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Trouble Decreasing Treble

My current setup:

VPI Prime Scout w/ JMW 9” arm
Hana SL MC Cart
Lehmannaudio Black Cube SE II
Line Magnetic 211ia
GoldenEar Triton 5

I recently bought the VPI and Hana to complete my setup (for now). Certain genres like electronic and indie rock (think James Blake and Sufjan Stevens) sound amazing while other artist with heavier rock influences like the Black Keys are frankly irritating to listen to.

As far as I can tell the VTA wheel on the Prime Scout is useless as it only raises the height of the cue lever and tail end of the arm. I’ve resorted to adjusting the VTA by lowering the pivot needle itself, but now I’ve bottomed out and while the bass is good the treble is still too high. Does anyone have any insight or additional info that might help me out?

Additional info:
Hana SL recommended impedance >400 ohms
BC SE II set to MC 1 kohm 

-Thanks
ddemilto3
mdelrossi1
79 posts
 
@ddemiltio3,
With great upgrade come great responsibility, I think Yoda said that.

You moved from a really good cartridge, to one that really needs special set up to get the best out of it. Shibatas are particularly finicky, but once you get it setup, it’s excellent. I moved from an Ortofon Bronze 2m and noticed a marked decrease in surface noise, better dynamics and soundstage. So stick with it!
larryi
4,055 posts
 
I would first try "free" changes.  At 1k ohm, for the load impedance, you are running the cartridge a little "hot" in terms of treble response.  You could try a different loading, including a setting below the 400 ohm setting recommended by the cartridge manufacturer.  I would try something around 100 ohms, if that is possible.

If the cartridge sounds right with some music, but, not others, you will probably just have to live with some compromise setup.  
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

''The increased treble'' is well known problem by MC carts. I own

Klyne 7 PX3.5 Phono amp with ''High Frequency Contour'' by

which one can decrease HF by choice. The values between

15 Khz till 40 Khz can be chosen while the needed switches

are marked in the user manual. There is a list with 25 '''well

known carts'' with recommended values. I have no idea if other

phono-pres have similar provision. My other phono-pre; the

Basis Exclusive lacks such provision.

yeti42's avatar
yeti42
287 posts
 
Too high a resistance load will make the highs rather piercing, get it too low and the bass goes rather too soft. It looks like there's provision to customise the load so you should be able to land right on the optimum with a bit of effort.How are you measuring VTF, If not at playing height are you allowing for the C fo G moving forward as the stylus is lifted? This will give a higher reading on your scales than is applied to the stylus when playing if your scales are higher than the record's surface. I used to use a Naim Aro uni pivot and for a DV17d2 it sounded it's best with a reading of 2.42g with the scales placed on the platter, with my previous Rega the playing weight optimised at 1.95g for the same cartridge (with the spring dialed out)
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