phono stage it?

[FahadAhmed]

Hi everybody, its been just a few months I have started playing my music through turntable and it has been quite a fascinating journey so far. I play mostly brand new vinyls. THe only annoying factor is random cracks and pops while playing certain vinyls, which remain even after clean them. (not similar to the constant cracks and pops while playing really old vinyls). I use the builtin phono stage of my marantz. I have read in a few forums and comments that phono stage helped them get rid (or minimize to a great extent) the surface noise they were getting. What do you guys think? An investment (i really dont want to go beyond the 100 pound range) worth looking into?

 

[floyd droid]

For a 100 quid budget your options are limited and unlikely to provide what you are after with your current cart. Why not consider a different cart that is kinder to pops and clicks etc. Grado Prestige Black or maybe, upping the ante quite a bit , Nagaoka MP110 . Either of those will be far better in all depts over the 2M Red , in my honest opinion.

 

[Al ears]

+1 for the suggested Nagaoka MP110

 

[FahadAhmed]

I was so hoping you guys wouldn't ask me to change my cartridge. I bought it last month.

. Btw is there a compatibility issue when a you install a high end cartridge to a budget turntable? ( my question os not necessarily directed towards the cartridges that are in discussion over here)

 

[Al ears]

I wouldn't say there would be a compatability issue, it would just be strange to want to do it as you would lose all of the benefit a high end cartridge would bring to the system, the cartridge itself would still be good but invariably would be a bit 'stifled' by the low budget tonearm.

 

[floyd droid]

What do you consider as high end cart ?.

 

[floyd droid]

I wouldn't say there would be a compatability issue, it would just be strange to want to do it as you would lose all of the benefit a high end cartridge would bring to the system, the cartridge itself would still be good but invariably would be a bit 'stifled' by the low budget tonearm.

Cheers Al , your turn to 'beat me to it '