I would reccomend you have a local dealer set it up for you, that way you know for sure it's setup correctly. I had a really hard time myself. Others will be able to help you more I'm sure.
Good Luck
Good Luck
What's Wrong With My Cartridge/Setup?
Please help this newbie sort out a problem with my cartridge, tonearm or installation.
Here's my system: Shure V15VxMR Cartridge mounted on an older Rega Planar 2 Turntable with glass platter into either an Audio Experience Concerto Tube Phono Preamp or a Conrad Johnson SC-22P SS FET Phono Preamp (in a homebrew box) into a CJ Preamp and Anthem Amp-1 tube amp. This system is new to me (most parts are used with the exception of the cartridge which was bought with 'only a few hours use' and the phono preamp (which I ran for 30 hours burn-in).
So here's the problem: My LPs sound like crap. The highs are badly attenuated, the lows are a weak and the entire sound lacks punch. The sound field is totally flat. I've compared a number of vinyl LPs to CD releases of the same material played on my Music Hall CD-25 and the CDs sound considerably better than the vinyl.
I've played with some of the mechanical parameters of the cartridge (tracking alignment, VTA, weight, anti-skating) using a test LP and a scope (as well as my ears). The changes generally have a audible effect but are small compared to the magnitude of the problem. The loading the cartridge is 'seeing' was measured to be very close to the spec of 47K ohms and 250 pF. The two phono preamps I've tried sound pretty similar, so the problem would appear to be with the cartridge/turntable/tonearm setup.
Any ideas? Could cartridge break-in account for such a major sonic impact? Is it fair to compare an LP to a CD of the same material? Help!!!
.... Brian
Here's my system: Shure V15VxMR Cartridge mounted on an older Rega Planar 2 Turntable with glass platter into either an Audio Experience Concerto Tube Phono Preamp or a Conrad Johnson SC-22P SS FET Phono Preamp (in a homebrew box) into a CJ Preamp and Anthem Amp-1 tube amp. This system is new to me (most parts are used with the exception of the cartridge which was bought with 'only a few hours use' and the phono preamp (which I ran for 30 hours burn-in).
So here's the problem: My LPs sound like crap. The highs are badly attenuated, the lows are a weak and the entire sound lacks punch. The sound field is totally flat. I've compared a number of vinyl LPs to CD releases of the same material played on my Music Hall CD-25 and the CDs sound considerably better than the vinyl.
I've played with some of the mechanical parameters of the cartridge (tracking alignment, VTA, weight, anti-skating) using a test LP and a scope (as well as my ears). The changes generally have a audible effect but are small compared to the magnitude of the problem. The loading the cartridge is 'seeing' was measured to be very close to the spec of 47K ohms and 250 pF. The two phono preamps I've tried sound pretty similar, so the problem would appear to be with the cartridge/turntable/tonearm setup.
Any ideas? Could cartridge break-in account for such a major sonic impact? Is it fair to compare an LP to a CD of the same material? Help!!!
.... Brian
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- 18 posts total
The LP should sound as good or better than the CD. With the stylus in the groove check to make sure the botttom of the cartridge looks to be close to parallel with record from the side and isn't tilted when looking from the front. If the tracking force is close and it's not twisted way left or right in the headshell looking from the top then it should sound way better than you describe even if it's not optimized. Perhaps you got burned with a defective cartridge. I wouldn't trust a used cartridge from anybody. Is the cantilever straight? Is the stylus broken off? You could buy an entry level cartridge to test with. |
- 18 posts total