Check and experiment with your anti-skating. I recently dealt with a problem sounding similar to what you describe, and wouldn't have believed anti-skating could be the culprit, until I found out it actually was.
Why does my system sound so shrill and distorted?
My system has been sounding very shrill and in some situations it will have a little distortion in the higher dynamic range with vocals and horns. I have used the feickert protractor to align my cartridge and have tried all three of the different geometries with not much change. Any ideas?
My set up,
Wilson Benesch Full Circle turntable with ACT TWO tonearm 9gm effective mass
Grado Reference Platinum cartridge 20cu compliance, I have a Sound Smith Carmen on the way.
Grado PH-1 Phono pre, Musical Fidelity M1 phono pre on the way
Manley Stingray II, pretty much always run in triode mode
Sonus Faber Liuto Monitors
cables are all Cardas Quadlink's
Thanks,
Thomas
My set up,
Wilson Benesch Full Circle turntable with ACT TWO tonearm 9gm effective mass
Grado Reference Platinum cartridge 20cu compliance, I have a Sound Smith Carmen on the way.
Grado PH-1 Phono pre, Musical Fidelity M1 phono pre on the way
Manley Stingray II, pretty much always run in triode mode
Sonus Faber Liuto Monitors
cables are all Cardas Quadlink's
Thanks,
Thomas