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A pitch too High!

Recently, I damaged the V2 MM cartridge of Clearaudio Concept Wood turntable, so had it changed with a Grado Prestige Blue. The VTF for V2 is 2.2g while Grado blue stands at 1.5g. I took someone’s help to fix this. He even made azimuth adjustments and it sounded fine. But I soon realised that the sound had become thinner, voice being the primary indicator and just before the stylus landed on the record, it skipped back a bit then hit the record. Sometimes the tonearm would skip all the way out of the record, backwards. I called the guy back, and he felt the VTF should be fixed to around 2g to avoid the backward skip. He did so and that problem was licked and it seemed the voice thinning issue had also vanished. But last night, I put on the first pressing of Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace, and all along I found her pitch way higher, it was all too high pitched and uncomfortable. Seemed the bass had gone missing a little. On my Boulder 866, I could immediately hear the difference when the track was played through Roon. It was not as high pitched, thin as it sounded on analogue. I intend to call the guy again but wanted to know from experts here as to what the issue could be.
128x128terrible
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@terrible , the Voice comes in two compliance versions mid and high. With the 309 I would go for the Mid compliance version. You might have to add a little weight. Soundsmith makes very nice graded cartridge screws. They come in a set of four different weights. You order the cartridge directly from Soundsmith on their web site. As far as I can tell The Voice is in stock. 

The Hana tracking is listed by them as 70 um. This is not as good as a $4000 cartridge should be. The Soundsmith will do an easy 80 um if not 90 and at a lighter VTF.  The Kleos spec is not listed but I have used one and it tracks fine. I can easily recommend both the Kleos and the Soundsmith as I have used and listened to both. I have not used or heard the Hana. 

terrible's avatar
terrible OP
44 posts
 

@mijostyn I went for the Voice. I got one at Absolute Sound, they told me its prefectly compatible to my tonearm as well as the 508 in MM. It is mid compliance. Where do I order the screws.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@terrible , https://www.sound-smith.com/accessories/ez-mount-cartridge-screws

terrible's avatar
terrible OP
44 posts
 

@mijostyn I figured yesterday and ordered these too. Thank you much for all your help. I am going to give the Anti-Skate that little further nudge too. Though the sound right now is much better that it has been in all my attempts. 

However, one more noob question is, when do I realise that I need these screws? Is there something that will not sit well?

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@terrible , Yes, the tonearm's primary resonance frequency. You want it between 8 and 12 Hz. I shoot for between 8 and 10 Hz. Now, I have to spend more of your money. Get the Hi Fi News Analog Test LP. It has special resonance tracks for both lateral and vertical resonance. When you hit the resonance frequency the carrier tone will warble and if you look closely you will see your tonearm shaking. The Tracks are self explanatory. Lateral is more important. If it starts shaking above 12 Hz you need to add weight. If it shakes below 8 Hz you have to remove weight.

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