Problem solved.... lessons learned
I'm grateful for all the replies which inspired me to keep trying to fix the problems. Late last night I switched out the AQ balanced cable I was using between Goldnote phono pre and Bryston pre to AQ RCA cable and all the sound and details came back to life. The main difference is that you lose about 5db of gain from Balanced to RCA. Fortunately for me, I dug up a spare set of AQ Balanced cables and now the sound is back to original. I checked the original AQ balanced cable and it was clean and the pins weren't loose but the sound just wasn't right. I guess the lesson here is that a relatively new cable can look good but sound bad.
Regarding the AS problem, this is what I learned. On my tonearm, WTB 370, made by Rega, there is no correlation between AS=VTF. I recalibrated the VTF to 2.28(recommended is 2.1-2.5). For my AS testing, I used Johnny Winter's album, Second Winter, which has no grooves on side 4. The best AS setting that worked is just past 0. The stylus doesn't move at all through most of the record. The pull toward the spindle is of course stronger on the inner grooves closest to spindle. There's always a compromise with AS setting.
For my listening test, I used "Revolver", Mono, 2014 RE, Mint condition. On a track like "Love you to" you hear the distinct sound of sitar and tabla which are very unique. On a track like "Eleanor Rigby" the strings sound delicate yet clear. Sound level between L and R was perfect, super quiet record, no distortion detected.
Special mentions here:
@chakster I ordered the test LP you mentioned, thanks
@yeti42 I agree with you, the scale for AS on the Rega tonearm isn't reliable using their numbers. At least not this model.
@millercarbon, @elliottnewcombjr Agree with both of you, the best AS setting is when it sounds just right.
CASE CLOSED
I'm grateful for all the replies which inspired me to keep trying to fix the problems. Late last night I switched out the AQ balanced cable I was using between Goldnote phono pre and Bryston pre to AQ RCA cable and all the sound and details came back to life. The main difference is that you lose about 5db of gain from Balanced to RCA. Fortunately for me, I dug up a spare set of AQ Balanced cables and now the sound is back to original. I checked the original AQ balanced cable and it was clean and the pins weren't loose but the sound just wasn't right. I guess the lesson here is that a relatively new cable can look good but sound bad.
Regarding the AS problem, this is what I learned. On my tonearm, WTB 370, made by Rega, there is no correlation between AS=VTF. I recalibrated the VTF to 2.28(recommended is 2.1-2.5). For my AS testing, I used Johnny Winter's album, Second Winter, which has no grooves on side 4. The best AS setting that worked is just past 0. The stylus doesn't move at all through most of the record. The pull toward the spindle is of course stronger on the inner grooves closest to spindle. There's always a compromise with AS setting.
For my listening test, I used "Revolver", Mono, 2014 RE, Mint condition. On a track like "Love you to" you hear the distinct sound of sitar and tabla which are very unique. On a track like "Eleanor Rigby" the strings sound delicate yet clear. Sound level between L and R was perfect, super quiet record, no distortion detected.
Special mentions here:
@chakster I ordered the test LP you mentioned, thanks
@yeti42 I agree with you, the scale for AS on the Rega tonearm isn't reliable using their numbers. At least not this model.
@millercarbon, @elliottnewcombjr Agree with both of you, the best AS setting is when it sounds just right.
CASE CLOSED
