leave them alone. If they feel like they weigh more than a sack of potatoes, you’re on the right track. Kenwood made one out of some kind of composite that looks like a granite countertop. That one would work really well.

There are also lots of earlier tables from Dual, Elac, Empire, Lenco, and Thorens that are solid that you may be able to find in your price range. Once you have one, consider adding some sound deadening material to the underside of the deck and inside the plinth.
 
Rapscallion said:
For $500 there are a lot of pretty good tables that should pass the feedback test like your dual.
There are lots of direct drive Japanese decks from the 80’s that should work. JVC, Denon, Pioneer, Marantz, Mitsubishi, Kenwood and more. They tend to be trouble free and sound good. The key thing is to pick them up. If they are light, leave them alone. If they feel like they weigh more than a sack of potatoes, you’re on the right track. Kenwood made one out of some kind of composite that looks like a granite countertop. That one would work really well.

There are also lots of earlier tables from Dual, Elac, Empire, Lenco, and Thorens that are solid that you may be able to find in your price range. Once you have one, consider adding some sound deadening material to the underside of the deck and inside the plinth.
Click to expand...
Agreed, $500 bucks should land OP a pretty decent TT if he has a little patience. Even fairly crappy turntables shouldn't have feedback problems like he's encountering.
 
I’d just wait for your old TT to be fixed. If you just bought the new one, return it.

If you really want to keep it, tear it apart and line anything you can get to with Dynamat! I lined the inside of the plastic plinth on my Technics SL 1900 and it’s much better sounding now. Although, I wasn’t having the problems you describe so YMMV.

58AE17C3-D36E-4892-9F9F-4B2A4E8B0F71.jpeg

Good luck!
 
Thank you all for such valuable inputs. I live in a small town near Billings, Montana, and most people here do not have much interest in turntables. Couldnt find anything beyond Crosleys and some cheap Walmart branded stuff.

Ebay has a ton of options, and that is the other end of the spectrum - too much choice and I dont know what to choose.

So for all practical purposes, Fluance, you guys think is not a good machine? I found a Technics SL-1350 without a dust cover for $400 delivered to me. Again it is a purchase that is sight unseen....so I dont know what to do.

If some of you could suggest a few good models, that would be great. I truly appreciate every single comment and sentiment of support.
 
The problem I see nowadays is that turntables are turning into a sort of a fad. Im from the era of cassettes and record players, and I grew up listening to Priest, Rainbow, etc., on them. Have owned maybe one CD in my life. I dont think Im better than anyone. But dealing with too much choice in turntables has me confused. I also am looking at the convenience of availability of parts, after-sales service if needed, and the general performance. If Fluance is alright, then I can get the RT83 from Amazon right away.

Or I can pick up something older on Ebay, but not sure what.
 
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