Tracking modern pop recordings with very loud bass

@mapman, there are many inexpensive setups that will track difficult records beautifully. Take a Rega P3, put an Audio Technica VM95 ML in it and you will have an excellent tracking turntable for $1300

Good to see specific recommendations including table/cart combo. That with tonearm is likely the key based on my experience which is mostly with a bunch of tables from many years ago.

I will keep that in mind for when time comes to replace my old but still beautifully functioning Linn Axis. It’s never failed me on any record I own and I own hundreds, some even (gasp) somewhat warped which is tracking's biggest bane in practice,  but all older releases mostly from the golden age of vinyl, no new vinyl releases.

I had a less expensive Rega Planar table of some sort briefly before the Linn back in the 80s and did not care for the sound, but I never really spent any time to try and get it set up well and that was a long time ago.

Warped records were always the biggest  problem for me in particular prior to the Linn which never has a problem. 

You know of course most older records even new were never perfectly flat.  I suspect never ones are not either.  I suppose one could use a weight or other supplemental gear if needed to address warped records but just neve been an issue with the Linn like prior. 

But can can any good quality vinyl rig track those well? How hard is it and what does it take? Does it take an audiophile vinyl setup to track modern pop recordings like these well? Cost?

@


For the most part, 'any good quality' vinyl rig will do the job, depending on what is meant by 'good quality'. 


I run a Triplanar and I've yet to find anything it can't track effortlessly. People often ask if I'm playing CDs because there simply isn't any distortion (although it is smoother than CDs usually are) and since my preamp is designed with good high frequency overload margins (which isn't hard BTW), my playback tends to be free of ticks and pops.


I run an an LP mastering operation; we use an old Technics SL1200 I got on craigslist for $400.00, for testing to see if our cuts will be playable by a non-audiophile setup. I Installed a Grado Gold in it, and it works really quite well. Of course there are a bunch of things you can do to a machine like that- KAB has lots of cool aftermarket parts for it. So if you are on a budget you can make it happen if you are careful.


The role of the platter pad should not be overlooked! If it is too soft it will affect the bass, if its too hard the highs will be emphasized. The platter pad should be able to absorb vibration from the LP so that the playback is more neutral. So felt and the like really don't work although they are great for DJs.

@atmasphere

What platter pad do you recommend?

 I always felt the issue with the Rega way back when was a thin felt pad on a glass platter.  Just a hunch.

Thanks.

I run an an LP mastering operation; we use an old Technics SL1200 I got on craigslist for $400.00, for testing to see if our cuts will be playable by a non-audiophile setup. I Installed a Grado Gold in it, and it works really quite well.

Watching this video from Grado Labs NYC anyone can recognize even older Technics. This is a turntable to test cartridges at Grado Labs.

Here is another example of the cheapest Shure cartridge suspension (extreme test) in slow motion video. That was a $50 cartridge. It will track everything including some shitty warped records with very loud bass.

Here is warped as hell record played on another cheap turntable with very cheap cartridge that don’t even skip!

I am not talking about quality here, the OP posted some nonsense about bass response and tracking abilities of a phono cartridges. He doubt a phono cartridge can reproduce bass without miss tracking. Even dirt cheap phono cartridge can do that without skipping on very cheap $400 Technics turntable, so you can imagine what a $500 cartridge can do on $1000 tonearm on $1500 turntable?

If you experienced miss tracking then your cartridge or your tonearm is junk (or you don’t know how to set up it well).

Trying over 60 different carts on 15 different tonearm over the years I can remember only ONE cartridge with terrible tracking abilities, it was low compliance Ortofon SPU, I returned this sample to the shop, I think it was a defective unit.

If you want a bad ass bass response you need a 12" inch single, not an LP version. When they cut 12" inch there is one ONE track per side, it can be louder and better, a high modulation require more room on vinyl surface.

If you’re looking for a turntable buy yourself brand new $1700 SL1200GR or cheaper $900 mk7

Rega is awful and overpriced turntable in my opinion.