Tracking error distortion audibility

Axelwahl,

What you are describing is NOT normal and does NOT have to be accepted. New or used arm doesn't matter. If one can't set up a 9" arm correctly, one probably can't set up a 12" arm correctly either.

Axelwahl,

Sorry for your sonic pain. I've no doubt you hear exactly what you describe. I used to hear it too. I don't now, ever, and I agree with Dan_ed. Inner (or outer) groove distortion does not have to be accepted.

There's at least one thing you didn't mention and presumably haven't tried (because your tonearm won't let you?). You haven't done a really good alignment of your cantilever zenith angle. This requires a headshell with room for movement (ie, slots) and a truly good protractor.

Sliding an SME back and forth moves the null points, which is why you can shift the distortion from inside grooves to outsidge grooves, but it doesn't change the overall alignment scheme to one that eliminates distortion at both extremes. For that you need a top quality protractor designed to such a scheme and a tonearm that will let you use it.

Until you have the right tools, you'll continue to beat your head against this wall.

Axelwahl,
I just finished re-aligning my Air Tight PC1 in my SME V arm using the MINTLP TRACTOR. I learned much in the process. First, contrary to what I've read about the SME V, cartridge zenith is slightly adjustable. When I noticed through the 10x loupe that the cantilever was not parallel to the thick MINT lines I was able to rotate the cartridge about 3 degrees by loosening the mounting screws and turning the cartridge until it lined up with the markings on the MINT. Second, azimuth can also be slightly adjusted by tilting the arm base before tightening the set screws. Though more modern arm designs like the Graham Phantom and the Tri-Planar are much more easily adjusted, the SME V can be adjusted in all of these areas for what I have found to be near-perfect alignment.

The MINT arc-style protractor is an excellent tool for alignment. I'm not experienced enough to know if proper alignment will solve your tracking problem, but rest assured, your SME V can be properly adjusted for excellent alignment. I have found that after I adjust anything on my arm, I have to recheck the armtube distance to the spindle with that SME supplied plastic guide. Good Luck.
Peter

Axelwahl,
I have a 10" Continuum Copperhead and a 12" DaVinci Ref Grandezza mounted on my Raven AC-3 and I can hear no increased distortion on the Copperhead over the DaVinci on the same recordings.
I agree with Dan_ed that without correct alignment, the 12" arm will sound just as poorly as the shorter one without correct alignment.

Dear Axel: I owned and own several Ortofon cartridges ( MM/MC ), normally are very good trackers I can't remember any single problem with any of them like the one you are having.

From my experiences on it the V maybe is not the best match for your heavy weight and almost high compliance Windfeld. I never try it this cartridge but other than an out of specs in the cartridge suspension mechanism or a mis-match with the V I can't see where is the problem " culprit " because you already try almost every " rule " about.

You can try that cartridge with other tonearm and that V with other cartridge and see what happen.

Btw, I read somewhere that in your system that cartridges needs over 1Kohm on load impedance, IMHO and through my experiences with other Ortofon LOMC ones 100 Ohms is more than enough and if yours needs over 1 Kohms I think that there is some " trouble " elsewhere in the audio chain because it is not normal to load so high a cartridge with an internal impedance so low like the 4 Ohms in that cartridge.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.