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Advice on mistracking or some problem

I am having a strange problem with my turntable. First my system:

VPI Scout
Denon DL-160
Vintage Pioneer Receiver

I don't exactly know how to describe the problem other than how it sounds. There is a static/crackling sound and a fairly serious increase in volume in the left channel and dimming of sound in right channel - sound overall also is a distorted. Happens pretty randomly, but usually more at very beginning of an album. After a 20-60 seconds the sound will pop back into a normal good sound.

I am almost positive that my set-up is good. Have checked and re-checked alignment (with VPI jig) and azimuth, and I have tried various tracking weights with no predictable effect on this problem.

I can say with a very high level of confidence that it is not anything post-turntable in my system causing this. It is the turntable or the cartridge. If it's a short in the tonearm wire (which would be really bad) then it's probably not in an area where the wire is exposed as manipulation of the wire seems to have no effect, as it often does in the case of a short.

Any advice?
bigmm79
bigmm79 OP
10 posts
 
I have tried VTF between 1.6 and 2.2. VTA is maybe slightly lower on pivot end. I'll be getting another cartridge to test with soon. Anti-skate doesn't seem to make any difference.
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uru975
684 posts
 
I would have to agree with you that the setup is probably good. where it not, the problem would persist throughout the playing and would be continuous. If I am reading you correctly, the problem appears in the beginning, goes on for a bit(20-60 sec.) and then is gone and everything is fine. That argues against setup errors. My guess is that the signal is hitting something, perhaps in the receiver, that takes a bit for it to get into adjustment. Are there tubes in your receiver?
If so, one may be going out in the phono section, or may need to be cleaned. Does it happen for each record, no matter how many you play? Or is it just for the first few, say for the first half hour or so of playing, enough time for the receiver to warm up?
Have you checked the clips on the cartridge? One could be partially loose and at the furthest out point may be more stressed. Same could apply to the phono cable.
Hope this helps for ideas.
Michael
headsnappin's avatar
headsnappin
295 posts
 
Have you tried switching the left and right inputs and, if so, does it switch? If not, it is something down stream of the turntable.
vinyladdict
164 posts
 
Does it happen on all your LPs? Just new pressings or older pressings too?
bigmm79 OP
10 posts
 
This is on all lps, not just old ones. It is not always just at the beginning of the lp, but usually is. Good idea on switching the inputs, I will try that. Possible this is the receiver, I suppose, since it seems to happen more often at the beginning of a listening session and less after things have "warmed up". Last night though it was just terrible, happened often and and all points on a record. Did not lessen with warm up. It never happens, however, using a cd player with the aux input. Could it be a receiver problem limited to phono inputs? Receiver is a solid state Pioneer SX-828 from 1973, no tubes. Thanks everyone for the ideas.
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