Whump whump whump sound?

[SailToTheMoon]

Hi everyone. I bought a setup (Rega PS3 RS turntable, Cyrus i9-XR amp, Focal Vestia No 2 floor standing speakers) last March with some excellent advice from this forum and have been really happy with it.

However recently I’ve noticed this odd kind of “whump whump whump” bassy noise - a bit like a helicopter. It only happens when the volume is pretty loud (-20 ish or louder) and when the needle is on the record. It is most noticeable between tracks, or in parts of songs that are really quiet. The two bass cones on my speakers vibrate like the clappers when it happens.

Just wondering if this is something that’s common at all, and if there’s an easy fix? I plan to call the shops that I bought the gear from, but would appreciate any intel on this before I do if possible!

Thanks in advance. 🙂

(PS - I could have videod this but I think the forum only allows pics)

 

[makinmusic]

You could upload video to YouTube and embed video in post.

 

[Al ears]

Has this only just occurred?
It sounds like a low frequency feedback issue which is why your woofers are suffering cone over excursion.
Have you recently changed position of turntable relative to your speakers?
One reason some phono preamps come fitted with a subsonic filter.

 

[daytona600]

Acoustical feedback as per AL above
All Regas have no isolation , design fault and the reason DJs uses technics in night clubs with huge sound systems

Cyrus i9-XR amp does this have a subsonic filter , should remove all the rumble

Expensive to cure - can you fit a wall shelf / isolation platform / rigid hifi rack

Cheap Hack 2 off IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards as a isolation Platform with 7/16inch ball bearings

chopping board has a shallow rounded channel routered on side. The channel is there to catch liquid
2 chopping boards, with the channels facing each other and ball bearings in between, to make a isolation platform under the TT, if you dont have any ball bearings try a semi-inflated bicycle inner tube

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hi everyone. I bought a setup (Rega PS3 RS turntable, Cyrus i9-XR amp, Focal Vestia No 2 floor standing speakers) last March with some excellent advice from this forum and have been really happy with it.

However recently I’ve noticed this odd kind of “whump whump whump” bassy noise - a bit like a helicopter. It only happens when the volume is pretty loud (-20 ish or louder) and when the needle is on the record. It is most noticeable between tracks, or in parts of songs that are really quiet. The two bass cones on my speakers vibrate like the clappers when it happens.

Just wondering if this is something that’s common at all, and if there’s an easy fix? I plan to call the shops that I bought the gear from, but would appreciate any intel on this before I do if possible!

Thanks in advance. 🙂

(PS - I could have videod this but I think the forum only allows pics)

It sounds like a warped record. are they stored correctly and in good order?

 

[SailToTheMoon]

Has this only just occurred?
It sounds like a low frequency feedback issue which is why your woofers are suffering cone over excursion.
Have you recently changed position of turntable relative to your speakers?
One reason some phono preamps come fitted with a subsonic filter.

I’ve looked up what this is (I’m a noob!) and it definitely sounds like this could be it. Weird thing is that I haven’t moved anything an inch since March. Maybe it was there and I didn’t notice it, maybe it’s just on the brand new Bowie album I got the intro song (Five Years) is really quiet for a while so I can hear the thrumming - and now I can hear it I can’t unhear it!! And another new album I got was Paul’s Boutique which has a first song that slowly starts from silence as well….

 

[SailToTheMoon]

It sounds like a warped record. are they stored correctly and in goof order?

Brand new records 🙂

 

[SailToTheMoon]

Acoustical feedback as per AL above
All Regas have no isolation , design fault and the reason DJs uses technics in night clubs with huge sound systems

Cyrus i9-XR amp does this have a subsonic filter , should remove all the rumble

Expensive to cure - can you fit a wall shelf / isolation platform / rigid hifi rack

Cheap Hack 2 off IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards as a isolation Platform with 7/16inch ball bearings

chopping board has a shallow rounded channel routered on side. The channel is there to catch liquid
2 chopping boards, with the channels facing each other and ball bearings in between, to make a isolation platform under the TT, if you dont have any ball bearings try a semi-inflated bicycle inner tube

View attachment 10777

This is brilliant, thanks. I’m going to give it a go and report back.

 

[SailToTheMoon]

You could upload video to YouTube and embed video in post.

I’ll give this a bash if the low frequency feedback solution below doesn’t pan out. 👍🏻

 

[SailToTheMoon]

This is brilliant, thanks. I’m going to give it a go and report back.

Ok this is definitely what it is. I put on a record with a quiet intro. It was fine until -20 then started the cone shuddering again. I tried with the top off or shut and made no difference. Then I actually just (very carefully) picked up the turntable whilst playing and it stopped immediately (not the most gracious approach I know). When I put it back down it started again.

So it’s vibrations through the unit. It’s surprising cause that’s an old school piece of wood furniture and is absolutely solid.

So it’s as you say, finding a way to remove the vibrations from the turntable. In addition to the chopping board approaches I’m wondering if there would be any mats that were specifically made for the purpose?

 

[daytona600]

So it’s vibrations through the unit. It’s surprising cause that’s an old school piece of wood furniture and is absolutely solid.

Most TTs just plonk on any surface and they work fine
Rega are hyper critical to support structures they like light and very rigid
Have a Rega Niad with a electron microscope isolation platform
Not Cheap But huge improvement in Sound

Can The Seismion Reactio 2 Defeat The Enemy Of Great Sound That Affects Every System | The Ear

Vibrations are everywhere and they matter in many more spheres than our own, not least semiconductor inspection, nanotechnology and industrial metrology which

the-ear.net

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I don't have a TT, but have bought plenty of stuff from this place and found it very effective:

Rega Turntable upgrades - Solid Air Audio

High quality isolation to improve the sound quality of Rega turntables.

solidairaudio.com

Aluminium Hifi Isolation - Solid Air Audio Hifi Isolation systems

High quality aluminium hifi isolation feet which improve the sound quality of your music. They significantly reduce vibration in hifi components.

solidairaudio.com

 

[Gray]

Cyrus i9-XR amp does this have a subsonic filter

Well not if it's the same as my, very similar, i7 model.....
That's only -3dB down at 0.1Hz.

 

[Jasonovich]

Ah the joys of the rotating biscuit tins!

Question I suppose everyone has asked, why doesn't Rega provide better isolation for their TT?

 

[Al ears]

Ok this is definitely what it is. I put on a record with a quiet intro. It was fine until -20 then started the cone shuddering again. I tried with the top off or shut and made no difference. Then I actually just (very carefully) picked up the turntable whilst playing and it stopped immediately (not the most gracious approach I know). When I put it back down it started again.

So it’s vibrations through the unit. It’s surprising cause that’s an old school piece of wood furniture and is absolutely solid.

So it’s as you say, finding a way to remove the vibrations from the turntable. In addition to the chopping board approaches I’m wondering if there would be any mats that were specifically made for the purpose?

We are getting somewhere. Mine did it a good while ago and continued until I separated components.
Move speakers further away and isolated turntable.
Might be an idea to find a cheap phono preamp that does have a subsonic filter.
Rega turntables were always better when mounted on a dedicated wall bracket.
Test your end result by simply placing cartridge on an LP that isn't actually rotating then slowly crank up the amp volume and watch your woofers....
If all else fails you need a subsonic filter in the system somewhere.
Strangely enough mine was alleviated by a change in cartridge.

 

[daytona600]

Funk / Boing

Boing Isaloation feet — The FunkFirm

Boing Isolation feet

thefunkfirm.co.uk

 

[daytona600]

Ah the joys of the rotating biscuit tins!

Question I suppose everyone has asked, why doesn't Rega provide better isolation for their TT?
might as well ask , why no

Isolation
VTA adjustment
Azimuth adjustment
Zenith Adjustment
SME style plug in headshell option / 2nd tonearm
XLR Balanced output
Adjustable Feet
Built In electronic Speed control PSU
Full sized dust covers
No 78rpm
33/45 fixed speed no speed/pitch adjustment
Record Clamp

 

[Fandango Andy]

Brand new records 🙂

doesn't sound like the problem here given other comments, but new records aren't immune to warping.

 

[Al ears]

doesn't sound like the problem here given other comments, but new records aren't immune to warping.

The problem is well known and has nothing to do with warping.....
Unless you seriously know otherwise no point in trying to divert those that are really trying to assist.....

 

[nopiano]

Ok this is definitely what it is. I put on a record with a quiet intro. It was fine until -20 then started the cone shuddering again. I tried with the top off or shut and made no difference. Then I actually just (very carefully) picked up the turntable whilst playing and it stopped immediately (not the most gracious approach I know). When I put it back down it started again.

So it’s vibrations through the unit. It’s surprising cause that’s an old school piece of wood furniture and is absolutely solid.

So it’s as you say, finding a way to remove the vibrations from the turntable. In addition to the chopping board approaches I’m wondering if there would be any mats that were specifically made for the purpose?

The frequencies that cause cone wobble are subsonic, which at home probably means below 25Hz or thereabouts. Solid furniture can nevertheless ‘carry’ that sound, which contradicts Rega’s stated intention of low mass, low energy storage designs. It really needs a light platform, such as Russ Andrews’ expensive Torlyte products, or conversely a massive base with a different excitation to the one in use.

Any other platform will likely be unpredictable, hence experimenting is pretty much essential. What I’m suggesting is to try various possibilities and you may find a cheap chopping board beats a £200 hifi device! Even halved squash balls might work if you can keep them in place!

Good luck!

PS. Actually, if you have a large unit of furniture, even a different location on the same unit may reduce the unwanted effect.