[kingdeezie]

I have been on here asking many questions about how to get rid of static...

No Chairguy, I haven't gotten a RCM  ...hopefully soon.

The question I do have though, is can static alter the sound?

I know that static definitely increases noise, but can it also negatively effect the actual music coming off of the LP?

There is always this sort of harshness that lurks below the surface, regardless of phono stage or equipment.

Now, it could be that my cartridge is set up improperly or broken, but I want to rule out simpler options first.

I definitely have a static issue; it swooshes throughout the entirety of playback; so, can this be causing the sound quality issues?

[TheChairGuy]

Ha

Hey, I'd be the next-to-last-person to tell you that you'd have to get any so-and-so to enjoy vinyl.....but, if you know you have static issues that alone is worth eradicating to see what's left to tackle in the sonic chain.

The only near-surefire way I am aware of is running your records thru a record cleaning machine with a wet solution vigorously applied beforehand.  It really is pretty shocking how much improvement is wrought be using one.

Remember, you're asking a painfully small stylus tip to ride in sinfully small grooves trying to extract sound.  A clump of dirt, dust or bacteria, too small to ever see with the naked eye, can toss your cartridge out of the groove and not allowing for optimal tracking.  While in the groove, the eeny-weeny stylus goes scraping along at the bottom and sides running into all obstacles.

Sure, static could be causing less-than-ideal sonics for you....but, built-up and original dirt / dust / bacteria are definitely causing deterioration of the whole effect.

Once you have clean records - you are able to more accurately pinpoint other issues in your vinyl set-up (if you have any more than just that - filthy, static-clung records)

John

 

[Browntrout]

Hello. What cartridge are you using?

[kingdeezie]

I am using a Dynavector 20-X HO on a J.A. Michell Tonearm on a JA Michell Gyrodec.

[Browntrout]

For me if I let static build up the effect on the sound is a very slight closing in of the sound and in extreme cases a bit of reduction in smoothness together with the odd pop maybe.
  Swooshing sounds to me like something mechanical. Is the swooshing in time with the rotation of the platter? Looking at your arm during playback does the cart end move in and out with each rotation?
  Pretty much all moving coils sound harsh to me compared to moving magnets perhaps you can also pick up on this character trait?

[kingdeezie]

I don't think it has anything to do with a mechanical issue; its possible I could be wrong...

Perhaps swooshing was a bad description of it...

However, my crawl space dehumidifer overloaded the other day after a bad storm and shut off. I didn't know it had happened, and while sitting down listening to vinyl it sounded better then ever before!!

However, a few hours later I started to smell that wet, damp, molded water smell coming from my air vents, and I had to go down into the crawl space and turn it back on, once again dehumidifying the air and bringing the static back.

[analognut]

Part of the staic problem can be caused by the clothes you wear. Natural fibers are more conductive and will inhibit static charge from building up around you. The soles of your shoes can also have a big effect on static buildup. Try going barefoot to see if that helps.

I live in a very dry climate and perhaps surprisingly, have no static issues whatsoever in my TT. I do not have a Zerostat or any other similar device.

95% of my vinyl is stored in anti-static sleeves. The rest is in old paper sleeves because I ran out and never got around to buying more.

My TT sits about waist height in my home and I often go shirtless. When I place an LP on the TT that has come out of a paper sleeve I can feel the hairs on my belly standing up due to the static charge. (Not to mention that paper sleeves trash the vinyl you're trying so hard to keep clean). When putting one on an LP from an anti-static sleeve there is no hair-raising effect at all, pun intended.

Conclusion: Storing LPs in anti-static sleeves completely eliminates static buildup on the vinyl, regardless of the relative humidity.