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tracking distortion on a p5 + rega cartridge?

Recently purchased a P5 and Super Elys cart... with most of my records (new, vacuum-cleaned) I get frequent distortion/pops/crackling in the right channel. Left channel is fine. I need to fix this ASAP.

Is this tracking distortion? I thoughts that with rega's 3-hole mounting I didn't need to worry about alignment when using rega cartridges.

Please tell me the best way to go about solving this problem. Thanks ;)
allyourbetas
allyourbetas OP
14 posts
 
sigh...

well, installed a brand new Exact cart, aligned with geodisc (baerwald and cleaned the tonearm leads with caig progold.

Right channel distortion remains.

???
stefanl
296 posts
 
Sorry to hear about this.Obviously to my mind you have alignment issues happening.Have you checked your azimuth and overhang to see if they are correct? You can check with a level if the Rega arm's face where it meets the cartridge is perfectly flat.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
Could be the phono, line stage, tonearm cable, etc. have you tried matching other electronics?

Todd
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
Did you try swapping the RCAs over at the phono preamp inputs to see if the problem is the turntable or the amp ?

You could also swap the channels at the cartridge to see if there is a tonearm wiring problem.

Alignment / VTA problems have always manifested as distortion in both channels for me, never in only one channel.
allyourbetas OP
14 posts
 
Swapped over to another phono; the prob remains.

Going to bring my p5 over to Brooks Berdan in Monrovia and have him diagnose/configure/repair/etc.
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