My turntable started distorting, can you assist me?


Hi friends!

My 40 yr old Pioneer PL-41 turntable began distorting higher frequencies recently after years of enjoyable play. It sounds like an audio signal clipping. High voice notes break up like they’re going through a guitar distortion effect.

Cleaning the needle did not help. The rest of the signal chain is fine; it’s certainly the turntable. It even happens on like-new records. Replacing the cartridge did not help.

I aligned the cartridge. I don’t know how to correctly set the tonearm height (it’s about parallel to the platter during play) so this may be an issue, but that doesn’t explain why it happened suddenly. I’m going to rewire the tonearm with Cardas wire and RCA sockets, replacing the factory RCA cable.

I’m pulling my hair out. It’s a $500 turntable and suddenly wants to distort my MFSL, and other, records?? AHHHH!!
audibleaudio

Showing 2 responses by audibleaudio

Horror is setting in as the problem was incorrect tonearm height.  I think I may have damaged ALL of my favorite records by setting the tonearm too high. This may have also caused my diamond to break off.  All is well that ends well, I finish with a big bill that my car repairs still exceed.  Nepal: "No food today, bummer."  America: "Bummer!  I'll have to replace some records instead of buying another camera!" Lol 
*stops breathing into a paper bag*

I'm so relieved to hear that I haven't damaged my records!

The stylus that fell apart was a vintage MC Supex SDX 1000.  My interim cartridge while the Supex was being repaired was a brand new cheap diamond cartridge.  My problem is a combination of dirty records and bad SRA. 

Thanks for the tips about buying vintage equipment.  

I'll be purchasing an ultra sonic record washer from EBay (the $350 kit) to deep clean these records.  Thanks again!