Philb777,
Finding the "mistracking point" is a critical step in my technique for optimizing VTF and antiskating for a cartridge, so I'm very familiar with it. Raul, Dan_Ed, Swampwalker and anyone else who's watched me adjust my rig is aware that I tend to play just barely above that point.
Imagine a short, sharp burst of upper midrange to HF static, typically lasting MUCH less than a second... a very brief, "bzzzt!" sound.
- It may not be very loud, it depends on how badly the stylus is mistracking.
- It may occur in one channel only or both, depending on why the stylus is mistracking.
- It nearly always occurs in synch with dynamic peaks in the music, since the greater the modulations in the groove the harder they are for the stylus to track.
CAUTION #1
Playing a groove that was previously damaged by a mistracking stylus will sound exactly the same.
CAUTION #2
Certain kinds of vinyl pressing flaws sound almost exactly the same (though often a bit louder). However these are not necessarily in synch with the music and may occur anywhere on a side.
When you hear that "bzzzt!" sound you usually have to do a little investigating to determine which of the above is the actual cause. I've heard all three in my system. Only the first cause, mistracking by one's own stylus, can be rectified. Damage from previous plays or production flaws is incurable.
Finding the "mistracking point" is a critical step in my technique for optimizing VTF and antiskating for a cartridge, so I'm very familiar with it. Raul, Dan_Ed, Swampwalker and anyone else who's watched me adjust my rig is aware that I tend to play just barely above that point.
Imagine a short, sharp burst of upper midrange to HF static, typically lasting MUCH less than a second... a very brief, "bzzzt!" sound.
- It may not be very loud, it depends on how badly the stylus is mistracking.
- It may occur in one channel only or both, depending on why the stylus is mistracking.
- It nearly always occurs in synch with dynamic peaks in the music, since the greater the modulations in the groove the harder they are for the stylus to track.
CAUTION #1
Playing a groove that was previously damaged by a mistracking stylus will sound exactly the same.
CAUTION #2
Certain kinds of vinyl pressing flaws sound almost exactly the same (though often a bit louder). However these are not necessarily in synch with the music and may occur anywhere on a side.
When you hear that "bzzzt!" sound you usually have to do a little investigating to determine which of the above is the actual cause. I've heard all three in my system. Only the first cause, mistracking by one's own stylus, can be rectified. Damage from previous plays or production flaws is incurable.