Hi
While testing a needle tonight, I started hearing a curious faint crackle while playing a non-professional test record which is part of a trial regime. The record in question was Shure's familiar TTR110 Audio Obstacle Course - ERA 111 and the band where the crackle manifested was the innermost band bass drum test.
The needle had already passed all of its other trials and I couldn't figure out what went on. Throughout the day, I left both amps and the pre switched on. I later swopped to another cartridge and the same thing happened. Swopping amps around, same crackle. Later I re-torqued the Grace arm post nut but the crackle was still there.
Getting a bit desperate, I removed the speaker grilles, got out some allen spanners and was amazed to find how loose the speaker bolts had become.
The decaying drum beats excited the driver baskets and this in turn caused the part-plastic baffles to resonate against the wood, causing the crackle I heard.
After re-torqueing the speaker screws, the crackles disappeared and there was a dramatic improvement in clarity and tightening up of bass.
Old hat to most here no doubt but it may be interesting to know if anyone here gives their speaker screws a once over now and then. Or also cleaning rca's and bananas on a regular basis.
mafioso
While testing a needle tonight, I started hearing a curious faint crackle while playing a non-professional test record which is part of a trial regime. The record in question was Shure's familiar TTR110 Audio Obstacle Course - ERA 111 and the band where the crackle manifested was the innermost band bass drum test.
The needle had already passed all of its other trials and I couldn't figure out what went on. Throughout the day, I left both amps and the pre switched on. I later swopped to another cartridge and the same thing happened. Swopping amps around, same crackle. Later I re-torqued the Grace arm post nut but the crackle was still there.
Getting a bit desperate, I removed the speaker grilles, got out some allen spanners and was amazed to find how loose the speaker bolts had become.
The decaying drum beats excited the driver baskets and this in turn caused the part-plastic baffles to resonate against the wood, causing the crackle I heard.
After re-torqueing the speaker screws, the crackles disappeared and there was a dramatic improvement in clarity and tightening up of bass.
Old hat to most here no doubt but it may be interesting to know if anyone here gives their speaker screws a once over now and then. Or also cleaning rca's and bananas on a regular basis.
mafioso
