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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
odourboy
herman
2,253 posts
 
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.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
The only suggestion I can make is to recheck the wiring from the four cartridge pins to be sure it's correct. Also be sure the stylus is fully seated into the cartridge. A Shure V15VxMR simply doesn't sound like this. Something is seriously wrong here, as you surmise. Good luck, Dave
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
You're most-probably using MM cartridge onto MC section or your load impedance of your phono is too low.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
I tend to agree with Dopoque and Herman. Something doesn't sound right based on my experience with the V15VxMR. If I understand correctly, both phono stages and the Shure are pretty new so there may be a chance that things need to break in more. The Shure can need up to 50 hrs to come in. A phono stage can take up to 250 hrs. But usually you get a very bright, flat sound until break in occurs. I would recommend taking a deep breath, slowly and carefully recheck everything, then decide if it might be worth waiting until things get a few more hours on them. There is a slight chance that there is an interconnect issue between the table and phono stages. Try swapping these out.

As for your question about comparing a CD and LP of the same material I would whole-heartedly say that it is a fair thing to do. I do it all the time. The LP usually wins but there have been cases where a remastered CD might edge out the LP.

Hang in there, you'll get it sooner or later and then you will be so glad you did.
pauly
1,012 posts
 
I would suggest you make sure the TT is well isolated. Non-sprung tables like the Rega need to be placed on vibration free platform. I also had issues with a glass platter, which was remedied by changing an acrylic one.

Also, some LP’s do sound worse than the CD, especially recent recordings where the recording is digital. Vinyl cut from digital recordings normally sound worse than a cheap CD and is actually the worst of both worlds. I have the latest Sound Garden and Metallica on CD and vinyl. The vinyl sounds terrible. However my Led Zeppelin vinyl is waaaay better than any Zeppelin CD’s I have heard.
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