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No bass with new turntable?

 Hello, I've just set up a Pro-ject Carbon DC Esprit, dialed in the arm etc., and while the upper spectrum of the sound is great, there is just no bass, let's say below the 80-100hz range. It's been probably 30 years since I've fooled around with turntables so I can't remember if that's just the way it's supposed to be. Luckily I have a Velodyne SMS-1 bass management system to turn up what I'm missing, but without that I'd be completely disappointed. Using a CDP my speakers are very full of bass. I've played with the tone arm adjustments with no difference in bass really, all supplied cables hooked up and checked, the cart is an Ortofon Red, the phono preamp is integrated in the Rogue Audio Sphinx amp.
 Any suggestions/opinions?
wetfeet48

Showing 2 responses by effischer

effischer
568 posts
 
Mapman and czarivy are correct.  Something is not set up correctly and/or damaged.  For brevity, I'll assume you've correctly set any load switches in your preamp (I'm not familiar with it).  Because these tables are typically supplied with pre-installed & aligned Ortofon 2M Red, I'd guess that your VTF isn't high enough or the stylus is damaged.  If you bought the table new, I'd query the retailer.

If you bought it used, you'll have to get a protractor, stylus tracking force gauge and a six pack of beer to drink after you're done aligning the cartridge, setting VTF and anti-skate.  If you still have no bass after that, then the cartridge is almost certainly badly worn, filthy and/or damaged.  The 2M Red responds down to 20 Hz; well below what your speakers can reproduce.

Good luck!

effischer
568 posts
 
Glad to note you've obtained more satisfactory results.  The biggest differences in turntable performance often come from tiny changes.  Alignment is probably the most important, closely followed by VTF and VTA.  Pro-Ject makes a nice protractor called Strobe-It that's easier to use than the paper one in their manual.  You note you were tracking at 1.75 grams (presuming that 17.5 in your post yesterday was a typo - I hope it was). You might find 2 grams more pleasant with the 2M Red; it worked better with mine on my vintage PL-15D II, anyway.

On the old Eagles album, some stuff just wasn't pressed all that well and/or was poorly mastered.  Age has very little to do with it in most cases.  I have an original Verve stereo pressing of the Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz Getz/Gilberto from 1963 that is one of the best recordings I've ever heard.  Try some other stuff, and make sure your LPs and stylus are clean before every play.  Lots of posts in the archives here if you want to get more info on that.

Cabling is another topic that generates a lot of comment here, so the archives are again useful.  You'll have to decide what works for you for yourself.  The only thing I'll add is a link to what Roger Russell from McIntosh had to say:  http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm.  

Good luck & (now) happy listening!
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