Require new stylus?

[Alex Bourke]

Hiya. I have only what can be described as a crackle when playing my vinyl's.

I can hear this more distinctively when there are vocals, also the right channel is softer than the left and I have to balance it over to the right a little.

The question is, is this the stylus? I brought it from gumtree and it has the original head on it.

I am hoping this is the case and I will need to pay another £30 ($50) for another. I am just worried I am pouring good money after bad . Turntable is a Gemini 2000PT-III. I don't need it for DJing, I just like the look if it that's all

Thanks in advance. Alex

 

[slipperybidness]

This may be a tough one for us to troubleshoot, but we can certainly run through this and see if we can help.

*Did the problem always exist? Or did it start suddenly?
*Did you properly setup the stylus angle, the tracking force, the anti-skate mechanism? Or did you simply try to "plug and play".
*Have you done any testing or troubleshooting? Results?
*Are you plugged into a proper phono connection or have a phono preamp?
*Do you have a jeweler's loop or a magnifier to inspect the stylus tip?
*Does it happen on ALL vinyl? Some worse than others?

 

[Alex Bourke]

Wow, that's a lot of questions

Unfortunately I only have it plugged into a blutooth speaker (which sounds great usually). I tried it with an amp and that is when I started noticing the noise. Again this was second hand and I thought it was this, it was returned. Looking on ebay for another. I think the sound has always been there, maybe. I have balanced it well, for a novice, and happy with that. Stylus angle, not sure how to do that. I don't have a magnifier, but not sure what to look for even if I did. I notice it more with the new U2 album, but less so on others (older records). I don't know if this info helps at all.

 

[slipperybidness]

How did you plug it into a blutooth speaker? I assume red/white RCAs? Did you connect the grounding cable? What did you connect it to?

We may already see the problem here. Does that turntable have a built in phono pre-amp?

If it does not, then you must plug the turntable into a phono preamp, then to the blutooth. Some AVRs will have built in phono preamps too.

 

[Alex Bourke]

It is plugged though a phono to Jack cable. I know it's not this cable or the speaker, nor the grounding cos when I plugged them though the amp it was then (because the sound was loader) I noticed the crackle.

I don't know about the pre-amp thing though. The amp was a Cambridge A1 V3 that did not have a pre-amp built in.

The sound is not great from the blutooth speaker but it will do until I can buy an phono amp. (Which again I got outbid on ebay).

I understand there is no time limit on stylus's but there but be a useage limit. Can you see with the naked eye if the stylus is worn?

 

[Alex Bourke]

Okay ordered myself an Acoustics Solution SP101. For the time being it will do the job.

Question: Can any type of wire be the grounding wire?
Question: Because I don't want to use the turntable for DJing can any stylus fit (a standard one), and where from (only found them on ebay and Amazon?

Thanks.

 

[Alex Bourke]

I feel a bit of a numpty. After doing more reading etc, I found that the stylus is JUST the needle (purple bit in the picture), I thought it was the "cartridge" as well. Does anyone know if the stylus for the Gemini XL series can fit the PT series? Again I don't know if it needs a new stylus but it look worn out to the untrained eye. I'm glad I put all this in the beginners section

 

[highfigh]

I feel a bit of a numpty. After doing more reading etc, I found that the stylus is JUST the needle (purple bit in the picture), I thought it was the "cartridge" as well. Does anyone know if the stylus for the Gemini XL series can fit the PT series? Again I don't know if it needs a new stylus but it look worn out to the untrained eye. I'm glad I put all this in the beginners section
View attachment 15220

You can't see the tip well enough with the naked eye to know if it is worn enough to require replacement.

Some questions that need to be answered:

Does it crackle all of the time, or just during loud or bassy passages?

Do your albums have a lot of dust on them, do you handle the albums by putting your fingers on the grooved surfaces?

Do you leave the albums out, without returning them to the jacket, or only use the cardboard jacket without the paper sleeve?

Do you use a Discwasher-type record cleaner with the bottled cleaning solution?

If you use the cleaning solution, can you see evidence of leftover solution?

If you answered Yes to ANY of these questions, at least part of the crackling comes from the way you handle and care for your albums. The plastic is fairly soft and the peaks of the groove are very fragile. Sliding the records on anything and especially other records is a great way to damage them.

Now, on to the equipment- what model of turntable do you have? Does it have a gauge for setting anything? If not, and I understand that it may not be practical or possible, you might want to look into something better.

Read this for info about mounting the cartridge (the whole part, with the needle)-
http://www.analogplanet.com/content/setting-overhang-using-double-null-point-grid-type-alignment-gauge

BTW- the part that mounts on the tonearm and holds the cartridge is called the 'headshell'.

 

[Alex Bourke]

Thanks for the reply.

I bit the bullet, I brought a new one stylus. Only £11.75 ($18) from ebay.

I have to admit I wanted to do a good job at setting my "childhood" up, but when you get back into it and want to do the best job with the budget you have it gets more complex and costly than I imagined in the beginning.

I brought a Gemini PT-2000 II from gumtree for £20 ($30) and got an amplifier (Acoustics Solution SP101 inc remote) from ebay for £35 ($52). I liked the look of the turntable and it was cheap. I didn't do any research before I started.

I do try and look after the vinyls, dust jackets etc, and given a few a clean/wash but done research on this

I do believe it was my previous equipment and wiring I was using that gave me all the bother and problems. I have set up the above equipment with speakers from a charity store, they were going to throw away and the sound is great. - I KNOW I HAVE DONE IT CHEAP!!

I do not have any measuring equipment but watching the link has made me move the cartridge to a better position. I have done my best with balancing the tone arm, it may not be the best but it's not too bad.

I do dust my records with a non-static cloth before playing them. I think I will invest in one of those brushes I have seen. I do brush my finger over the stylus before playing too, to remove any dust. I am sure someone will tell me off for doing than

Pic is my set up so far

Thank you again for the reply and the link, very useful.

 

[Alex Bourke]

New stylus arrived today in the post and I think even from the naked eye, I think I needed a new one!!!

 

[3db]

I do brush my finger over the stylus before playing too, to remove any dust. I am sure someone will tell me off for doing than

Thank you again for the reply and the link, very useful.

First... Nice looking setup

2nd, NEVER EVER give your stylus the finger. That can be physically damaging and the oils from your fingers can contaminate the stylus. Use a soft long bristled brush to dust off the stylus.

 

[Alex Bourke]

"2nd, NEVER EVER give your stylus the finger. That can be physically damaging and the oils from your fingers can contaminate the stylus. Use a soft long bristled brush to dust off the stylus."

(sorry don't know how to do quotes) - Very funny, and thanks

 

[tyhjaarpa]

"2nd, NEVER EVER give your stylus the finger. That can be physically damaging and the oils from your fingers can contaminate the stylus. Use a soft long bristled brush to dust off the stylus."

(sorry don't know how to do quotes) - Very funny, and thanks

Just hit the reply button in message you want to quote!