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Graham Phantom with Benz Lp-s Tracking problems

Hello to all,

i recently mounted my new Lp-s cartrige on the Phantom B-44. The sound is great, but i have problems with some Lps, 4-5. On all it is on the beginning of the record. I can see a little but quick jumping from the cartridge, it isn´t much but the stylus looses contact with the groove and i hear something like a rumble. I don´t know if it´s the right word. And when i put up the volume it distorts. Benz told me that the best way for working the Lp-s is that the counterweight should be very close to the center of the tonearm and it isn´t, it is 1cm or more away from the top.
I wrote Bob Graham to tell me his thoughts, will see what he tells me. Maybe i have to change the ring of the counterweight to a heavier one!?
Has someone experience with this problem?

Many thanks and happy new year !!!!!!!!!!!

Best wishes from spain,

Agustin
agucela

Showing 3 responses by moonglum

moonglum
619 posts
 
Hi Agustin,
Could be feedback but my guess is cantilever resonance caused by the LPs themselves. About 1 in 4 (at a guess) of typical 120g LPs suffer from very fast warps - more like sharp pulses than warps - and sometimes they can be cascaded. Certain cartridges do not react favourably with them as it may be more of a cartridge suspension problem(Popularly known as the "Grado dance".)

Take a close look at your cartridge on touchdown at the run-in groove.(Try not to let it run any longer than the run-in to protect your favourite albums). Does it vibrate relative to the groove?

You've probably done this already but I must ask if you have tried the resonance test bands from e.g. the HFN/RR test disc to check that your arm/cart combination is behaving correctly? Although 8-12Hz is acceptable 10-12Hz may be better for the conditions you may be describing.
Hope this proves helpful....
moonglum
619 posts
 
Hi Agucela,
Sorry to hear you are still struggling. I think the Forum needs more background on the problem. You didn't say whether you'd investigated AudioQuest4Life's suggestion regarding antiskate?
Can you tell us where the bias weight is set at the moment? At rest, is it nearer the floor or nearer the tonearm?

The fact that your other LPs sound great and you don't seem to have any trouble cuing them precludes severe skate/antiskate errors but no harm in checking Band 6 of the HFN/RR and reporting back which channel, if any, is buzzing?

Final questions : Did you add damping fluid during setup? Have you noticed anything different about those 4 or 5 rogue LPs? Are they concave/convex as the playing surface presents itself? Do they have slow warps or fast warps?
Hopefully this will lead to an explanation.
moonglum
619 posts
 
Carl, as a Phantom II user myself, I'm interested. What's different about your combination? Is it unmodified or did you get the heavier counterweight?
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