Basic questions about turntables

[shafesk]

Hello again forumites,

I do have some decent experience regarding hi-fi kit but when it comes to turntables I'm quite the newb because the analogue scene isn't as prevailent in my country. I do own a few tts but all except my denon are not working. I noticed that when my marantz was working that it had a lower noise floor than the current denon, even when I played dirty lps it wouldn't make such a fuss. With clean vinyl the marantz was almost dead silent. This got me thinking whether a change in phonostage will help matters as I cannot change the cartridge on my denon. I know I should get a better tt but I just don't have enough vinyls to justify the outlay. If I get a better phonostage I could still keep it when I upgrade to something nice. Do you think a better phono than my CA 540p will considerably lower noise? If so, any reccomendations?

Regards,

Shafin

 

[hoopsontoast]

The CA 540P is a very capable phono stage, I would say you are being held back by the TT/Arm/Cartridge combination at the moment.

Any noise will be picked up by the cartridge, or background hum from the motor or inteference from lack of grounding etc.

The Phonostage should not have any influence on the noise floor, unless its faulty, which it does not sound as if it is.

 

[nopiano]

I agree with hoops. Upgrading the phono stage will only reveal the weaknesses before it. With vinyl, getting the mechanical side sorted is the hard bit - and that means a well maintained deck, accurately fitted and aligned cartridge, and placing it on a decent platform.

It depends what sort of noise is bothering you. If it is rumble (LF) then that may be the Tt or a badly pressed disc, or a mismatched cartridge (susceptible to warps). If HF, then try getting the record cleaned by a specialist or comparing with a new copy.

I am assuming you have got the stylus spotlessly clean?

 

[Al ears]

+1 for what nopiano said.

Could you explain why you cannot change cartridge in you Denon?

 

[shafesk]

I agree with hoops. Upgrading the phono stage will only reveal the weaknesses before it. With vinyl, getting the mechanical side sorted is the hard bit - and that means a well maintained deck, accurately fitted and aligned cartridge, and placing it on a decent platform.

It depends what sort of noise is bothering you. If it is rumble (LF) then that may be the Tt or a badly pressed disc, or a mismatched cartridge (susceptible to warps). If HF, then try getting the record cleaned by a specialist or comparing with a new copy.

I am assuming you have got the stylus spotlessly clean?

yes I have got the stylus clean but I'm getting lots of static on vinyl

 

[shafesk]

+1 for what nopiano said.

Could you explain why you cannot change cartridge in you Denon?

its a pretty basic tt and you can only change the stylus but the cartridge is fixed to the tonearm.