Question Static electricity? Crackling sound when raising lever after playing record

[freddyonderstal]

I have the Argon Audio TT4 Mk2 for a month now. It's a fantastic player!

Today I suddenly noticed that when I use the cueing lever to raise the tonearm, I hear a crackling sound that sounds like static electricity.

The turntable is grounded; the wire for that is connected to the speaker, which has an amplifier inside.

Is this static electricity or something else? How can I fix this? I see it's only in the lever; it's not touching the tonearm when this crackling sound is heard.
Most of the time the sound is only there after a couple of minutes playing.
When I drop the lever and raise is again, the sound is not noticeable. Play a full record; the sound is there again.
Argon says it’s the dampening fluid.

You can hear it in the video too.
Anyone can tell me what this is?

When you watch the video, turn up the volume.

 

[camcroft]

I have the Argon Audio TT4 Mk2 for a month now. It's a fantastic player!

Today I suddenly noticed that when I use the cueing lever to raise the tonearm, I hear a crackling sound that sounds like static electricity.

The turntable is grounded; the wire for that is connected to the speaker, which has an amplifier inside.

Is this static electricity or something else? How can I fix this? I see it's only in the lever; it's not touching the tonearm when this crackling sound is heard.
Most of the time the sound is only there after a couple of minutes playing.
When I drop the lever and raise is again, the sound is not noticeable. Play a full record; the sound is there again.
Argon says it’s the dampening fluid.

You can hear it in the video too.
Anyone can tell me what this is?

When you watch the video, turn up the volume.

Has the turntable got it's own phono stage?

 

[freddyonderstal]

Has the turntable got it's own phono stage?

Yes and it’s turned off cause my speakers have builtin amp

 

[camcroft]

Yes and it’s turned off cause my speakers have builtin amp

My speakers have got a built in amp but I still use a phono stage between the turntable and speakers. Otherwise your speakers must have a built in phono stage or you would't be able to play the turntable through them. I can hear a humming sound as well like you get from a bad earth.

 

[daytona600]

Assume you are using active speakers with a built in phono stage
Do your speakers have a earth/Ground to connect 3wire from the turntable

Could be static charge on records - use a record brush with a ground cable / connect to earth/ground
RCM only true way to get rid of static
Quick zap with Milty Zerostat or plasma arc ciggie lighter ( keep away from electronics )

 

[freddyonderstal]

Assume you are using active speakers with a built in phono stage
Do your speakers have a earth/Ground to connect 3wire from the turntable

Could be static charge or records - use a record brush with a ground cable / connect to earth/ground

I have active speakers. They are connected to the turntable with a ground cable. Checked it and it’s secured.

Argon Audio says it’s the dampening fluid, but I’m not sure. I can only hear the short crackling sound after playing a record. With all the records I have it’s the same.
When the TT is off, I can’t hear it when dropping and lifting the lever.

Is this a reason to send this TT back and ask a new one or can this do no harm?

 

[daytona600]

Quick google - is the platter matt made of Felt
The devils work for Static Try a anti-Static platter mat Cork , Cork/Rubber
Or Anti Static record brush Eg Thunderon Conductive Record Brush or Brush grounded to speakers

 

[Al ears]

I have active speakers. They are connected to the turntable with a ground cable. Checked it and it’s secured.

Argon Audio says it’s the dampening fluid, but I’m not sure. I can only hear the short crackling sound after playing a record. With all the records I have it’s the same.
When the TT is off, I can’t hear it when dropping and lifting the lever.

Is this a reason to send this TT back and ask a new one or can this do no harm?

annoying as it may be it's hardly likely to do any harm.
Try wrapping some insulating tape around that arm lift lever and see what happens then.
From your first post it looks like it hasn't done this from the outset though, is that correct?
I can only assume that your active speakers are actually grounded too?

 

[Gray]

Argon Audio says it’s the dampening fluid, but I’m not sure.

You're right not to be sure.
Why not ask Argon to elaborate (very precisely) on their diagnosis?

 

[Al ears]

You're right not to be sure.
Why not ask Argon to elaborate (very precisely) on their diagnosis?

Yes, it doesn't sound very logical or indeed likely.....

 

[freddyonderstal]

Update;

I lowered the lever, shut off the turntable and left it for over one hour.
Without turning the TT on, I raised the lever and the sound was there as well. The same as after spinning a record.

I made a photo of my cueing lever. The 2 parts connecting to eachother are metal. Maybe the dampening fluid like Argon said? I don’t think it has something to do with the felt mat, as the TT was off.

https://imgur.com/a/GAUwwlG

 

[Shrek]

if its not effecting the sound quality i wouldn't worry about it if you can hear while playing a record i wouldn't be happy with that .

 

[freddyonderstal]

I made a second video this morning.

The TT was off for the night. I dropped the cueing lever, left it down for about 20 minutes en made a video of me raising the lever. As you can hear, there is a sort of static noise.
Don't mind my son in the background pressing buttons on the Playstation controller 😉.

Am I the only person with a TT experiencing this? Maybe someone with the right answer what can this be?

 

[Al ears]

Perhaps it is you generating the static?

 

[freddyonderstal]

Perhaps it is you generating the static?

Maybe. But it also happens when my wife and kids raise the lever...

 

[Al ears]

Maybe. But it also happens when my wife and kids raise the lever...

Are you standing on a carpet when you operate the turntable?

 

[freddyonderstal]

Are you standing on a carpet when you operate the turntable?

No, I have a laminate floor.

 

[Al ears]

No, I have a laminate floor.

ah well, that's that idea out the window. However I don't see it being a big concern.
try wrapping some insulating tape around the lifting lever and see what happens then.

 

[Gray]

Am I the only person with a TT experiencing this?

That's another question for the turntable manufacturer.
I wouldn't expect them to tell you it's common - but they've said it's to do with the damping. Like I said, get them to go into detail.
Seems like you've got a choice:
1) Get back on to them.
2) Forget about it.

 

[nopiano]

I made a second video this morning.

The TT was off for the night. I dropped the cueing lever, left it down for about 20 minutes en made a video of me raising the lever. As you can hear, there is a sort of static noise.
Don't mind my son in the background pressing buttons on the Playstation controller 😉.

Am I the only person with a TT experiencing this? Maybe someone with the right answer what can this be?

I think the confusion is using the word static. We always associate that with LPs that crackle when handled, or discharging through metal pieces when touched. Or if it’s terrible, then crackling whilst playing a record.

On this video I hear a click, but can’t tell if it’s simply a mechanical noise - maybe stiction in the damping cylinder?

 

[Al ears]

I think the confusion is using the word static. We always associate that with LPs that crackle when handled, or discharging through metal pieces when touched. Or if it’s terrible, then crackling whilst playing a record.

On this video I hear a click, but can’t tell if it’s simply a mechanical noise - maybe stiction in the damping cylinder?

Yes that's not the "static" I was expecting to hear.
Of course he could just use the finger-lift on the headshell to raise the tonearm.....

 

[freddyonderstal]

Yes that's not the "static" I was expecting to hear.
Of course he could just use the finger-lift on the headshell to raise the tonearm.....

My fault, I’m sorry. To me, it sounds like an electrical noise.

But since it’s a new TT, just one month old, I think I go for an exchange at the store.

 

[Al ears]

My fault, I’m sorry. To me, it sounds like an electrical noise.

But since it’s a new TT, just one month old, I think I go for an exchange at the store.

It would be interested to hear if the replacement turntable does the same thing

 

[freddyonderstal]

It would be interested to hear if the replacement turntable does the same thing

I hope not. I did send another video to the store earlier this week and they told me they don’t know what it is. Tested it in the store they told me the other player don’t do this. So there is hope.

I’m also looking to buy another TT, maybe the Thorens TD 403 DD. You think it’s on the same level as the Argon TT4?

 

[nopiano]

I hope not. I did send another video to the store earlier this week and they told me they don’t know what it is. Tested it in the store they told me the other player don’t do this. So there is hope.

I’m also looking to buy another TT, maybe the Thorens TD 403 DD. You think it’s on the same level as the Argon TT4?

Maybe we’ve got our wires crossed on model numbers, but here in GB the Thorens is about 50% more expensive. I’d have a Thorens any day!

What are their respective prices where you live?

THORENS TD 403 DD • Thorens GmbH

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www.thorens.com