tracking distortion on a p5 + rega cartridge?

You will probably have to sight the cantilever of the cartridge using an alignment protractor.Not all cartridges are perfectly manufactured and cantilever alignment can quite often be out of true,this is one problem with Rega's system.I prefer to eyeball the cantilever and align that way rather than using the the body as it is more accurate.

here is a 10 sec sample of the problem:

http://www2.skwire.net/~AYB/edna/excerpt.mp3

Is this a digital or analog recording?Your bass sounds possibly too "fat" and your cymbals possibly "dull".This could be due to firstly an incorrect tracking weight and then the VTA would have to be adjusted accordingly.I don't think Rega's have VTA adjustment,but go to the Walker Audio site and you will see a link to fine-tuning your table,on the left.I don't think you would totally get rid of the noise but there is plenty of info about correct alignment,overhang,azimuth etc. for the Rega arm over at the Vinyl Asylum archives.

"Your bass sounds possibly too fat and your cymbals possibly dull."

Actually, that is how the music should sound for that particular passage (a fat synth line and dull kickdrum). I'm not concerned with the highs/lows, it's the distortion in the right channel I'm worried about...