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"Spitting" Cartridge problem

I've run into an issue I've never seen before and can't figure it out. I have an Ortofon Rondo Red mounted on an early TriPlanar on a Basis Ovation table. Recently the right channel has started making serious distortion on transients - it sounds like harsh static/spitting.

VTF, VTA, alignment are all good. And I haven't changed anything either - it just started happening out of the blue. The cart has maybe a few hundred hours on it. Could it just have gone bad?

It's not the phono pre, or anything else in the chain. I can't see how an interconnect could cause such an issue but it's captive so I can't change it easily.
paulfolbrecht
bill_k
912 posts
 
Paul, if you're going to use a needle nose pliers to tighten the cartridge clips here's a tip that I'd suggest. Insert a wooden toothpick into the end of the clip before attempting to tighten it. The toothpick will prevent you from possibly breaking the clip by compressing it too far.
paulfolbrecht OP
603 posts
 
Good idea, Bill. I've used the pliers on many occasions and being very careful, never mushed one closed. I'd bet it would be a bit of a pain to deal with if one did do that.
paulfolbrecht OP
603 posts
 
NOPE...

All leads were on VERY solidly. I removed them and applied some Walker SST carefully to the leads. No change.

I am pretty stumped over this one.

Oh, I also completely disconnected the anti-skate - also no change. And checked the VTF again.
bill_k
912 posts
 
I'd again suggest trying my first idea of switching the right and left cartridge connections to see if the noise switches to the other channel. This will allow you to definitively know whether the problem is with the cartridge or something further down the chain. (I apologize in advance if you've already tried this, but I didn't see you mention it in your subsequent posts.)
paulfolbrecht OP
603 posts
 
Bill, I did not try that yet; thanks for the reminder.
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