Weird issue with my VPI... please help

OK, here's some more info.

When I first noticed how weird it sounded (absent midbass etc) I quickly tried another phono stage - a Pro-ject Tube Box SE II and in about 30 seconds assessed that it didn't sound much different (leading me to suspect the cartridge or turntabe setup).

This morning I tried the Tube Box again with the Aerosmith LP and it played the 'missing lick' just fine; also noticed the soundstage was much wider than the Rhea. Going back to the Rhea it pretty much collapses to the center. If I really listen closely, I can hear the missing lick, but it's normally mixed very forward. You'd think if it wasn't playing one channel it would be obvious (e.g. the image wouldn't be centered between the speakers). So there's something wrong with the Rhea.

But it doesn't stop there exactly. While it sounds better on the inexpensive Tube Box phono stage, it still doesn't sound at all full - like there are dips all over the place. It's not the speaker or preamps because If I play a CD, the frequency spectrum is fine.

Any suggestions?

Starting to really sound like a bad cart. Could have an intermittent coil connection... I'd contact the dealer.

Must be a wiring issue within the cartridge.

My experience is that Shelter performs absolutely outstanding in a VPI TT, so stick with it and isolate the problem.

Bad cartridge...no setup error that I know will make a cartridge sound like that. I agree about Shelter cartridges...they sound fine in a VPI arm. Call back your dealer, explain the problem and get an RA number to send it back.

Shelters are low to medium compliance cartridges. As such the ideal tonearm for them is not a unipivot such as VPI. Of course they will "work", but won't be optimized. The cartridge/tonearm combination is critical for top performance.

In fact, Shelters do much better in fixed bearing tonearms.

Anybody with analog experience would know this.