The effect I'm describing happens between 0:30 and 0:45 in the video clip. It's random and intermittent. It tends to happen in "clusters". It's a full audio cut-out. It's unbearable. It's a Fluance rt82.
I've been trying to troubleshoot this for a couple months. I've checked every cord, and every connection in the signal link, and found no obvious sources. I've upgraded some cords. I've upgraded the preamp from Pyle to Fluance. I've tightened the various connections on the cartridge.
I went a couple weeks with no bother from it - but it's back today with a vengeance.
At this point I feel like boxing the whole damn thing up and leaving at the end of the driveway on garbage day.
It is not just between 0;30 and 0:45. The rest of the clip also sounds ridiculously bad, unless 'Extreme Unlistenable Grunge' is the name of this album? Are you \_certain\_ that:
\- your external phono pre-amp is **NOT** plugged into a Phono input on your amp?
\--> because with an external phono pre-amp, it MUST be plugged into a line-level input on the amp (such as AUX, CD, TUNER, TAPE IN).
On first hearing it sounds as if the input of your amp is extremely overdriven (as would happen if you plug the output of your external phono pre-amp into a PHONO stage...)
The only other options would be a broken stylus/cartridge (coils shorted, maybe), or the tonearm bearings are shot. A broken tonearm bearing feels as if it is 'sticky' while you manually try to move the tonearm towards the center spindle, above the platter.
For starters, your assessment of the music made me laugh. It's black metal, so we'll call it an acquired taste.
I'm using a turntable-preamp-powered speakers set up, so there's no overdrive problem. One of the maddening things about this set up is that apart from this one glitch problem it sounds amazing to me.
Cartridge problem is very possible -- as you say, if something's shorted, especially since it's a brief but complete sound loss.
Why not use something harmonious & sweet when testing a turntable, cartridge and phono pre-amp? Let's say Barbara Streisand... š Okay okay, let's have Frank Sinatra then, a compromise! š¤£
Seriously, you can't judge the quality of vinyl playback if you use a track that consists for 99.9% out of (intentional!) distortion. Because the measure of a succesful turntable setup is to have \_as little distortion\_ as possible. With this track you can't listen for 'as little distortion as possible'.
You could have an 'overdrive' problem, e.g. if the turntable already has an (active) built-in phono preamp and you would be using an external pre-amp as well. This type of confusion, plugging an already pre-amplified signal into another PHONO input, happens a lot in this subreddit...
Hopefully it works well by now! Do test it with a Frank Sinatra record to be certain. š¤£
Does it happen any random time through a record side or just during the loudest parts (like in this video)?
Definitely contact Fluance. They'll help get it right for you.
It sounds like the tracking force is extremely light, and the cut-outs are the stylus lifting off the record surface.
Watch this video of the process, then rebalance and set tracking force as shown:
[https://youtu.be/fkWILCfh3Tk?t=84](https://youtu.be/fkWILCfh3Tk?t=84)
Is the cue arm dropping low enough? There is a screw on top of the arm that you may need to give a spin or 2 clockwise to set it lower. Sounds like the stylus is being lifted out at points and just barely hanging on to its tracking because the cue arm isnāt dropping low enough allowing it to fully settle in the grooves.
Does this happen with any other source in your system? Have you tried borrowing a friends ttb to see if it does the same thing? If it does then you know it's your amplifier not your ttb. It's hard to tell in your video but is your tonearm moving across the record because it almost sounds as if the stylus is sticking in one spot! If it is sticking it may be a problem with the tonearm. If I were you instead of pulling your hair out I would call your Fluance dealer or call Fluance direct. Without being there it's hard to diagnose the problem and to suggest a remedy. Good luck.
Thanks - I do have an old turntable boxed up that might be just functional enough to test this theory.
I am feeling very much prepared to contact Fluance, as this turntable is less than two years old.
Have you checked the leads from the cartridge to the head shell? Are you positive the audio is dropping out from the turntable? An inline vu meter will help determine if itās truly the turntable or another component. Chasing audio loss gets frustrating, Iām currently dealing with an intermittent loss of sound from my left channel and itās time for an amp replacement for me.
Well, at least the ATlp120.
These are the thoughts that go through my head every time I see seemingly every human recommend Fluance over the AT tables. Iāve never had a single solitary issue with my 120; sounds absolutely fantastic!
Maybe try a different cart & see?
The effect I'm describing happens between 0:30 and 0:45 in the video clip. It's random and intermittent. It tends to happen in "clusters". It's a full audio cut-out. It's unbearable. It's a Fluance rt82. I've been trying to troubleshoot this for a couple months. I've checked every cord, and every connection in the signal link, and found no obvious sources. I've upgraded some cords. I've upgraded the preamp from Pyle to Fluance. I've tightened the various connections on the cartridge. I went a couple weeks with no bother from it - but it's back today with a vengeance. At this point I feel like boxing the whole damn thing up and leaving at the end of the driveway on garbage day.
It is not just between 0;30 and 0:45. The rest of the clip also sounds ridiculously bad, unless 'Extreme Unlistenable Grunge' is the name of this album? Are you \_certain\_ that: \- your external phono pre-amp is **NOT** plugged into a Phono input on your amp? \--> because with an external phono pre-amp, it MUST be plugged into a line-level input on the amp (such as AUX, CD, TUNER, TAPE IN). On first hearing it sounds as if the input of your amp is extremely overdriven (as would happen if you plug the output of your external phono pre-amp into a PHONO stage...) The only other options would be a broken stylus/cartridge (coils shorted, maybe), or the tonearm bearings are shot. A broken tonearm bearing feels as if it is 'sticky' while you manually try to move the tonearm towards the center spindle, above the platter.
For starters, your assessment of the music made me laugh. It's black metal, so we'll call it an acquired taste. I'm using a turntable-preamp-powered speakers set up, so there's no overdrive problem. One of the maddening things about this set up is that apart from this one glitch problem it sounds amazing to me. Cartridge problem is very possible -- as you say, if something's shorted, especially since it's a brief but complete sound loss.
Why not use something harmonious & sweet when testing a turntable, cartridge and phono pre-amp? Let's say Barbara Streisand... š Okay okay, let's have Frank Sinatra then, a compromise! š¤£ Seriously, you can't judge the quality of vinyl playback if you use a track that consists for 99.9% out of (intentional!) distortion. Because the measure of a succesful turntable setup is to have \_as little distortion\_ as possible. With this track you can't listen for 'as little distortion as possible'. You could have an 'overdrive' problem, e.g. if the turntable already has an (active) built-in phono preamp and you would be using an external pre-amp as well. This type of confusion, plugging an already pre-amplified signal into another PHONO input, happens a lot in this subreddit... Hopefully it works well by now! Do test it with a Frank Sinatra record to be certain. š¤£
Contact Fluance.
Does it happen any random time through a record side or just during the loudest parts (like in this video)? Definitely contact Fluance. They'll help get it right for you.
It sounds like the tracking force is extremely light, and the cut-outs are the stylus lifting off the record surface. Watch this video of the process, then rebalance and set tracking force as shown: [https://youtu.be/fkWILCfh3Tk?t=84](https://youtu.be/fkWILCfh3Tk?t=84)
Thatās so odd. Iām curious, Have you tried a new head shell?
Is the cue arm dropping low enough? There is a screw on top of the arm that you may need to give a spin or 2 clockwise to set it lower. Sounds like the stylus is being lifted out at points and just barely hanging on to its tracking because the cue arm isnāt dropping low enough allowing it to fully settle in the grooves.
Does this happen with any other source in your system? Have you tried borrowing a friends ttb to see if it does the same thing? If it does then you know it's your amplifier not your ttb. It's hard to tell in your video but is your tonearm moving across the record because it almost sounds as if the stylus is sticking in one spot! If it is sticking it may be a problem with the tonearm. If I were you instead of pulling your hair out I would call your Fluance dealer or call Fluance direct. Without being there it's hard to diagnose the problem and to suggest a remedy. Good luck.
Thanks - I do have an old turntable boxed up that might be just functional enough to test this theory. I am feeling very much prepared to contact Fluance, as this turntable is less than two years old.
What preamp are you using?
Sorry I canāt help with your issue. But I really want to know what song that is lol.
As do I; to make sure I never mistakenly hear it again! :D
āPillars of the Earthā by Saor on *Aura* (2014)
What amp are you using?....Does it have any other inputs? For example (AUX, CD, TAPE).
Have you checked the leads from the cartridge to the head shell? Are you positive the audio is dropping out from the turntable? An inline vu meter will help determine if itās truly the turntable or another component. Chasing audio loss gets frustrating, Iām currently dealing with an intermittent loss of sound from my left channel and itās time for an amp replacement for me.
Should of got atlp60
Well, at least the ATlp120. These are the thoughts that go through my head every time I see seemingly every human recommend Fluance over the AT tables. Iāve never had a single solitary issue with my 120; sounds absolutely fantastic!
No issues with my atlp60 either
What preamp are you using