I had the exact same setup you have so I'm familiar as to how it sounds. If you are having problems with just 1 record, I can't see how your issue could be anything else but the record itself. Aside from that, I believe all of the drivers in your speakers are metal. They are not forgiving when it comes to sibilance.
My turntable hates Cat Stevens
OK the set up: I have a VPI Scout with the Dyanvector 20x2L cart (MC) with the VPI 3g headshell weight. My phono pre is a Dynavector P75 set to the PE mode for low output carts. I used the Mint protractor to set things up and I'm fairly certain it's as dead on as I'm going to be able to get it. My TF is 2.2g (set by digital fg)and my VTA is level or just a smidge below.
I have a new pressing of Tea for the Tellerman (Analouge Productions APP 9135) that shows a little bit of sibalance on the last 3rd of grooves on each side. It's only noticable really on his voice. Insturments seem fine. What I have read on the quality on this pressing seem to be that it is a really good sounding album. I've only played the album about 5 times and it was cleaned before ever playing it the fist time. That being said I also have Teaser and the Firecat(A&M SP 4313)that I got at a flea market for $1. Now its its in not so great a shape. It is not shiny any more and has all manner of minor scuffs, but no deep scratches. It pops and ticks all over the place no matter how well I try to clean it. However it sounds better than TFT. On this album the last 1/4 to 1/5 of the grooves I get a very slight sibablance on his voice. Again, the insturments are fine. I do keep in mind that this was not a very cared for LP and I did get it at a flea market so who knows if the previous owner didn't have a bad set up and just ruined the LP.
All other LP's I have seem to be fine and I cant hear any sibalance on them. It's just the Cat Stevens LPs that give me any grief. I wouln't have thought much of it but a new and and old album both do it so I keep thinking it may be my set up - though I don't know where to look or what I can tweak now.
I've read many posts on how tempermental the VPI JMW tonearm is with regards to MC carts and how it wasn't really designed with them in mind. Now VPI suggests DV carts for the Scout and I'm using a DV phono pre. I'm not sure what to do next. Could my antiskate be causing this? I get the sibalance in both speakers so I havn't been really looking at AS. Also, would I bennfit on changing the output level on the P75? I have it set to what DV suggests which is low resistance setting of 4-10 ohms inthe phone enhancement mode. Or I could take it out of PE mode and use the basic Low MC settings which give me a range of 470, 220, 100, 60 and 30 ohms, but I'm not sure what I'm gaining by doing that or which one I should use.
Sometimes sibalance distortion sounds like the preamp is running out of headroom, but that is just me speculating. I doubt that is it. I mean the cart and the pre are from the same company and designed to work together.
Anyone have any thoughts on what I should do next. I don'thave the finances for a big change. I thought of switching to a MM or MI cart, but what would be an equivalent or better than the DV? I have no idea if that would even fix the problem and I don't have a bricks and motar store to go to for help either.
I have a new pressing of Tea for the Tellerman (Analouge Productions APP 9135) that shows a little bit of sibalance on the last 3rd of grooves on each side. It's only noticable really on his voice. Insturments seem fine. What I have read on the quality on this pressing seem to be that it is a really good sounding album. I've only played the album about 5 times and it was cleaned before ever playing it the fist time. That being said I also have Teaser and the Firecat(A&M SP 4313)that I got at a flea market for $1. Now its its in not so great a shape. It is not shiny any more and has all manner of minor scuffs, but no deep scratches. It pops and ticks all over the place no matter how well I try to clean it. However it sounds better than TFT. On this album the last 1/4 to 1/5 of the grooves I get a very slight sibablance on his voice. Again, the insturments are fine. I do keep in mind that this was not a very cared for LP and I did get it at a flea market so who knows if the previous owner didn't have a bad set up and just ruined the LP.
All other LP's I have seem to be fine and I cant hear any sibalance on them. It's just the Cat Stevens LPs that give me any grief. I wouln't have thought much of it but a new and and old album both do it so I keep thinking it may be my set up - though I don't know where to look or what I can tweak now.
I've read many posts on how tempermental the VPI JMW tonearm is with regards to MC carts and how it wasn't really designed with them in mind. Now VPI suggests DV carts for the Scout and I'm using a DV phono pre. I'm not sure what to do next. Could my antiskate be causing this? I get the sibalance in both speakers so I havn't been really looking at AS. Also, would I bennfit on changing the output level on the P75? I have it set to what DV suggests which is low resistance setting of 4-10 ohms inthe phone enhancement mode. Or I could take it out of PE mode and use the basic Low MC settings which give me a range of 470, 220, 100, 60 and 30 ohms, but I'm not sure what I'm gaining by doing that or which one I should use.
Sometimes sibalance distortion sounds like the preamp is running out of headroom, but that is just me speculating. I doubt that is it. I mean the cart and the pre are from the same company and designed to work together.
Anyone have any thoughts on what I should do next. I don'thave the finances for a big change. I thought of switching to a MM or MI cart, but what would be an equivalent or better than the DV? I have no idea if that would even fix the problem and I don't have a bricks and motar store to go to for help either.
36 responses Add your response