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Why does my system sound so shrill and distorted?

My system has been sounding very shrill and in some situations it will have a little distortion in the higher dynamic range with vocals and horns. I have used the feickert protractor to align my cartridge and have tried all three of the different geometries with not much change. Any ideas?

My set up,

Wilson Benesch Full Circle turntable with ACT TWO tonearm 9gm effective mass

Grado Reference Platinum cartridge 20cu compliance, I have a Sound Smith Carmen on the way.

Grado PH-1 Phono pre, Musical Fidelity M1 phono pre on the way

Manley Stingray II, pretty much always run in triode mode

Sonus Faber Liuto Monitors

cables are all Cardas Quadlink's

Thanks,
Thomas
ohnofiasco
ohnofiasco OP
49 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses they have been very helpful and I think I finally have this nailed down.

Nanbil,

I just got the M1 vinyl in and its fantastic, It has a little bit of a clinical side to it with a pepper smidgen less lows than I normally go for but considering my room much welcomed splash of precision. The sound stage is fantastic, has a very clean top end, and the definition in the lows is really good. Plus you have to like the loading options.
jkorten
36 posts
 
Where are you located? If in NYC - we can arrange you come over to my place with a favorite record, I go to yours. Can compare and contrast. Sometimes it is not related to tonearm etc. But instead something completely different. Like you don't have a VPI brick near your wall outlet. Or a phasing problem from a mis-wired cartridge. Let me know if you are in the area.

Also you need a good cartridge protractor to set it up correctly, along with VTA of course. The latter being one of the most important influences on sound I know of.

Jerry
ohnofiasco OP
49 posts
 
Sorry just noticed your post Jkorten, I live in TN. I just recently got the Well Tempered Labs Amadeus and I am now in complete audio bliss, ha. But really it is that big of a change.
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