Screeching noise when playing records

[Michael Maurice]

I went to look at a Grundig Como radiogram which used the Philips record deck, badged Grundig.

All it required was a new stylus which was easily fitted.

i got a text from the owner (a young man in his 20's) to say that there was a high pitched 'screeching' noise when playing his records.

What he was hearing was the noise created by the stylus in the record groove.

I checked stylus pressure which was a tad over 6gms.

I tried a new cartridge the same.

Has anyone else experienced such problems?

[Techman]

It sounds a bit like the suspension in the cartridge has collapsed and the cartridge is bottoming out, but without actually seeing it it's hard to say.

[Edward Huggins]

Yes, sounds lke the cartridge body is fouling the surface of the disc. Edward

[peter_sol]

What you are talking about I think is what used to be called "needle talk"
No doubt the young man is new to "vinyl".
It is normal with nasty pickups such as those Philips ones.
Tell him to shut the door or whatever of the Gram section.

[Michael Maurice]

Originally Posted by Techman

It sounds a bit like the suspension in the cartridge has collapsed and the cartridge is bottoming out, but without actually seeing it it's hard to say.

On a brand new cartridge?

No the cartridge is not fouling the record, Peter Sol is right, unfortunately without replacing the deck to one fitted with a magnetic cartridge and a preamp, there is no other solution that I can see (or hear!)

[sp10mk11]

Hello Michael
I take you have had heard this screeching yourself then.
The only time I have ever heard what you describe is playing some old juke box records that had been ruined by the player.
Or possibly though it is a new cartridge its suspension has gone hard in storage, these Philips ceramics are normally quite pleasant sounding for the type and track reasonably well.
Gary

[Ted Kendall]

My vote goes to needle talk, which is a function of the work the groove is having to do and therefore related to compliance and tip mass, neither of which is stellar on the pickup in question. The last pickup I remember having a problem with it was the Sonotone 9TA...incidentally, you should hear the "needle talk" on the Finial laser turntable, caused by the servos trying to keep the laser on target!

[peter_sol]

I think Michael's problem is that the chap knows nothing about these things and assumes that the noise is a fault or abnormal in a "what are you going to do about it" way.

[Nicklyons2]

Sounds like 'needle talk' to me; tell customer to turn volume to min - is it still there? if it is I can't see what else it can be. Some cartridge/arm combos are much worse than others but it's not what I'd call a fault. In fact if you think about it, if it wasn't for that 'effect' early 'record players' wouldn't have worked!

[Michael Maurice]

Originally Posted by peter_sol

I think Michaels problem is that the chap knows nothing about these things and assumes that the noise is a fault or abnormal in a "what are you going to do about it" way.

He's actually a very pleasant chap, certainly new to vinyl and his attitude was definitely not "what are you going to do about it."


I haven't heard it screech. it is needle noise, the sound from the radiogram is quite pleasant. It certainly isn't so loud that it annoys me but the customer says 'it hurts his ears'

I've told him that putting an old blanket may absorb some of the sound but this is how they work.

[Edward Huggins]

I have much sympathy with this thread. Things like motor noise, light hum, stylus chatter, light hiss et al are seen as "faults" in a highly-compressed, inanimate Digital World....Edward

[Nickthedentist]

I have to say that I'm surprised by this.

As a general rule, cheap, low-compliance, piezoelectric cartridges give rise to some needle chatter, but it's rarely objectionable, even at low listening levels and with the player's lid open. Even when I was young and my HF hearing was spectacularly good compared with what it is now!

Does the owner listen at normal levels and with the lid closed?

N.

[TrevorG3VLF]

How about high frequency instability which the young lad can hear but you cannot?

[Nickthedentist]

I was thinking the along the same lines. Listening through headphones or external speakers placed some distance away should help determine what the culprit is. Has the unit got suitable connections?

N.

[AC/HL]

Tell him to look on the bright side (pun unavoidable) his hearing is just too good. It's downhill from here!

[kirstyd]

i have repaired a few of these Grundig radiograms and i have to say those phillips decks are terrible i usual just pull them out and fit a BSR or a garrard