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Killing sibilance distortion - VPI & Jubilee

Hello,

Along with what others have posted in the recent past, I also have a long running case of nasty distortion on sibilants with my vinyl playback. It is worse in the inner grooves.

To build on some other recent threads about this topic, I ordered a MFSL that is supposed to be a good test for mistracking. I have made a recording clip of my playback playing some of the last track on Side 2.

I have the recording on this link:

Playback Recording

If you take a look at that, we can all be on the same page with what exactly is going on.

The setup is a VPI Scoutmaster table, JMW9 sig arm, Ortofon Jubilee cartridge. The table is leveled on a Salamander Archetype rack. VTA is set with the arm parallel. VTF is set to 2.4g. Alignment is setup with the MINT arc protractor, 10x magnification. The VPI mechanical Anti-Skate is being used, with the lighter rubber washers. Azimuth is level by means of the "VPI straw trick" (a straw in a groove on the headshell).

Is there anyone that can point me in the right direction to fix that sibilance distortion you're hearing on the recording?

I've tried quite a few things, including different cartridges, and VTF, VTA and antiskate settings, but the sibilance is always there.

Here are some photos of my setup:

Cartridge Closeup

Aligning with the MINT

Thanks for reading
by Goatwuss
goatwuss

Showing 2 responses by jaytea

jaytea
78 posts
 
I have listened to your tracks over and over, and beside distorted sibilance, i THINK the midrange (voices) sounds a tad harsh/brittle/distorted at times, like inner-groove distortion (since I dont have a copy of this on hand, I dont know if the other tracks at the beginning of the records sound better or not, but I have a few discs from the 70s and 80s sound like this at the end of the record, while other discs show no sign of this inner groove distortion)

Also, the Benz and the Ortofon (which happen to have very similar specs regarding compliance, stylus tip/radius) which you have set up carefully, behave pretty much the same playing this track, I doubt that these distortion is a result of misalignment.

These cartridges have output around 0.3-0.4mV, so they are not overloading your phonostage to create these distortion either

I have a strong feeling that this is just your copy (other's might be OK), or your arm/cartridge prone to innergroove distortion.

It would take a highly resolving cartridge mated with an appropriate arm (doesnt have to be expensive) to conquer these distortions.

My Audio Technica AT33PTG with its tiny stylus tip mounted on a SME 3009 Series 2-non improved is an excellent, excellent example, and so is a Clearaudio Maestro on a Moerch DP-6.

Please keep us updated with the result of your turntable/arm checkup and LP testing on other systems.
jaytea
78 posts
 
Hello Goatwuss,
I'm glad that you 've come to that conclusion. As with what we corresponded through email, if we have carefully set up the combo (put together with educated guess of which might mate well with what) and it doesn't work after readjusting all the known parameters (VTA, VTF, Anti-skating, Azimuth..etc), time to move on and try different combo. I used to think that with more upscale cartridges, they HAVE TO track and sound much better than the cheaper ones (given that they all are possible good match for the arm). Boy ..was I wrong and the AT33PTG I recommended is a living proof, at least in the tracking part.
If this combo doesnt work out well, dont kill yourself over it with nano adjustment..the issue just wont go away. Try different cartridges or arms. It's all synergy.

Best,
Hoa.

By the way, I dont think you are too sensitive with distorted sibilance. It's unacceptable and it annoys the heck out of me too.
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