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Expressimo RB 250 mistracking issue

I have a mistracking issue with my Expressimo RB250 / Shelter 501 MK II combo.

I was away for 6 months and wasn't listening to my vinyl rig, now when I got back I noticed that my cartridge started to mistrack a couple of LPs I own.

Those LPs are Direct to Disk editions that have a few very dynamic passages recorded but the cartridge was tracking them fine before. Now it mistracks them (you can clearly hear it on a drums solo when a drummer hits snare drum). Also on a Hi-Fi News Test LP I can only successfully track tracks 6 and 7, but not 8 although I was able to tack #8 before.

So what could've go wrong? I tied to adjust anti-skating, but I increased it all the way to the top limit and it still mistracks. I remember before I had anti-skating set at around 1.4 - 1.5 on the scale from 0 to 2, now even if I move it all the way to 2 it still mistracks.

I'd highly appreciate if anyone could help/recommend what can be done to fix this? Is it a tonearm settings or cartridge problem or something else?

Thank you in advance.
jimtyrro
jimtyrro OP
23 posts
 
OK, I'll ask Maktheknife about wire.

Well, I've never used any liquid solution to clean it, just zerodust and a soft brush. What would you recommend?

As for the phono stage I didn't change a thing.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Zerodust and a dry brush are not adequate for long term stylus cleaning. Many of the cartridges I've rehabilitated, as discussed above, were maintained using exactly that.

Do a search here or on Vinyl Asylum for "Magic Eraser" or click "Threads" beneath my signature, or PM me and I'll send you a document if you like.

I asked about phono stage changes because "mistracking" sounds on dynamic peaks are often not mistracking at all. The identical distortions can be caused by phono stage overload. Since yours hasn't changed, however, that explanation seems unlikely.
jimtyrro OP
23 posts
 
Oh, I forgot about it, yes I use your 'Magic Eraser' - just forgot about it. It's in the same 'dry cleaning' group.
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