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Sussurro MkII and surface noise?

I know there are a bunch of folks here using the SoundSmith Susurro MkII. I just finished setting mine up on my VPI Avenger and really the first thing I noticed is how much more surface noise it picks up off my records. I mean, by a lot. My previous go to cart has been a Benz Wood SL, one of the later ones with the MR stylus. I found that to be relatively quiet. The SS uses a O.C. Line Contact type stylus - not quite the same as a MR, but if anything I'd have thought it would be contacting areas of the groove not as heavily traveled as with the MR stylus, thinking it might be either the same or quieter. Not the case by a long shot. Anyone else experience higher surface noise with the Sussurro MkII?
tonyptony

Showing 2 responses by folkfreak

folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@tonyptony I would concur. My experience with AnalogMagik is that it’s great for really fine tuning a setup that’s already good, but the sheer pita nature of going back and forth make it a tricky approach to getting to an initial setup.

Sounds like you have the tools and experience to get to a good place “by ear” so try this and then go back to AM once that’s done.

Also most cartridges need 20-40 hours to bed in and edginess and the behaviors you describe are typical of a new cart still needing to settle in
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@tonyptony  I can’t remember the final number re VTA but I was clearly getting results that trended better (that’s until I ran out of room to lower my tonearm further, purely a function of some challenges I have in setup on my table, another 1mm would be ideal)

The AM setup seemed to optimize especially well for clarity and channel separation. Probably not as “organic” and “analog like” as the prior setup, but that’s a trend I see the more I optimize my vinyl rig, it sounds more and more like digital ie flat tonal response, very clear and open, no compression etc
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