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Cartridge/Phono-Pre Break-in?

I just installed a new Audio-Technica 150MLX cartridge and Cambridge 640p phono-pre in my second system (SL1200 table, Nuforce Icon amp, Gallo speakers), and after two days it sounds about like an AM radio...no highs, no dynamics. Computer audio playback sounds quite fine. I thought I might have a poor cartridge wire connection (suckers were tough to install without breaking them) but there's no hum or distortion. Does this happen? Do either of these pieces change dramatically with break-in?

Thanks for any guidance.

Jeff
jmudrick
jmudrick OP
12 posts
 
Knumbskull calling. Rlwainwright was on the right track. It was the most obvious thing -- I had the damn thing plugged into the MC rather than the MM jack of the 640p. Duh. Should have been the first thing I checked. Well thanks everyone for your suggestions. Sounds fine now. I did order a Shure gauge and will see if there's any discrepancy of siginficance from the manual setup (initially at 1.25).
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,492 posts
 
Jmurick..When you get your Sure scale, I found it very accurate if you position it on your turntable platter so that the front (right side when looking at the mirror) 2 feet are hanging off of the edge of the platter, then follow the normal directions.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,112 posts
 
Dear Stringreen: Doug is right about the Shure VTF gauge: I don't know when but Shure build some units that were magnetical active.

I like you are lucky because ( I own two too ) the ones that I own are right on target but there are others out there that there are not, the subject is: how can we know it before buy it?

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
jmudrick OP
12 posts
 
Just of of curiosity Johnnyb53, since we have the same setup (1200 with fluid damper, using a Zupreme headshell), where'd you land in terms of tracking force with the cartridge?
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
08-19-08: Jmudrick
Just of of curiosity Johnnyb53, since we have the same setup (1200 with fluid damper, using a Zupreme headshell), where'd you land in terms of tracking force with the cartridge?
I had it at 1.6g during break-in, and have listened to it at 1.4g ever since. However, I'm only going by the numbers on the Technics counter-weight; I don't have a VTF gauge yet.
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