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Tracking error distortion audibility

I recently unpacked my turntable from a couple of years of storage. It still sounds very good. Several times during playback of the first few albums I literally jumped from my chair to see which track was playing as it sounded so great. After a while I realized the "great" sound was always at one of the "null" points. They seem to occur at the approximately the proper place (about 125mm from spindle) and near the lead out groove. Questions:
Is this common? I have improved the resolution of my system since the table's been in storage but I don't remember hearing this before.
All others geometric sources of alignment error not defined by the null points (VTA, azimuth etc.) are essentially constant through out the arc correct? If so they should cancel out. I assume the remedy is a linear tracking arm but I am surprised at how obviously better the sound is at these two points.
Table - AR ES-1, Arm - Sumiko MMT, Cart. - Benz Glider, Pre - Audible Illusions, Speakers - Innersound electrostatic hybrid
Do linear arms really sound as good across the whole record as I hear at only the nulls with my set-up?
feathed
jwglista
206 posts
 
Audiofeil: I know you're in the business, but you are not going to be able to persuade me to buy one of your expensive protractors :-)

I've used several alignment charts/printouts, and all indicate that my alignment is dead on, as well as overhang.

Feathed: Does your alignment chart provide an arc to help you adjust the overhang? You can try using the cartridge alignment program on this page: http://www.conradhoffman.com/chsw.htm

Those who are in the business to sell expensive protractors/alignment tools may tell you that an alignment chart printed on a piece of paper can, in no way, compare to a professionally made device. I have faith that the printouts I made from that application are accurate. You'll have to obtain the spindle to pivot distance for your tonearm (I got mine from Clearaudio's website). One note, make sure you measure the 20 mm reference distance on the printout for the X and Y axis. You may have to adjust the X/Y "Printer Correction Factor". You can at least give this a shot before choosing to buy anything.
jwglista
206 posts
 
Oh and one other thing to note. The quality of the paper you print on does matter. I printed on standard copy paper, and certain environmental factors (humidity) can cause the paper to change shape ever so slightly. It's best to use thick, heavy photo paper if possible.

Sure, things like that help the argument that a real protractor/alignment tool is superior; I don't doubt that they are. If I was ok with spending the extra money, I'd probably say forget this and just buy a MintLP or something just to have that peace of mind. If you aren't the type of person that wants to be bothered with making printouts and such, then a professional tool would definitely help you.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
RE: "Expensive" arc protractors- the $100 Mint has been demonstrated to my ears and many others, to provide big improvement in "dead nuts on" aligned rigs. One major advantage of a mirror-tractor over a paper protractor is parallax correction. Second advantage is very fine alignment grid which inkjet on paper cannot provide. Third is arm/table specific alignment (the mint anyways). Not saying that is your problem but even very anal and very technically proficient analog masters have found the mint at least to be very helpful. And you won't have to wait months/years like w another custom arc-tractor maker.

Also, have you tried playing w anti-skate?
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
12,851 posts
 
Dear friends: I read again and again this inner groove distortion subject even if the alignment/set-up of the TT/tonearm/cartridge is on target.
Why is that? what happen? because I don't " suffer " on that problem and IMHO the linear tracking tonearms are not the answer.

Other than the alignment IMHO there are at least ( between other factors ) four things that can cause the " trouble ": a un-matched tonearm-cartridge combination, a tonearm bearing of low quality, a cartridge suspension out of specs or a combination of these " factors ". Of course that depend on each record quality and what is recorded on each recording.

Btw, the two null points alignment against the arc protractor are the same because those two null points are on the " arc " and IMHO if anyone align on two points that cross on an arc then it is a " perfect " align on that " arc ".
Now, the alignment between Baerwald or Lofgren is less than 1mm, which one is correct?: both, could anyone hear the differences? not anyone system but certainly you could hear it.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
fap
32 posts
 
G'day all, re 'inner groove distortion' and related stuff, I've recently done up an article dealing with my approach to optimised overhang set up. For what it's worth I don't have any 'inner groove distortion' issues on any of my vinyl playing gear.
http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/vinyl07.html Regards Fap.
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