Stopping Turntable Feedback and Skipping: Placement and Isolation

To stop turntable feedback and skipping, get the turntable away from the speakers, put it on a solid, level surface that does not flex or vibrate, and reduce the vibration that travels through the furniture and floor. Feedback shows up as a low boom or howl that builds when you turn the volume up. Skipping usually points to a level, vibration or setup problem. Start with placement and leveling, because they are free and fix more problems than new gear does.

This guide is about where and how the turntable sits. It is separate from speaker placement and stands, which our guide to speaker stands and isolation covers. Everything here is done with the system switched off or at low volume, and nothing involves opening a powered unit.

What Feedback and Skipping Look Like

The two problems have different symptoms, even though they share causes.

• Acoustic feedback: a low, booming or rumbling sound that gets louder with the volume, sometimes building into a howl. The speaker sound is reaching the turntable and being picked up again by the stylus.
• Skipping or jumping: the stylus leaps out of the groove or repeats a section. It can be set off by footsteps or by the speakers themselves.
• Rumble: a low, steady noise that comes from the deck, the motor or the floor, and does not change much with the music.

Not every case is a placement problem. A worn stylus, a warped record, a wrong tracking force or a damaged groove can all cause skipping. Rule out placement first, since it is easy, and then look at the stylus and setup. Our guide to when to replace a stylus on a used turntable covers the stylus side.

Quick Test: Is It Vibration?

Play a record at a normal, moderate volume. Without touching the turntable, tap the shelf or furniture beside it lightly with a knuckle. If you hear thumping in the speakers, the surface is passing vibration to the stylus. Then stamp lightly on the floor nearby. If the sound jumps or thumps, floor vibration is the problem.

Do not turn the volume up to hunt for feedback, since that can strain the speakers. If you suspect feedback, turn the volume down first, then move one thing at a time.

Step 1: Separate the Turntable From the Speakers

The most common cause is a turntable sitting on the same cabinet, shelf or stand as a loudspeaker, or right beside one. Sound from the speaker travels through the air and the furniture into the deck. Try this:

• Move the turntable to a different piece of furniture, away from the speakers.
• Keep the speakers on their own stands or surfaces, not on the turntable's shelf.
• Increase the distance between the deck and the speakers, particularly when bass-heavy speakers are close.

Our speaker placement guide explains how to position speakers so they work for the room and stay clear of the turntable.

Step 2: Choose a Solid, Level Surface

A turntable wants a surface that does not flex, wobble or ring. Soft, springy shelves and hollow, thin furniture behave like a speaker cone and send vibration straight to the stylus. Look for the following:

• A sturdy cabinet or table that does not shake when you tap it or walk by.
• A wall-mounted shelf fixed to solid support, following the shelf maker's load rating and instructions. Wall shelves connect the deck to the building and away from the floor.
• A heavy base or platform under the deck, if the furniture is not as solid as you would like.

Check the level of both the surface and the deck itself. Our turntable setup guide walks through leveling, tracking force and anti-skate. A deck that leans can skip even in a quiet room.

Step 3: Deal With the Floor

On suspended wooden floors, footsteps and speaker bass can shake furniture and reach the stylus. Some ways to reduce this:

• Place the turntable on a wall-mounted shelf or against a solid wall.
• Move the rack away from the middle of the room, where floors tend to flex more.
• Avoid placing the deck where people walk past it.
• Keep the furniture steady, with all feet touching the floor.

Step 4: Add Isolation

Isolation products sit between the deck and the surface, or between the furniture and the floor. They aim to absorb vibration instead of passing it on. Common choices include isolating feet, a dense platform and a purpose-built rack.

Be realistic about what they do. They help, but they cannot fix a poorly chosen location. If the deck has its own suspension, the manual will say whether extra footers help or interfere. Follow the maker's instructions, and do not add anything that changes how the deck's own feet or springs work without checking.

Dust Covers, Mats and Other Small Things

Some manuals say to play with the dust cover closed, and others say open. Follow yours, because cover position can change how sound reaches the deck. Make sure the mat is the one the manual calls for and sits flat. Check that the cartridge is secure and the tonearm moves freely. Our guide to replacing a turntable belt helps if speed or motor noise is part of the problem.

When to Stop and Ask for Help

If moving the deck and leveling it does not fix a persistent rumble, hum or skip, the cause may be inside the deck or elsewhere in the system. Hum is a different problem from feedback, and our guide to troubleshooting hum and buzz sorts them apart. Do not open the turntable or other mains-powered components to look. A qualified technician can check the motor, bearing and wiring.