Where is the distortion coming from?

[econeditor]

I've been dealing with intermittent distortion coming from my setup for a while. The core of my system is a Realistic Lab-250 turntable going through an NAD 3020b. I'm currently using a pair of Klipsch Fortes, but it's happened with other speakers as well. The NAD was thoroughly restored earlier this year; the problem existed before the restoration as well as after it. I also had it going through a power amp at one point; but it happen both with it in the chain and without it there. Just about the only component that hasn't been replaced is the turntable, though it has a new-ish Audio-Technica cartridge (although it happened with the older cartridge as well).

Here are a few examples of what it sounds like. It happens maybe once a month, and goes away on its own before too long. I'm assuming it must be the turntable, since (cartridge aside) that's been the one component that's been constant which hasn't been refurbished. But before I go off looking for a new turntable, is this a noise that could be coming from there? Is there something I'm missing? If anyone can diagnose this by the videos linked above I'd really appreciate the steer!

 

[twiiii]

Caps aren't the only thing that can make noise. transistors, IC, bad connections, even resistors can be noisey on very low level inputs. Especially phono inputs. Older C-20 and C-11 Mac preamps always had to have their phono section carbon resistors changed. Same went for very early Ampex Studio tape recorders in the playback circuits.

 

[BlackCow]

I've been dealing with intermittent distortion coming from my setup for a while. The core of my system is a Realistic Lab-250 turntable going through an NAD 3020b. I'm currently using a pair of Klipsch Fortes, but it's happened with other speakers as well. The NAD was thoroughly restored earlier this year; the problem existed before the restoration as well as after it. I also had it going through a power amp at one point; but it happen both with it in the chain and without it there. Just about the only component that hasn't been replaced is the turntable, though it has a new-ish Audio-Technica cartridge (although it happened with the older cartridge as well).

Here are a few examples of what it sounds like. It happens maybe once a month, and goes away on its own before too long. I'm assuming it must be the turntable, since (cartridge aside) that's been the one component that's been constant which hasn't been refurbished. But before I go off looking for a new turntable, is this a noise that could be coming from there? Is there something I'm missing? If anyone can diagnose this by the videos linked above I'd really appreciate the steer!

First off, love the avatar. Pics of folks with their "best friends" are always great. Not a hi-fi expert by any stretch but it sure sounds like a component issue with the spinner. I say that because the issue issue happened before and after the amplifier refurb and with two cartridges. Just going down that process of elimination path. If I was close by, I'd bring my spinner over to test. If you had a CD player and never heard the distortion through that, that would be telling. They are fairly inexpensive. Good luck.

 

[rothwellaudio]

Sounds like muck on the stylus.

 

[econeditor]

Sounds like muck on the stylus.

Could be but I clean stylus pretty regularly and the dust cover is always down.

 

[Gigantic]

I chased similar symptoms and spent hundreds on new phono cartridges, but to no avail. Turns out, it was static buildup on the platter. I mostly solved it with an anti-static brush and a carbon dusting brush.