Cartridges to Minimize Surface Noise

Posted by: Markus on 02 February 2004

From personal experience I've learned that different cartridges convey different levels of surface noise. For example, my Goldring 1042 conveys more noise than the ancient Shure M93E in my Pioneer PL41, even though the Goldring is mounted in my LP12. Certainly I've previously found that the LP12 with Ittok seemed to convey less surface noise than other tables I heard around the time that I chose the Linn.

I've also found that my not-expensive Stanton Groovemaster II dj cartridges are less troubled by surface noise, even though they're used on comparitively low quality dj turntables like technics and numarks.

My guess is that this livability can be attributed to two main causes--one, a rolled-off high end (perhaps) and two, stylus shape. Both the Shure and the STantons are non-exotic type cartridges.

I'm curious about others experience. Which high-resolution cartridges are capable of excavating the music from the grooves without too much surface noise? Since I tend to collect a lot of very vintage soul 45s and funk lp's, I run across a high percentage of fairly well-worn vinyl. Via the Shure/Pioneer combo, this wear and tear is less troubling than via the Goldring/Linn.

Is anyone else out there collecting/playing beat-up albums? What are people using to do this?

Markus

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Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
The Akiva is a belter at doing this.

But it aint cheap. £1800 or so, one hell of a cartridge.

Regards

Mike

On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by JeremyD
I can't answer your question but here are some alternative suggestions:

The Lingo, Cirkus and Ekos [or ARO, presumably] each reduce background and surface noise - or its effect - considerably. They not only reduce the quantity of noise but increase its quality, so that what you do hear is less offensive. Records that have been damaged by mis-tracking are still problematic, though.

Most of my classical records are secondhand and carckly but the Lingo and Ekos have made some irritatingly noisy ones quiet enough for me to not be distracted.

In fact, one crackly record that I got when my turntable was LP12/Basik Plus/K9 was crackle-free by the time my turntable had evolved into LP12/Lingo/Cirkus/Ekos/K9.

OTOH, you could try a psychological technique for listening to crackly records. I use this when necessary: when listening to an unbearably crackly record, imagine you're at a live concert illuminated by by crackling fires or torches. It may sound crazy but it works for me.
Posted on: 03 February 2004 by Andrew L. Weekes
The best cartridge I've ever heard at reducing surface noise is the Dynavector 17D2. It's astonishingly quiet by any standard.

Whether you like other aspects of its presentation is a different matter but it seems to ignore surface noise totally.

You shouldn't ingore the fact that a good phono stage can subjectively have the same effect, too.

Andy.
Posted on: 03 February 2004 by Haroon
I've got the Goldring 1042, its one noisy bugger alright. But then its is pretty much renound for that (read two reviews that confirm it) as it digs real deep in the groove to bring back truckloads of detail, noise along with it, in crude butter-knife way rather than the surgical precsion of far more expensive carts. Whilst your groovemaster dj cart might be quieter it won't have the detail and muscular bass of the 1042.

Alternative I'm looking at are DNM Mica and Dynevector 10X4 mk2. Anyone with views of either of these two?