I still remember a situation about 20 years ago when I was newly infected by the vinyl virus. I was in Stuttgart doing my diploma thesis at Bosch and told a colleague about my record player crackling. I’m sure you know that. You’ve picked up a new old record and you can’t wait to listen to it. When the time finally comes, instead of euphoria there is only frustration: the thing sounds like a forest fire. The colleague’s answer was something like “Well, you still like a little crackling, right?” He really was a nice and personable guy, but at this point I knew he had no idea what I was talking about. To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, in this article I’ll walk you through the process of reducing crackling noises from your record player and improving your overall listening experience.
What is crackling and what is not?
When we talk about the crackling sound of a record player in this article, we mean a short, sharp noise. As described in the introduction, it sounds similar to crackling wood in a fire. As soon as we perceive a sound consistently, it is either a hum or a hiss. If you think a humming sound might be your problem, it’s best to check the grounding of your turntable. If the tracking force and/or anti-skating is set incorrectly or not at all, tracking errors can result in crackling noises. These noises are typically volume dependent and, strictly speaking, distortion, which is why we will not consider them further here. Just this much: the tracking force and anti-skating should be adjusted properly before you dig deeper into record player crackling.
Causes of record player crackling
There are essentially a few different reasons that can lead to a record player crackling. Let’s look at them in order of probability.
Cause #1 for record player crackling: Dirt and dust
Over time, dust and dirt can build up on your records and the stylus. When the stylus slides through the groove, these particles deflect it in the same way as the modulated signal. Due to their short but very fast deflection, the noise sounds like a sharp cracking or popping sound. Since you’re reading this, I don’t need to explain to you how annoying this is.
Scratches and damage
When a cozy dinner with friends turns into a lively party at three in the morning, it can happen that a record goes its own way. Unfortunately, the one of gravity and not the one you came up with for it. In this case, even small flaws can result in unpleasant crackling. In contrast to the hangover the next day, the flaw remains and will annoy you until the end of your days.
Have you ever noticed that records often crackle more loudly at the beginning of the lead-in groove than during the individual tracks? The reason is the stylus, which has to hit the groove properly when it is placed on the record surface and can therefore damage it a little. Over the lifespan of a record, these little flaws accumulate into a veritable hail of pops.
Worn stylus
A worn stylus can cause crackling and distortion in audio playback. Barring accidents, this effect increases gradually over time. What is striking about this reason is that all records crackle to a similar extent.
Countermeasures for record player crackling
Now that we know the main reasons, it is time to look at their remedies. Let’s do this step by step again.
Keep your records clean
Since there is a separate article on cleaning records, I will only briefly go over the essential steps here:
- First, carefully remove all loose dirt and dust particles from the record surface using a carbon fiber brush. It’s best to let the record spin, place the brush near the center and slowly guide it down the outer edge of the record. This procedure should be a ritual that you celebrate every time you put the record on.
- If that doesn’t help, it’s time for a wet cleaning. For this I recommend gentle cleaning with a vinegar-based liquid.
Keep an eye on your stylus
I recommend taking a rough look at the stylus before each session. To clean the stylus, use a special brush with or without a dedicated cleaning solution. Gently brush the stylus from back to front to remove any residue. Since the stylus is subject to a certain amount of wear and tear, you should take a closer look at it from time to time. For example, you can use a jeweler’s loupe to see if you notice any irregularities at the tip. If you are interested in macro photography, you can also take on this challenge. To increase the challenge even further, feel free to expose on large format film, but rest assured, a digital camera will also work. If you notice signs of wear during your observations, it’s time for a new stylus or a new cartridge.
Handle your records carefully
To prevent scratches, the only thing that helps is to handle your records carefully. There is also a separate article on this topic, so I would just like to list the most important points here.
- Only hold your records by the edge and never touch the surface with the groove
- Place your records in a soft sleeve and not just on the table
- Practice handling simpler records before you go wild with your treasures at a party
- Since placing the stylus can cause minor flaws: Run the record from start to finish and don’t try to skip individual tracks.
Store your records properly
I go into more detail about storage in the article on cleaning records. At this point I would just like to emphasize once again the importance of the inner sleeves. Paper sleeves in particular are not ideal as they are abrasive and can damage the surface of the record. Since dust is the main reason for crackling, you should of course also make sure that it is stored as dust-protected as possible.
Record player crackling: Conclusion
To be honest: my colleague wasn’t entirely wrong. You can never completely prevent the crackling in the long term. And yes, it’s part of the game. Ultimately, everyone has to decide for themselves whether they think that’s a good thing or not. Personally, I stick to the tips listed here and can therefore listen to my records as crackle-free as possible. And thanks to years of psychological support, I no longer get sweaty hands when a pop occurs after long, crackling-free minutes. At least most of the time. Kind of.