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Grain/Distortion heard on Inner 1/4 of LP

I've been adjusting this and that with my new Clearaudio Emotion/Virtuoso setup, and I thought I had things tuned in pretty well, but now all the albums I listen to exhibit pretty bad distortion when listening to the inner 1/4 of an LP. Up until that point, everything sounds clean and superb. I've meticulously realigned my cart several times and adjusted overhang to the point where I don't think it could be any better when using the naked eye. I also raised my VTA to assist in dynamic and bass response.

I was told to solve this problem I need to adjust my VTF, but I've been messing around with that too and can't seem to get the distortion to go away. I've played with anti-skate as well, but the distortion is coming evenly from both channels, so I don't believe that is the issue.

Have any of you experienced this problem? Is this a cartridge alignment issue, VTA, VTF, etc.? What have you guys done to resolve this?

Thanks
jwglista

Showing 7 responses by jwglista

jwglista OP
206 posts
 
Wow that thing is $100. Do I really have to spend that much to get my setup perfected? How can the provided alignment chart not be accurate enough?
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
I appreciate the advice. I guess it's just never good news to hear that you have to spend even more to perfect your setup. Some of those companies really seem to really pull in the profits from us perfectionist audiophiles. I will do a search on the MintLP

Thanks
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
Ducatirider: No I do not have that stat, but it should be available somewhere? It's a Clearaudio Emotion with Satisfy tonearm. I will have to search for that info.
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
I would assume that a Clearaudio Virtuoso was made to match with a Clearaudio Satisfy tonearm. When I received the table, the tail end of the tonearm was low, but I raised the VTA to make it parallel. Maybe that's one of the issues. Although I did notice an improvement in sound when I adjusted the VTA.

I've printed several charts from the Conrad Hoffman alignment program, but I'm not even sure which one to use. There are standards for DIN, IEC, and "Typical". It will be interesting to see which of these alignment charts closely matches the chart that was provided by Clearaudio. Any suggestions on which one should be used?
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
I don't really see a need to spend $110 right off the bat when there are free alignment tools out there. The Conrad Hoffman tool seems very nice. I'm going to try that tonight, but I still don't know which standard for inner and outer groove radius should be used (DIN, EIC, etc.). A MintLP has to go by only one of those standards.

If I am still unsuccessful with these tools, then I may consider a MintLP. But until then....
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
I printed out several charts using 222mm as the setting. I was able to find that from Clearaudio's website. I will try using Lofgren B. Is there any particular reason for using this? Why would this resolve inner groove distortion?

As far as VTA, I have that spot on. I've used a ruler to measure the accuracy.

I purchased this setup from a member on Audiogon, so I don't have the option of going back to any dealers.
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
Why would the alignment arc be different on Lofgren B as opposed to Lofgren A?
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