Cartridge/Phono-Pre Break-in?

I'm unfamiliar with your components, but all cartridges change with break in, some more than others and in different ways of course.

A constricted frequency range is very typical in a new cartridge. They often need some hours to open up, at both ends, so give it some time. How much? It depends. I've heard cartridges open up fully after just 20-30 hours and others that were still developing at 200.

Same for phono pre's, though the changes might be less dramatic than with a cartridge.

THINGS TO CHECK...

Constricted highs can be evidence of improper impedance loading. Make sure you're using the MM inputs and not the MC inputs (sorry if that's obvious).

Excessive VTF will constrict a cartridge's HF response and speed. Check yours with a decent (digital) VTF gauge. If you're using a Shure balance or something similar, throw it away. Good digital scales can be had for way less than $100, so there's really no excuse not to have one. Once the cart has 25-50 hours on it, try reducing VTF in .1g increments and see if the HF's don't come in. Just be careful you don't go too low and start mistracking, which would damage your vinyl.

Finally, excessive antiskate can sound like excessive VTF with many cartridges. Try reducing that too.

Be patient and start working at your setup. Unlike digital, analog playback is not plug and play. It requires work, effort and thought to get any rig optimized. Whether that's a part of the appeal or a royal PIA is up to the individual!

Dougdeacon is right on target and gives good advice.

Doug's advice is good. However, it sounds to me like you have something terribly amiss. If it truly sounds like an AM radio, something, somewhere, is not connected properly. Cartridges and phono pre's DO require a break-in, but I've never heard ones that change *that* dramatically - somehting else is the problem...

-RW-

Another thing to check is the Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA). If it is too steep, i.e. the tonearm is tipped down towards the record, the sound can be profoundly tin-like. Too shallow, i.e. the front of the cartridge is tipped up, and the sound with be dull and soft.

I have an AT150MLX mounted on an SL1210M5G w/fluid damper feeding the MM input of a Cambridge 640P. I didn't install them together all at once; there was about 2-4 wks between getting the 640p and AT150MLX.

At any rate, in my system, both components sounded extended and musical right out of the box. The 640p was a little bright and edgy I suppose, but both were totally listenable from the beginning and sounded very musical and sorted out within two weeks of playing about 4 hrs/day.

I suspect something else at play here besides tough break-in, and the diagnostic suggestions so far should be chased down, esp. VTA, VTF, etc. What headshell are you using, and are you using the additional counterweight? What VTF are you at so far?

If you suspect your cartridge leads, maybe you should get a new (better) set and try again. You can get silk-wrapped OFC Litz leads from LPGear for $15.95/set.