Cartridge Upgrade ...AT ART-9?

I wanted to ask you about the sibilance in one channel you mentioned. You said both your tables do the same thing so i'm wondering if there is an issue with the model or if because of the age there is similar issues with set up

@glennewdick - SL15 has VTF adjustment screw & meter to gauge , very difficult to see....could be the problem ....I thought it was odd its both decks as well....2 different systems with same issues odd...

 There is no anti-skating to adjust in a straight line tracking tonearm. So that per se should not be the problem or a cause of distortion in the left channel. What I am wondering about is whether you are having some friction in the bearing of the straight-line tonearm that is retarding its motion across the surface of the LP. This could cause distortion, possibly in one channel. 

You can just buy this brand new Technics SL1500c that coming later this year. The best design in my opinion. There is a built-in phono stage as i can see in the press-release ?

" Las Vegas, NV, United States, 7 January 2019 – Technics today unveiled the new SL-1500C Premium Class Direct Drive Turntable System. The SL-1500C inherits the brand’s high-end sound quality concept and adds a host of original Technics technologies, such as a coreless direct drive motor and high-- sensitivity tonearm. To simplify the playing of analogue records, the built-in Phono EQ connects to a wide variety of devices. The SL-1500C also comes equipped with a high-quality Ortofon 2M Red phono cartridge.
The SL-1500C is a complete turntable system designed for a wide range of users, even outside of strictly dedicated audio enthusiasts."

Dear @toommypenngotti :  Definetely a LOMC cartridge is a serious up-grade over MM/MI cartridges. These ones are good options for you:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9a5f8-air-tight-pc-3-phono-cartridge-cartridges   excellent performer an better than the ART9, builded by My Sonic Labs cartridge manufacturer.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis99d02-audio-technica-art-7-lomc-price-break-cartridges    very good option as alternative to the ART 9 witn advantages over the 9 and at excellent price.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9a9d2-dynavector-dv-xx2-mkii-_warranty-included-cartridges  this too is a very good performer and is new sample.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9a444-shelter-501-mkii-cartridges

Shelter never dissapoint me.

Now for those kind of LOMC cartridges you need a good solid state ( tubes destroy any cartridge signal that pass trhough it. Forgeret about tubes. Tubes are for sound lovers but not for MUSIC lovers. )phono stage design and a good TT as the one you mentioned: Technics   1200G that comes with very good magnesium tonearm and removable headshell where you can use your 205CMK3 too.

You can re-tip your 205CMK3 through: 

http://www.phonocartridgeretipping.com/   ask to Andy boron/microridge cantilever combination that outperforms easily the original version you own by a wide margin ( not only because is better stylus shape but solid boron is superior to hollow one or berilyum. ) and you can buy the plug-in adaptor for a universal removable headshell ( in the 1200G. ) through ebay or Soundsmith.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Re-tipping Technics cartridges is a very bad idea, refurbishing it with a different cantilever is a completely waste of money. I don’t want to start all over again, it’s all on this forum and anyone can search for it. Andy destroyed jpjones cartridge, Axel refurbished mine for Foxtan from whom i bought it "as the original" (he cheated me) and later when i compared refurbished cart with original the original was so much better (day and night difference).

Easily buy another cartridge if you have a problem with Technics cartridge, the AT-ML180 is much better than Technics 205c mk4. Or LOMC if you wish to.

SoundSmith does not guarantee a possibility of re-tipping Technics, i asked him ones. For any re-tipper it is more "like a project", they can do that maybe, or maybe they can destroy your cartridge. This is a very expensive and too complicated job. Actually original cartridge is always better, much better to invest more money in better cartridge. After all the P205mk3 is not so special as the mk4.