Turntables can sometimes make a humming or buzzing noise that is caused by the motor. This noise can be annoying and can interfere with your enjoyment of your records. There are a few things you can do to try to reduce or eliminate turntable motor noise.
Check the grounding. Make sure that your turntable is properly grounded. If it is not, you may be able to fix the noise by connecting the ground wire from your turntable to the ground wire of your amplifier or receiver.
Check the cables. Make sure that the RCA cables that connect your turntable to your amplifier or receiver are not loose or damaged. If they are, they may be causing the noise.
Move your turntable away from other devices. Turntables can pick up interference from other devices in your home, such as fluorescent lights, power lines, and microwaves. If you’re experiencing turntable noise, try moving your turntable away from any potential sources of interference.
Upgrade your cartridge. If you have an old or worn-out cartridge, it may be causing the noise. Upgrading to a new cartridge may fix the problem.
Take it to a technician. If you’ve tried all of the above and you’re still experiencing turntable noise, it’s possible that there is a problem with the motor itself. If you’re not comfortable troubleshooting the problem yourself, you may want to take your turntable to a qualified technician for repair.
Preventing Turntable Motor Noise
The best way to prevent turntable motor noise is to follow the proper grounding procedures and to inspect your cables regularly for any signs of damage. You can also help to prevent turntable motor noise by keeping your turntable away from potential sources of interference.
Here are some additional tips to help you troubleshoot turntable motor noise:
- Try different inputs. If you’re using a phono preamp, try switching to a different input on your amplifier or receiver. This will help you to determine if the noise is coming from your turntable or from your phono preamp.
- Try different speakers. If you’re using powered speakers, try connecting your turntable to a different set of speakers. This will help you to determine if the noise is coming from your turntable or from your speakers.
- Try different records. Try playing a different record to see if the noise is coming from all of your records or just one particular record.
If you’ve tried all of the above and you’re still experiencing turntable motor noise, it’s possible that there is a problem with the motor itself. If you’re not comfortable troubleshooting the problem yourself, you may want to take your turntable to a qualified technician for repair.
Here are some additional tips to help you prevent turntable motor noise:
- Keep your turntable clean. Dust and dirt can build up on the motor and cause it to work harder, which can lead to noise.
- Lubricate the motor. If your turntable has a belt-driven motor, you may need to lubricate the belt periodically to keep it running smoothly.
- Replace the motor. If the motor is damaged or worn out, you may need to replace it.
I hope this article has been helpful.
