2. analog
  3. 1196902122

Analog Help Please

I have been getting quite a bit of mistracking at the beginning of many of my Lp's just recently. Bought them used, and I am wondering if it is because they are wore out?

I am wondering though if it is something to do with my cartridge/VTF/VTA. I even realigned my cart today with no improvement. I increased VTF with no success. It seems like this problem has been happening more and more and sometimes even on Lp's that it never happened to before.

Please note that by the second song or so, the mistracking noise is generally gone completely and everything is fine.
I've visually inspected the cantilever and needle, they seem fine as far as I can tell. I've cleaned mu Lp's thoroughly.
I've played around some with antiskating to no avail.

One thing I have not done is lower VTF. Maybe? Then again I am not even sure if the sound I hear is mistracking. I can only describe it as a "flutter" or "shutter" evey revolution at a certian place in the Lp.

I just tested an Lp that is had never happened to before on and is is definately there. here's a funny thing though. The "mistracking happend last night on one Lp. So I put another on. No mistracking sound. So I put the previous one on and the mistracking sound was gone. What's up with that? The sound did not appear the rest of the evening but has been present all day today. Bummer.

Any suggestions. I'm stumped.

The arm is triplanar, the cart is ZYX Atmos, proabably 40 or so hours on it.
mariasplunge

Showing 3 responses by markd51

markd51's avatar
markd51
763 posts
 
Well I'm certainly no authority here, and will try "humbly" suggesting something. I certainly do recognize the peerless quality of both Arm/Cartridge you are using, and gather that you have much good experience with this high level of quality components.

What I thought of, was something more likely amiss with your Phono Stage, or Step Up, or Pre-Amp? In that perhaps it's just coincidental to be seeming like it's the Turntable-Cartridge that's causing this effect?
(Like there's something oscillating?, a bum Tube?, etc)

Can you somehow perhaps borrow-loan another Phono Stage to try?

Hopefully Doug D, and others here who have forgotten more than I know, can chime in, and better pinpoint this malady? Mark
markd51's avatar
markd51
763 posts
 
Yes, Mehran, the dealer for the Cart may be of help.
Only other thing that comes to my mind, is a possible slight bind, or some slight resistance in the Triplanar's bearings? How hard would this be to check?

After reading Doug's "tips and tricks" on this Arm, it sounds quite sophisticated, and complicated as well. Odd though how you say it's noticeable on a particular spot of the LP as well?

It's hard for me to suggest you playing your most treasured LPs to see if this problem exists as well with them, as if there is some mechanical issue (Stylus-Tonearm) I sure wouldn't want to see you damage this vinyl in a "sacrifice" test. Mark
markd51's avatar
markd51
763 posts
 
Tough to evaluate, but I will comment a big "no" on your last sentence. Unless you are saying that with your system "muted" it still mistracks? Tough to understand your last post, can you elaborate better please?

Without better isolation, I doubt it would make a difference if the Turntable is all the way across the room if your system throws enough SPL's. Do you have Headphones? Try playing as loud as you like, or at different volumes through the Phones.

This will at least eliminate any acoustical interference.

My System is nowhere near as expensive as yours, just a measly VPI HW-19 MK-IV, with AQ Arm, Ruby 3 Cartridge, etc, but running two Mac Amps, four JBL Speakers, and a Sunfire MK-IV Sub to boot, I know I can have that Stylus fly off the record as if I dropped a brick on the Table, with such wake the dead volume. lol
Mark
More to discover