Trying to get back into Lps, I seem to be throwing

In my experience, bass is one of cd's strengths compared to LP, so if that's your focus you're possibly in trouble. Lp's--even done cheaply (I have a very old Thorens table and a $50 cartridge)--have a quality of 'aliveness' that I don't find in cd's. Are you getting any of that? Good luck, and since you know what lp's sound like from way back, you should be able to achieve good results. I wonder sometimes about newbies who read the descriptions of analogue playback but have never heard it and what they must think the first time the needle runs over a scratch in the record.

I have a Blackbird (with MMF-7 TT and PH-3 phonostage) and it took a really long time to break in. Also the Blackbird will reveal any problems you have with other components.

The Blackbird comes with a really good booklet that you should follow. It recommends about 1 degree negative VTA (front of arm higher than back). Of course your experience may vary.

It also recommends readjusting after at least 50 hours becuase the "suspension" of the cartridge will soften up as it is broken in. So really there are two break-ins going on, electronically and mechanically. Of course if your phono stage is being used for the first time you have three breakin periods. Even more if your cables are new too.

BTW, if you are using the cables that came with the TT I am assuming it is the same stuff that is used with the Music Hall TT and that cable is cr-p so you may want to try a new one. Hang in there and readjust VTA and VTF after about 50-60 full LPs. Reassess your options after that.

I've stopped caring about people like this.

Why the f&*^%k are you throwing so much money into gear? Because you heard vinyl was superior to CD? Or because you actually heard a setup that dazzled.

If the former, serves you right. If the latter, get the same setup as the one you heard.

I have a 2 turntables hooked up to my C22/MC275 combination. An old Shure V15 Type III on a "high end" Technics and a Music Hall MMF7.

Both play excellant! I think the Sumiko is your problem...

Larkyparka, the only reason I am asking for help in this forum is to find solutions that will produce the best possible sound from my existing equiptment and to purchase if necessary, the only things that will allow me to reach that goal. It's a lot cheaper to get good advice from the knowledgable people in this forum then simply buy what I think will work. After all I have been away from vinyl for more than 20 years now and with 600+ Lps that haven't seen a turntable in that time span, things have changed. In the past I would audition stereo components before I purchased them, unfourtionetly there are no high end audio stores in my location.