2. analog
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Help with new Nottingham Spacedeck

I would appreciate help and/or advice from anyone willing. I am literally going crazy trying to figure out what’s wrong with my system. Let me preface this by saying that I am newer to analog. I started with a cheaper turntable (Project), loved the analog sound, accumulated many lp’s and decided to upgrade. Since I recently upgraded to the Nottingham Spacedeck, my system sounds thin and even overly bright at times. It didn’t sound like this with the project table. The details and soundstage seem there, but the sound always leaves me wanting more … I feel as if I went backward with this table. Perhaps it’s the cartridge on the table or maybe it’s a gain issue with my pre-amp( which is passive) or maybe my phono stage isn’t up to the task. My equipment is listed below. I am a college student who must save money to buy hi-fi gear so I am sort of upset that this table isn’t workin out.

Front-end: Nottingham Spacedeck/SpaceAce Arm with Nottingham Cart. # 1,Cambridge Audio 500se Cd player
Amp: Belles 150A
Pre-amp: Belles 8GR passive pre
Phono-stage: Project-tube box
Speakers: Totem Forest
Speaker cables: Straight-wire Rhapsody
hokiehi0
9 responses Add your response
manuel_
38 posts
 
Assuming the other setup is OK, check VTA.
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,130 posts
 
There is obviously a problem because what you describe is NOT how a Spacedeck sounds. I would look at the cart. alignment, and perhaps the chance that the cart. just needs break in time. They all do. Check the alignment, VTA, and VTF and if all is well, just be patient and put some more hours on the rig.

Oz
twl
3,251 posts
 
Sounds like you need to adjust the VTA. Lowering the back end slightly should reduce the thin bright effects you are describing.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
In addition to VTA, VTF and break-in, another possibility is the loading of your new cartridge.

The Pro-Ject Tube box gives you three impedance loading options on the MC inputs, 100, 220 and 1K ohms. If I were a betting man I'd wager it's set @ 1K. Try dropping it to the 100 ohm setting. Try all three settings for that matter. It won't do any harm.

BTW, I'm only *assuming* this Nottingham #1 cartridge is an MC. I've never heard of that particular cartridge, or even that Nott' made cartridges at all. My guess is it's a rebadge made by one of the regular cartridge manufacturers. If it came with any specs those might be useful to know.
hokiehi0 OP
1 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the help so far. I will check the VTA and VTF when I get home. Ozzy, your right, I know from listening to this deck at my dealer that thin and bright are not the charateristics of this deck.

Doug- the Nott cart. is weird. I think your correct, it looks like a rebadge cart. I am trying to look on-line to see if i can tell who actually makes the cart. It came with no specs at all. I will play around with the settings on my phono stage, maybe thats it.
john_paul
3 posts
 
Here are a few more tips I learned that helped improve the performance of my Spacedeck.

A) Do not over-tighten any of the assembly fasteners, including the cartridge mounting screws. All the fasteners should be just tight enough to keep the deck together.

B) The distance from the outer edge of the motor pulley wheel to the platter should be about 6mm. The belt may seem too limp at this distance, but it works.

Hope this helps.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I Googled and couldn't find anything on it. Did you buy the cartrdige from this Nott' dealer? They should certainly be able to help.

If you post a picture on VA someone may recognize it. Good luck.
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,130 posts
 
Good call Doug, I didn't even think of loading. I do think the Nott cartridges are MC and he may need to load it down a little. That would certainly explain the thin sound he is experiencing.

Oz
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
The "Nottingham" cartridges are named "Tracer" cartidges and look for all the world to me to be based on a Goldring body. The Tracers are MM cartridges. I once had a Tracer 3 and it was pretty damn decent. You should NOT be getting a bright or thin sound out of either the Spacedeck OR the Tracer cartridge even if the VTA is off by a ton. Sorry, I'm not sure at this point of the elsewhere, but I'd suspect you should look elsewhere.

If you want more info, contact 'Not because the US distributor ASL group will likely provide little. To the best of my recollection, the output is around 3 mV and tje VTF about the 1.75-2.00 range.
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