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What's Wrong With My Cartridge/Setup?

Please help this newbie sort out a problem with my cartridge, tonearm or installation.

Here's my system: Shure V15VxMR Cartridge mounted on an older Rega Planar 2 Turntable with glass platter into either an Audio Experience Concerto Tube Phono Preamp or a Conrad Johnson SC-22P SS FET Phono Preamp (in a homebrew box) into a CJ Preamp and Anthem Amp-1 tube amp. This system is new to me (most parts are used with the exception of the cartridge which was bought with 'only a few hours use' and the phono preamp (which I ran for 30 hours burn-in).

So here's the problem: My LPs sound like crap. The highs are badly attenuated, the lows are a weak and the entire sound lacks punch. The sound field is totally flat. I've compared a number of vinyl LPs to CD releases of the same material played on my Music Hall CD-25 and the CDs sound considerably better than the vinyl.

I've played with some of the mechanical parameters of the cartridge (tracking alignment, VTA, weight, anti-skating) using a test LP and a scope (as well as my ears). The changes generally have a audible effect but are small compared to the magnitude of the problem. The loading the cartridge is 'seeing' was measured to be very close to the spec of 47K ohms and 250 pF. The two phono preamps I've tried sound pretty similar, so the problem would appear to be with the cartridge/turntable/tonearm setup.

Any ideas? Could cartridge break-in account for such a major sonic impact? Is it fair to compare an LP to a CD of the same material? Help!!!

.... Brian
odourboy

Showing 2 responses by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Not much to add to Dan_Ed's and Viridian's posts. A flat sounding soundstage will result from a system that's wired out of polarity.

Just for testing, try reversing your speaker or power amp + and + connections, whichever is easier to reach. IF LP's suddenly sound more alive, deep and focused then just for haha's throw in a CD. It will sound flat, dull and less focused than normal. Now you know you've got a polarity inversion somewhere between cartridge and line stage. Return your speaker terminals to normal and reverse your cartridge clips or phono plugs. Problem solved.

Hope that works, it's the easiest thing to check and fix.

This is better than just visually checking your cartridge connections. Cartridges have been internally wired backwards in the past and I'm sure some will be wired backwards in the future.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Typo.

That should read, "...try reversing your speaker or
power amp + and - connections..."
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