New analog system disappoints, please help

Hello, I'm certainly no authority on your set-up, and even after being into vinyl for a good 35 years consider myself a "rank amateur" to the world of high end analog.

It appears you have adhered to proper factory recommended Cartridge Loading (100 ohms), but some experimentation here with your Plinius won't hurt a thing. How is gain with the Plinius? Do you feel it is adequate? Or do you have to really crank the volume to get listenable sound?

The other "possible" suggestion, would imply that perhaps the Table-Arm-Cartridge is either not properly set-up, or has deviated from proper set-up? By taking such assumptions for granted, one will never really know for sure. Just an error in VTF, VTA, or proper Cartridge Alignment can make, or break any Cartridge's sound.

When moving such equipment around, there's no guarantee things will stay precisely set, and realistically, like the rest of us, we all seem to require the need of VTF Scales, Protractors, Test LPs to squeeze every last bit of performance from our rigs.

It's great when one has a high-end buddy close by, so one can get help, and second opinions, but many, like myself no longer do, so sadly, we are often on our own.

If you have a local shop, with a knowledgeable tech that can help, this might be a possible route?

Hopefully others with better experience than I can help you come to better conclusion than I with your particular gear, and I'm sorry that I cannot be of better help to you. Mark

Hello Emil,
read your quesries also over at a-asylum, and while there were some good replies, some were of no use IMO, and after reading some, I was ready to hit myself over the head with a Frying Pan. Sometimes, it's torture distiguishing Diamonds from BS!

You seem to wish to stay in the Analog game, and as other sensible posters have stated, and although I know it's very hard, try having a bit of patience, and as you said, it is time you get some tools, and see for yourself what the deal is, with the parameters of alignment, VTF, VTA, and your Pre-Amp.

I am unaware what setting are available on your Plinius. These should be in the owner's manual, and would like for you to post them here if you could. This would be a help. I understand the TT Cartridge has a .4mv output? What gain settings are available on the Plinius Jarrah? You probably need to be ataround 58db-60db Gain.

As for loading, and as is recommended, Transfiguration suggests 100 ohm. Why another suggested 47 ohm, is beyond me? With interal Impedance at 10ohms, perhaps nsgarch's rule of thumb might apply, and use-try the 25X rule, which would be 250 ohms. Even try 500 ohms, or 1k ohms if available on your unit. As I mentioned earlier, no harm can be done.

Insufficient gain will hinder performance. Too much gain will also sound horrible, with distortion.

I recommend at least getting a Shure Stylus Force Gauge for $24 minimum. The Micro Tech Digital Scale at MusicDirect is nice, I have one, and it is accurate, serves its purpose, and easy to use.

Doug Deacon has suggested to me the Turntable Basics Mirror Protractor, and this is a bargain at $20 plus shipping. I understand SME uses thier own Protractors, but I don't think you'll go wrong with the Protractor I recommend.

VTA will also be important, and I do suggest seeing exactly how the Arm sits, while the Cartridge actually sits on an LP. (The Platter does not have to be in motion) As was suggested to me, a 3"x5" Ruled Index Card folded in half like a little tent, set on the Platter, or Plinth, and use this to sight the Arm, may help you detemine how the Arm actually sits. Definitely start out level, and go from there, higher, or lower at the back in very small increments.

Others started thier babble about SS versus Tubes, and this of course is all Malarky, and Baloney. Though I won't discount the fact that there could be an incompatibility between Phono Stage, and Cartridge, if Gain isn't correct for your Cartridge.

The Jarrah doesn't appear to be the world's best, this you know, but again, this Unit does sound like a very good Unit.

You may find in your area some great guys at local Audio Shops, who will give you friendly, helpful assitance. In the olden days, Guys like Jim Davis, the owner at MusicDirect in Chicago would "give me" whatever I wanted to try at home, Interconnects, Phono Stages, whatever, to try, and experiment with. Most the goodies he usually gave me, wound up being bought. Hope you can find folks like this to help you. Mark