Thanks for your replies, it is much apprecitated.
The popping is in both channels. It is only since getting this turntable that I am for the first time using the phono input on my amp, so it wouldn’t entirely surprise me if the problem lies there either.
I just assumed that it was the turntable because the noise is directly corrolating to physical movement around the turntable.
I also beleive the same noise is happening while a record is playing. – would this make it less likely to be the muting switch?