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Sussurro MkII and surface noise?

I know there are a bunch of folks here using the SoundSmith Susurro MkII. I just finished setting mine up on my VPI Avenger and really the first thing I noticed is how much more surface noise it picks up off my records. I mean, by a lot. My previous go to cart has been a Benz Wood SL, one of the later ones with the MR stylus. I found that to be relatively quiet. The SS uses a O.C. Line Contact type stylus - not quite the same as a MR, but if anything I'd have thought it would be contacting areas of the groove not as heavily traveled as with the MR stylus, thinking it might be either the same or quieter. Not the case by a long shot. Anyone else experience higher surface noise with the Sussurro MkII?
tonyptony
tonyptony OP
628 posts
 
New cart.

@mijostyn, yes that's a good approach. AnalogMagik's paradigm is that these interrelated adjustments are all optimized through the minimization of distortion as measured during each adjustment, cycling through the adjustments as needed (in a particular order) until the lowest distortion values are reached. I'm only just learning the ins and outs of this program, so maybe it's a good idea to fall back to a known method for this. 
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@tonyptony I would concur. My experience with AnalogMagik is that it’s great for really fine tuning a setup that’s already good, but the sheer pita nature of going back and forth make it a tricky approach to getting to an initial setup.

Sounds like you have the tools and experience to get to a good place “by ear” so try this and then go back to AM once that’s done.

Also most cartridges need 20-40 hours to bed in and edginess and the behaviors you describe are typical of a new cart still needing to settle in
tonyptony OP
628 posts
 
Thanks @folkfreak. I agree. 
testpilot
991 posts
 
I had a similar issue.  I set up my arm/cartridge using the AnalogMagik software and got it all dialed in from a numbers standpoint, but I didn't like the sound. I fine tuned the set up by ear and was able to get the performance I was looking for.  Since the only person that I need to please is myself (from a system perspective), I did not feel the need to remeasure and validate my set up using the software. 
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