Turntable advice

Jhayman

Hello, looking for some input here.
I'm playing music on my Technics SL-1200MK2 now I'm new to TT's, but if I touch it non carefully I can hear my fingers touch it, like a boom on a microphone is that normal?
If I remember from my childhood days I could hear that then.
I have it plugged into a Pro-Ject Phono Box S.
Is that normal on TT's is it a grounding issue, it does not effect the sound unless I start tapping the TT.
Listening to Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits and it sounds Great.
Thank You

TNHNDYMAN

Ever seen anyone tap a microphone to see if it was on and working? Well that's what you are doing in a nutshell...tap your toes and leave the turntable alone.

Jhayman

Thanks for the input..
I know the needle picks up the boom I was just wondering if/why they have not found a way to quiet it down..
I was still tapping my toes anyway..Thanks again

nspindel

Bottom line - the stylus/cartridge responds to vibration. Tap on the turntable, you are creating vibration. There are all sorts of techniques, practices, and products for reducing vibration in a vinyl playback system. You should spend your time figuring out ways to reduce resonance during playback, don't worry about vibrations caused by tapping the turntable.

Msabot1

Don't bang on the equipment, did ya remove that plastic from the album cover?....could be a short too...is it a pop? Check your tracking force too!

Jhayman

Thanks nspindel..Good to know its just a normal thing and I had a few pops yesterday while enjoying my vinyl so I guess I just noticed it more..than normal..
I hear/read the single biggest/cost improvement for reducing vibration is adding a weight/clamp to the table would you agree?

nspindel wrote: »

Bottom line - the stylus/cartridge responds to vibration. Tap on the turntable, you are creating vibration. There are all sorts of techniques, practices, and products for reducing vibration in a vinyl playback system. You should spend your time figuring out ways to reduce resonance during playback, don't worry about vibrations caused by tapping the turntable.

Jhayman

Yes Sir plastic is removed and enjoyed The Bosses double LP to the delight of my ears..
No it's not a short, and my tracking force is bang on, Table is balanced, tone arm is level, record and needle clean..
I love the look of the SL-1200Mk2 table I'm a sucker for Lights..lol

Msabot1 wrote: »

Don't bang on the equipment, did ya remove that plastic from the album cover?....could be a short too...is it a pop? Check your tracking force too!

Msabot1

I remember that one.....pretty! There is a goodwill down the road where I've picked up a few nice ones,but for the most part most of em are pretty beat up! I'm always checking though...if everything else about your unit is fine,then it is more than likely a stability issue that can be easily solved!

SCompRacer

Jhayman wrote: »

I hear/read the single biggest/cost improvement for reducing vibration is adding a weight/clamp to the table would you agree?

Are you referring to a record weight or clamp to increase force of record against platter/mat? If so that just helps drain stylus vibration out of the vinyl into the mat/platter. It won't do anything to make the table less sensitive to vibes.

True, your turntable is basically a microphone. A ground issue will usually show up as a hum that can change when you touch the table. One way to reduce resistance to vibrations is via mass. Not everyone has the tools/ability to make a heavy wood or Slate plinth for their turntable though. (At one time direct drives were in heavy wood plinths). Next step is isolation, although the table itself is still sensitive to airborne vibes. There are isolation devices you can place your turntable on where pounding your fist on the audio rack it is on won't make their way into the table. No skip, no jump, no thump in the speaker. I have one and have proved that to folks that were here.

The question you have to answer is how far do you want to go to solve actual problems you are experiencing, such as bass induced vibes from speakers, room interaction, footfalls on a suspended floor, etc. My issue was with footfalls on a suspended wood/joist floor. And I am also one of them crazed vinyl guys that like to go the extra mile for a total dark, black background that nothing will interfere with.:cheesygrin:

Jhayman

Thanks for your input SCompRacer..
Like I previously posted I'm not really having an issue besides the normal needle is a mic issue.
I had a few wobbly pops and I guess I just noticed it more when I would change records and touch the tonearm/table and such..
The TT is pretty heavy by itself it weighs in at 27lbs I think..
My gear is in the basement on a carpet with just underpadding on a concrete floor..very solid.
I don't believe I get any vibrations from the speaker being so close to it that I can hear anyway, But hey I could be wrong.
I'll keep on checking for audible noises from things..
Oh and yes I am refering to the record weight/and clamp version, I was just saying that I hear it's the biggest cheapest/performance increase you can add to your TT..
I don't have a rubber mat only a felt one right now I have one on the way..
Thanks

SCompRacer wrote: »

Are you referring to a record weight or clamp to increase force of record against platter/mat? If so that just helps drain stylus vibration out of the vinyl into the mat/platter. It won't do anything to make the table less sensitive to vibes.

True, your turntable is basically a microphone. A ground issue will usually show up as a hum that can change when you touch the table. One way to reduce resistance to vibrations is via mass. Not everyone has the tools/ability to make a heavy wood or Slate plinth for their turntable though. (At one time direct drives were in heavy wood plinths). Next step is isolation, although the table itself is still sensitive to airborne vibes. There are isolation devices you can place your turntable on where pounding your fist on the audio rack it is on won't make their way into the table. No skip, no jump, no thump in the speaker. I have one and have proved that to folks that were here.

The question you have to answer is how far do you want to go to solve actual problems you are experiencing, such as bass induced vibes from speakers, room interaction, footfalls on a suspended floor, etc. My issue was with footfalls on a suspended wood/joist floor. And I am also one of them crazed vinyl guys that like to go the extra mile for a total dark, black background that nothing will interfere with.:cheesygrin:

SCompRacer

You are most welcome. You have the most ideal floor for a turntable. You are golden, just short of earthquake.:eek: And you will instantly know if you have any frequency issues getting into plinth. If I do a west wall setup with turntable between speakers, I can't go over 75dB and it will howl....with table on sidewall, no issues regardless of dB loudness. A west wall setup boxes my speakers with corners. My south wall setup has one corner open, no issues with table between speakers.

Plinth material is another subject of great debate, but I also know the Technics folks had great engineers. When you come down to it, any design is only as good as the engineering behind it. I actually had a SL-1200 here once upon a time.

Mats are another area of difference/debate. Ideally the mat decouples the platter and vinyl. You don't want any vibes from the mechanicals coming up through the platter into the record, and you want any stylus vibes removed from the vinyl.

Are you familiar with the term VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle)? Real basic, VTA is the angle of tonearm and it changes the angle of the cantilever the stylus is attached to. Stylus type determines how much of a variance in VTA you can have before sound quality suffers. Some arms have adjustable VTA, some are fixed. You’ll have to keep mat thickness close to original if your arm does not have adjustable VTA.

If the arm is adjustable, you can even try two mats. I use both a rubber and carbon-graphite mat.

Are you familiar with KAB? He is a specialist in the Technics table.

http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/

EDIT: Herbies sells mats too in different thickness for fixed VTA arms.

http://herbiesaudiolab.net/ttmat.htm

Also you can have static issues. Humidity (dry air) is a biggy. They sold dustbugs with grounding wires. I have and used a dust bug many years ago (without ground wire) and you had to keep it damp (but not dripping wet) for it to work its best. It trapped dust and also kept static down. There are anti static guns you can purchase too. Vinyl can kill you with accessories.:eek:

Jhayman

Thanks for replyin, this is the only spot I have accessible for my TT.
When I get my CC-690 next week I will have to move it to I don't know where.
My TT has adjustable VTA I have perfectly level now, when my mat gets here I know I will have to raise it up a tad.
I've been to KAB many times even posted a few links on here about Technics TT's
I do get static when I where my slippers around the basement, I might try that find something to o about that as it gets quite annoying.
I already made the phono box shut off once, but it seems fine.whew

mjcmt

Unsuspended direct drive turntables will have more transmission of tapping picked up by a cartridge than suspended belt drive tables. A solid supporting base will help immensely.

DON73

Jhayman wrote: »

Thanks for replyin, this is the only spot I have accessible for my TT.
When I get my CC-690 next week I will have to move it to I don't know where.
My TT has adjustable VTA I have perfectly level now, when my mat gets here I know I will have to raise it up a tad.
I've been to KAB many times even posted a few links on here about Technics TT's
I do get static when I where my slippers around the basement, I might try that find something to o about that as it gets quite annoying.
I already made the phono box shut off once, but it seems fine.whew

Geez! I see your problem.......you can't mount a TT like that!