Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site


In the Forum: Analog Playback
In the Thread: Micro Seiki RX-5000 static discharge issue
Post Subject: Micro Seiki RX-5000 static discharge issuePosted by rom661 on: 7/4/2022
Hi.  First time posting.  I had long admired an older friend's RX-5000.  He left it to me when he passed last year (RIP, Bill) and I recently got possession and did a lot of cleanup on a table that had been sitting for a couple of decades.  He has owned it for at least 30 years, I think since it was new.  It has a Grado Signature Laboratory Standard tonearm and I have a Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua cartridge mounted.  Bearing seems OK both in terms of moving freely and not discernible noise with a stethoscope.
The issue is static.  When the platter is spinning, with the tonearm down or not, within a short time it builds up tremendous static.  The discharge when you touch the tonearm lift or chassis jolts you.  I suspect it is causing some low level noise as well, even though the table is incredibly quiet otherwise.  It is grounded via the tonearm cable to my phono stage.  I'm going back and forth between a Soundeck PM mat and an acrylic one.  I like things about both.  Also have a high dollar composite, like felt and resin, felt off of a Rega Planar 10 (kills the sound) and a generic cork mat.  None affect the issue.  It is humid now and the humidity in the room is not low. Nothing else in the system has the problem and the Rega is fine when I move it back.  I'm flummoxed.  Could it be static generated from the bearing?  I'm an old timer but out of my element here.  Thanks.

Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site