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Need help with finding the right cartridge for my turntable

Hello, I bought a used Yamaha YP-B2 turntable. I realize now after causing who knows what kind of damage to my records that I probably don't have the right cartridge/alignment. The tonearm is not level when playing a record, and I don't see there is any way to adjust the VTA on this turntable. It has the factory head shell that came on that model turntable. the top of the head shell has an overhang that blocks the cartridge at a certain point if you want to move it forward in the head shell. It has about half range to slide the screws in the head shell slots. I saw I may be able to get a spacer for the cartridge and that could help bring my tonearm level when playing a record. I would prefer to have the correct cartridge type instead of doing that. 
peterhaze476

Showing 2 responses by rauliruegas

rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear @peterhaze476 :  ""  The tonearm sits so low with this cartridge, I can't even see the stylus under the cartridge..."""

I don't know what cartridge you own but your statement says that the cartridge suspension just collapsed and you need a new cartridge or if the cartridge is a MM type a new stylus replacement. Btw, which is your cartridge?

For a new cartridge:

https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGAT95SE.html

and I own this from same AT series and it's a " gigant killer ":

https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGAT95SA.html

R.
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear @peterhaze476 : " The tonearm is not level when playing a record """

first that condition can’t damages your LPs. Now, it’s not the tonearm whom to starting set up must be level but the cartridge it self against the LP surface.

I said " starting " point because from this level point is from where you will make your first listening sessions with recordings that you realyy know its kind of overall sound.
After that is when you need to make fine VTA changes to find out by ear the " best " VTA for that cartridge.

You can do it with spacers ( that’s the way people do it with some Rega tonearm models that has not VTA . ) or you can go with those spacers at one of the 3 screws that fix the tonearm to the TT plynth.

Again, stay away from Stevenson alignment: it’s the worst one and millercarbon gave you exactly the protractor that you never want to use no matters what. Btw, as almost all tonearm/cartridge japanese alignment specs yours comes with Stevenson overhang distance ( 16mm. ), forgeret about this and go with Baerwald protractor alignment and remember what I said to you in your other thread: aling the cartridge cantilever to the protractor not the cartridge body.

In the other side, there is no cartridge standards about the cartridge body top plate to the stylus tip heigth distance and along this cartridges normally comes with different compliance that affect that distance.

The original Yamaha headshell acomplish the standards for removable tonearm headshells however you can use other headshells that could fit better to your cartridge and not only fit but could be a better quality sound match.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.




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