Torture test for a TT rig!

The amplitude of 1812 (cannon shots) does not exist in real music, so why do you use it as a test for a low compliance cartridge? Do you expect it to track like 30cu MM?

You can use Hi-Fi News Test LP, but even those last 2 bands are extreme test for cartridge suspension.

Play real music, you can damage your low compliance cartridge testing it on 1812s cannon shots, probably you already damaged it.

Few setups can flawlessly trac the Telarc 1812, so don’t read too much into your cartridge skipping over the cannon shots. If you want a good gauge of your turntable performance I’d recommend something like the HiFi News test record.

Dear @mglik : I hope the Shilabe already had at least 100 hours of playing time and that you are running it at the manufacturer VTF spec of 3.0grs.
The resonance frequency it is inside the limits 8hz-12hz.

Telarc 1812 is a great recording ( and not for the cannon shots. ) and a real test for any audio system. Exist combinations of cartridge/tonearms that can track all the cannon shots and not only high compliance cartridges. Some combinations can track 8-9 of those cannon shots. Obviously that a combination than can track all the recording with no " trouble " tells you that can track everything and this says that that those cartridges can pick up more recorded information in any LP.

What disturbing to me a little is :

"" I am getting “clipping-like” distortion. Especially on the fuller tones of a singer. "

That seems as a mistracking. Please do the next test:

set the VTF to zero, set no antiskate and don't use the damping silicon tray and put the cartridge/arm ( that’s in horizontal equilibrium. ) at the middle and , at this position the cartridge/tonearm must stay in that position with out any movement after this do the same nearer the inner LP grooves and things must be the same: dead " there ".

If in those tests the tonearm is steady then play again not only the 1812 but the LPs where you detected that kind of mistracking in the singer. Do these with out and with antiskating and with tray damping and with out it and clean the stylus tip ans LP before play it.

If things does not change probably exist a " trouble " in the cartridge suspension or its stylus tip.

If in the back tests ( no VTF/AS. ) exist a minimum movement then exist a " trouble " with the tonearm.

Not been with you is dificult to be very precise in our opinions. You have to check about what some of us posted . Even if after all those tests try again with 3.2grs. on VTF.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

If the cartridge isn't set to track heavily enough, this could explain everything that's been described.


I would consider also using multiple weights supplied with the Triplanar rather than the one larger weight, so as to move some of the mass further back from the pivot. This would have the effect of increasing the effective mass of the arm, allowing it to work better with a low compliance cartridge.