Vinyl experts, I need your advice. TNT6, ETII,Benz

O.K. Here's the deal. I've been listening to vinyl for a long time on a VPIHW19jr. fitted with an ETII tonearm. Recently I upgraded to a somewhat lessend version of a VPI TNT 6. This is basically the new TNT jr. with the dual motor cutout but using a single motor and a TNT 6 platter and bearing. No air suspension, just the sorbothane units.
For my little pocketbook, this upgrade was substantial and I hope to eventually upgrade to a full "6" status. Here's the kicker, although the table sounds MUCH better than my old HW19jr, I still get a fair bit of what I believe to be distortion generally more towards the end of the record. I should add that I kept the ETII arm and a Benz Gold cart. I can't tell whether this is from record wear, mistracking or it is just a phenomenom of records. Some records are worse than others, some are what I would call unlistenable. When my wife listens to her Strisand records or other female artists I generally leave the room because when the going gets rough it gets unlistenable. Loud passages or higher pitched singing can be unbearable. I love Rickie Lee Jones and find that it is so much more pleasant on my Jolida CD player. THIS JUST WON'T DO! I have heard records sound great but there is always an uneasiness as I wait for that loud passage.
I have also heard this on better systems which makes a little apprehensive about vinyl playback anymore, and this is a shame because when it's good...it's real good.
If anyone has any ideas on where I should be looking to improve my playback please remark.