Dynavector XV-1s and JMW 10.5i question

Yeah, guys, I value my audio vinyl guru friend's help. I just hate to ask him to come by and check things out again. I think he thinks I am having an 'audio nervosa' attack. I know what I'm hearing is real though.

I hope the cart isn't defective. Interestingly, the imaging issue kind of comes and goes, even during the same songs being played. Nonetheless, the 'density' of the images seem less all the time. Another thing I've noticed is a slight hum (very faint coming from the midrange and woofer) in between tracks and when not playing but the preamp set to LP input. This is new. I do use a grounding cable. When I play the CD it is not there.

I've babied the cart from day one and I'm actually scared of it! I have cleaned it carefully with an Onzow only thus far and clean all LP's with a VPI 16.5.

I have the Nordost wiring on the 10.5i. I think he used the Hi Fi News test LP to help set up anti-skate. I have ordered the Analogue Productions one which should arrive tomorrow.

Check your VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle). It is possible that as your suspension loosened up, the VTA, (measuring to the cantilever), may have changed also.

Just a thought.

That's the one I thought it was:-)

You'll get more comfortable with the arm and cart as you gain experience with them and learn to trust your ears more. Your imaging issue suggests to me to presence of too much antiskate.

Your arm offers VTA adjustment on the fly. Sorry to introduce another variable, but this is worth experimenting with. I run my 10.5i just slightly tail-down. And you do have both the thumb screws tightened, I trust.

I agree that antiskating might be an issue, but, Philb7777 reports that sound is unchanged when the antiskating mechanism is completely disabled. My own experience with antiskating adjustments on other arms (Vector and Graham arms) is that much less compensation is needed than what is usually recommended.

The image shifting and changes in the density of the image is a bit hard to understand. Both could be the product of an increasing channel imbalance or if there is a problem with channel separation or poor interchannel phase relationship. All of these could be the product of some kind of misalignment of the generating elements of the cartridge (a defect in the cartridge). It might pay to contact the seller/manufacturer for help as early as possible to preserve any rights you have to getting this corrected on their dime.

The loss of air is easy to explain. The suspension is softening up with increasing hours. Virtually all new cartridges do this, that's what "break-in" means. Those who say they haven't heard a new cartridge do this, haven't been listening. I've gone through it with a dozen cartridges.

So, what to do?

First, reduce anti-skating to a bare minimum. I completely agree with other posters that excessive A/S is not needed with this cartridge. (With all respect to your friend, setting A/S with test records is nonsense, unless all you listen to is test records. Test tracks are nothing like real music tracks. Ignore them and start trusting your ears.)

Second, because the suspension is breaking in you need to start reducing VTF. Choose a dynamic, difficult-to-track passage and reduce VTF in .1g increments until you hear mis-tracking (sharp, static-like bursts at dynamic peaks). Then bump VTF back up by .1g or so. Your air and snap will come back in spades.

Image shifting is a trickier problem, but it can't be dealt with until you've optimized VTF and A/S, so fix them first. There's no magic number anyone can give you for these. You must learn to adjust by listening. There's no other way.