Grado Sonata pops out of grooves during crescendos


I have a Grado Sonata installed in a VPI Scout/JM9. It is set up well and tracking force is set to .1 gram over recommended vtf, as per the manufacturer VPI. On only one disc, a mint CBS Masterworks half speed master of Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra's "Finlandia," the stylus literally pops out of the grooves during heavily modulated orchestral crescendos. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Other "audiophile" pressings play great, Sheffield Labs, MFSL, 45 rpm Angels, etc. Thanks, Will
photon46

Showing 2 responses by photon46

Doug, the reason VPI suggests that owners add an additional .1 gram to the cartridge manufacturers specified tracking force is because VPI arms do not incorporate any anti-skating mechanism. If I understand their design philosophy, they feel that less harm is done by this slight increase than would be done by the forces applied in an anti-skating scheme. The Grado Sonata is one of two cartridges that VPI sells and sets up for owners at the factory, so they are very familiar with this one. Thanks for the suggestion regarding a possible resonance problem. I just found it very peculiar that this problem occurs only on one out of hundreds of lps. I'll double check tracking force again.
Yup, I definitely have had intimate familiarity with the "wobble." Several lps with slight warps on the perimeter excite the cartridge suspension and the wobble dance starts. I'll look closely while playing the suspect record & see if there's a connection. Will.