I think it's a tracking problem with your 681EEE. The Stantons which tracked really well (they are discontinued now) were the 881S and its descendants, such as the 981 series and the 880 series (actually the same as the 881 but not calibrated). The 681 is a completely different cartridge...for one thing, it's a moving iron, whereas the 881s are moving magnet, and a very tiny magnet at that, made of samarium cobalt. The 881 magnet is smaller and lighter than the iron armature in the 681, and the cantilever is much smaller.
Help required with tracking problem
Front end: Ariston RD11s with SME3. Selection of arm wands including Integrated SME/Ortofon 30H, Sure V15 IV, Ortofon MC1, Goldring 1012x and the Stanton 681 EEE latest version.
The problem is with the Stanton, there is one particular record CBS 32509, "Fame and Price Together" track 1 "Rosetta" where Georgie Fame sings from the left channel and Alan Price sings from the right channel (very 70s left and right stereo). Georgie Fame's voice is distorted (mis tracking) with very pronounced sillibance. I have tried everything from using with and without brush (slight improvement without brush)increased tracking weight to rediculous level all to no avail. I could understand it if the distortion occured with all the cartridges but it only happens with the Stanton. All other tracks and all other records are fine (maybe just a slight hint of sillibance with the Stanton but nothing too extreme). The cartridge is set up correctly using an electronic balence scale and a Mayware cartridge alignment protractor. Lateral balence is even and the anti skate is correctly set for tracking weight.
Any suggestions please?
It could be I have a "slightly duff" Stanton but that would surprise me as Stantons are meant to be second only to the Sure V15 series in trackability.
The problem is with the Stanton, there is one particular record CBS 32509, "Fame and Price Together" track 1 "Rosetta" where Georgie Fame sings from the left channel and Alan Price sings from the right channel (very 70s left and right stereo). Georgie Fame's voice is distorted (mis tracking) with very pronounced sillibance. I have tried everything from using with and without brush (slight improvement without brush)increased tracking weight to rediculous level all to no avail. I could understand it if the distortion occured with all the cartridges but it only happens with the Stanton. All other tracks and all other records are fine (maybe just a slight hint of sillibance with the Stanton but nothing too extreme). The cartridge is set up correctly using an electronic balence scale and a Mayware cartridge alignment protractor. Lateral balence is even and the anti skate is correctly set for tracking weight.
Any suggestions please?
It could be I have a "slightly duff" Stanton but that would surprise me as Stantons are meant to be second only to the Sure V15 series in trackability.
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