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Help with vinyl frustration?

I guess it is my turn for some frustration with set up. I've read posts about it, but haven't encountered it until now.
I bought a new ScoutMaster about 4-5 months ago. I installed a brand new Dynavector 20XL which is supposedly a good match. However I have never sensed the magic that I believe this TT is capable of providing. I have checked and rechecked all calibrations. I have been up and down the scale of VTF/VTA. The problem persists.
The problem is that on certain songs on certain albums the vocals and upper mids/mid bass have a slight distortion. This might happen on one song and the next song sounds fine. This began just about the time of break in for the cartridge, maybe 50-75 hrs. As I said, I have checked and rechecked. I can find nothing wrong. I get the feeling that it is a very minor thing. Then sometimes I wonder if it is the cart itself?
I only notice this on classic rock albums which is what I play the most. I haven't heard this on classical albums. Which causes me to ask, Am I seeing to deeply into a poorly recorded record? But if so, why only certain songs on the album? And always the same place; vocals? This doesn't seem like an acceptable answer. Certainly if it is I guess I shouldn't have sold my MMF-7. However the SM kills the 7 on classical.

Anyone with any suggestions?
128x128artemus_5
cmo
471 posts
 
It sounds like your cart is not aligned properly to me. WHat are you using for a your alignment tool?

Try to isolate the distotion:
Is the distotion comming from both channels? What do you hear when you play something very simple (like solo voice, or violin)?............ is it still present?

Does it only happen on musical peaks?
If so, you might be overloading some part of your gain stage.......... Can you adjust these parameters? What happens if you bypass your step-up?

Does the distortion happen in certain parts of the record (i.e. close to the end of a side)? ...... Could be too much Anti-skate. Try untwisting the lead-out wire in your JMW.

Hope some of this helps

Chris
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,216 posts
 
Does this only happen on used vinyl? If so it's a symptom of a worn/mistracked record. Nothing you can really do about it.
hals_den
77 posts
 
You may have damaged vinyl. I have some LPs which have poor sounding tracks that I suspect were damaged in the past by poorly set up turn tables.
pscialli
80 posts
 
I'm not familiar with your cartridge, other than its name. However, I wonder if you have too much output for your phono stage. What is your preamp/phono stage and what is the rated output of the cartridge? If the distortion seems to be happening with "louder" music or passages, it could be an overload of the preamp's line stage from the RIAA output. I had exactly this problem with an ARC PH5 phono stage and a lesser preamp. When I upgraded to a VTL preamp that had tons more dynamic range, the problem went away in a way that seemed like a miracle. An alternative would have been to have ARC pad down the input to the phono stage (terminals are factory provided for that). I suppose it could have been done in a quicker/dirtier way with an atenuated cable of some sort, but I think would do your excellent phono setup a disservice.
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