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Feedback problem when playing vinyl records

unmutual

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Dec 1, 2024
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I have a basic stereo setup with Wiim Ultra streamer, CD player and record player in a small to medium sized room. Distance from record player to floor standing speakers is 80-90 cm. I can't increase this distance.

When playing vinyl records with any bass content, I get serious feedback issues at my normal listening volumes (which are probably louder than what the average listener would prefer).

Do I need to use more aggressive EQ, or change the stylus?
 
Stylus change won't have much, if any effect on the feedback problem. If the feedback occurs at just one particular frequency, you could employ a notch filter centered at that feedback frequency and attenuate the amplitude at just that frequency. A parametric equalizer could let you do that. That kind of equalizer lets you adjust the specific frequency, amplitude at that frequency, and the Q of the attenuation characteristic.
 
Get a garden concrete slab to put under the turntable and remove the lid when playing records.
That's a brute force way of doing it, and it will work. Problem is, I have a bad back, so the concrete slab would present a logistics problem to me. EQing the problem out would be easier. I could easily remove the lid, though.
 
That's a brute force way of doing it, and it will work. Problem is, I have a bad back, so the concrete slab would present a logistics problem to me. EQing the problem out would be easier. I could easily remove the lid, though.
Get someone to carry the concrete slab for you - better to minimise the problem before trying to magic it away with EQ.
 
What turntable / cartridge do you have ?
Right vtf?

My technics mk7 is at 1 foot from one speaker and it works perfect.
 
If you have been playing records with the dust cover in place, try removing said dust cover.
 
That's a brute force way of doing it, and it will work. Problem is, I have a bad back, so the concrete slab would present a logistics problem to me. EQing the problem out would be easier. I could easily remove the lid, though.
The other option used to be the opposite, a lightweight rigid shelf decoupled via nuts (spikes in the olden days) or somehow captive balls (a la Naim Fraim shelves), or squash balls cut in half. Depends on the deck type.

Do remember that pickup cartridges are vibration sensitive and that 'feedback' starts well before final 'howlround.'
 
What is the record player sat upon? And what is that sat upon? (suspeneded floor? Concrete? Carpet?)
 
Assuming vibration is being carried through the floor other options you could try
- wall mounted turntable shelf
- isolating speaker feet
it might not take much decoupling to solve the problem, so you could see if something like foam sheet under your speakers is enough to reduce the coupling.

I solved a similar problem with sorbothane hemispheres under my subwoofer.
 
Since we don't know what phono pre-amp you're using we can't ask if it has a rumble filter.
You can also try adding mass to the plinth (not the platter) in small amounts. Like hockey pucks. Something compact and dense.
 
Airborne vibrations can be as bad or worse as structural..which means you may have to attack both.

Soft isolating feet, and or moving TT, plus trying both with and without lid, a heavy book on the lid etc.. you may even try soft rubber between cartridge and headshell, Or play at lower volume

A steep sub sonic filter is always good
 
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First off, you don’t give any information about what your turntable is sitting on. That is the most important thing.

A million years ago, when I used a turntable a lot, it sat on a giant granite mantle on a huge stone fireplace. I had none of the problems that you had even though the turntable was within about 6 feet of a subwoofer.

It doesn’t sound like the problem is with the turntable so much as it’s with what the turntable is sitting upon.

I could give you some very cheap advice as to how to isolate the turntable, but still that’s not going to help if what you have it on vibrates because you turn your speakers up.

Bottom line: get your turntable onto something that doesn’t vibrate at all no matter how loud your speakers are. If you can’t do that, you will always have this problem. Also, turntables and vinyl suck so, hey, buy digital and don’t look back… Or, enjoy the suck.
 
Well, I asked for the turntable because mine doesn't need anything and it's at 30 cm of the right speaker (very very close) ... with 85dB at listening position.
Maybe it's a vintage tt with the feets in bad shape.
Without all the data we're guessing
 
I hope I was able to translate this well into English.

For medium to long term systems, EQ is a last resort.
If you try to solve a physical problem electrically, you will need to significantly attenuate certain low frequencies.
New feedback loop points may appear at other frequencies.
However, if it is a temporary system for just one day, or if time is the priority over sound quality, EQ may be your only option.

The volume coming from the speakers can be increased by dispersing the resonance points of the acoustic feedback loop of the entire record playback system, including the building, or by converting vibrations into heat or other means to lower the loop gain.
Enable the rumble filter.
If playback delay is acceptable, a delay machine or similar may be useful.

For low frequency oscillations, placing the record player directly on the building's foundation, or a similar method, is effective.
If this is difficult, or if a volume so loud that it shakes the building or the ground is required, consider floating the record player.
An easy way to check the floating effect is to carefully lift it a few mm with both hands while feedback is occurring.
Placing the record player on a box-like stand or similar will usually fail.
Disc stabilizers are sometimes effective.
Reinforcing the floor, stand, or player, or adding mass may improve the situation.

For oscillations above a few hundred Hz, the feedback loop travels through the air, so some method is needed to attenuate or delay the sound waves reaching the record or record player.
Floating the record player is of little use.
You may be able to change the resonance characteristics by using a disc stabilizer or by attaching a coin to the shell.
If you can't increase the distance between them, you may need a large soundproofing wall or even to completely enclose the record player.

The best solution to the acoustic feedback problem is to turn off the speakers and rip a vinyl.
When you want to listen to music, just play that file.
You'll be free from this annoying problem.
This produces a playback sound that is more faithful to the vinyl grooves than real-time playback in an environment where the loop gain is close to 1.
The adverse effects of various other sounds and vibrations will also be eliminated.

You will also be free from wear and tear on the stylus and record, and from dust and dirt.
This means you won't fall asleep in the middle of playing and have the needle continue to wear out until the next morning, and you won't have to worry about the tone arm bouncing around when you operate it while drunk.
It is cheaper than physical solutions.
If you want to add a nostalgic look while your files are playing, try spinning a turntable with your vinyl on it. However, please keep the arm lifter raised.
 
Related links.
 
Wall mounting a shelf for the turntable will likely solve your feedback problem.
 
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