My turntable hates Cat Stevens


OK the set up: I have a VPI Scout with the Dyanvector 20x2L cart (MC) with the VPI 3g headshell weight. My phono pre is a Dynavector P75 set to the PE mode for low output carts. I used the Mint protractor to set things up and I'm fairly certain it's as dead on as I'm going to be able to get it. My TF is 2.2g (set by digital fg)and my VTA is level or just a smidge below.

I have a new pressing of Tea for the Tellerman (Analouge Productions APP 9135) that shows a little bit of sibalance on the last 3rd of grooves on each side. It's only noticable really on his voice. Insturments seem fine. What I have read on the quality on this pressing seem to be that it is a really good sounding album. I've only played the album about 5 times and it was cleaned before ever playing it the fist time. That being said I also have Teaser and the Firecat(A&M SP 4313)that I got at a flea market for $1. Now its its in not so great a shape. It is not shiny any more and has all manner of minor scuffs, but no deep scratches. It pops and ticks all over the place no matter how well I try to clean it. However it sounds better than TFT. On this album the last 1/4 to 1/5 of the grooves I get a very slight sibablance on his voice. Again, the insturments are fine. I do keep in mind that this was not a very cared for LP and I did get it at a flea market so who knows if the previous owner didn't have a bad set up and just ruined the LP.

All other LP's I have seem to be fine and I cant hear any sibalance on them. It's just the Cat Stevens LPs that give me any grief. I wouln't have thought much of it but a new and and old album both do it so I keep thinking it may be my set up - though I don't know where to look or what I can tweak now.

I've read many posts on how tempermental the VPI JMW tonearm is with regards to MC carts and how it wasn't really designed with them in mind. Now VPI suggests DV carts for the Scout and I'm using a DV phono pre. I'm not sure what to do next. Could my antiskate be causing this? I get the sibalance in both speakers so I havn't been really looking at AS. Also, would I bennfit on changing the output level on the P75? I have it set to what DV suggests which is low resistance setting of 4-10 ohms inthe phone enhancement mode. Or I could take it out of PE mode and use the basic Low MC settings which give me a range of 470, 220, 100, 60 and 30 ohms, but I'm not sure what I'm gaining by doing that or which one I should use.

Sometimes sibalance distortion sounds like the preamp is running out of headroom, but that is just me speculating. I doubt that is it. I mean the cart and the pre are from the same company and designed to work together.

Anyone have any thoughts on what I should do next. I don'thave the finances for a big change. I thought of switching to a MM or MI cart, but what would be an equivalent or better than the DV? I have no idea if that would even fix the problem and I don't have a bricks and motar store to go to for help either.
last_lemming

Showing 7 responses by last_lemming

Vortrex,

I'm new to the lp side of things so I did not know this. I have the same album in hi def FLAC download and there is no sibalance. Good to know.
Vortrex,

I'm new to the lp side of things so I did not know this. I have the same album in hi def FLAC download and there is no sibalance. Good to know.
You're right, I hadn't thought about that at the time but in retrospect that makes sense.
Halco,

"OK the set up: I have a VPI Scout with the Dyanvector 20x2L cart (MC) with the VPI 3g headshell weight. My phono pre is a Dynavector P75 set to the PE mode for low output carts. I used the Mint protractor to set things up and I'm fairly certain it's as dead on as I'm going to be able to get it. My TF is 2.2g (set by digital fg)and my VTA is level or just a smidge below. "

This is my set up from above. Is there something else I need to do?

Zd542,

I should clarify that I have not gone through every lp i have since using the mint protractor. Since posting the question I've listened to a few others. I have gotten small bits of sibalance from a few other used lp's but I've not put too much stock in those due to not knowing their history, but I do hear it - though its fleeting and doesn't happen too much. On all my new lp's I haven't noticed any sibalance other that TFTT.

I guess the point is I've set this TT up pretty well IMO, and I'm still getting what I'm calling sibalance. Just to be clear on that point what I'm physically hearing is a ditortion, not just an emphasis on s's and such.

Plus I'm using a cart suggested by VPI and a pre that makes the cart. Even so I was considering switching around the pre jumpers and taking the PE mode out and setting it up for a more standard lo MC setting.

I'm sure others will say get rid of the table but cash for that is not an option so I need to make this work.
I clean my stylus after each playing session and I've adjusted my azimuth by the rod method and from there tweaked each way to see if there would be any reduction in sibalance. There wasn't. I started with the VPI jig and had the same problem. That's why I got the mint. As for the weight I just gave that a try due to the low mass of my arm.
Mofi,

My CW is in the middle.

Zd542,

I'm not sue how many hours but lets say less than 100 and more than 50. But that is just a guess. How long is break in on a DV? I agree it may be too much gain but I'm suspect of that being that the cart and the phono pre are the same company. And I'm using PE mode so I'm not sure too much gain will apply here but I'm no expert.