Turntable Question - Distortion One Channel Only?

msg

Hey guys,
quick question, was listening to a few records earlier, and I think I'm noticing a bit of distortion in the left channel only. Natalie Merchant's Tigerlily album for example - a bit of an edge and touch of harshness and distortion in the vocals and upper range.

Right channel's really smooth. Is this likely to be cartridge/setup related you think? I've never really been very confident about the cartridge alignment. Should be close, but I just don't quite get the protractor thing. Doesn't it move during the setup process?

tratliff

Not sure which turntable you are using but I have been fine tuning my table.

The instruction for my VPI state that:
Distortion in left channel = too much anti-skate.
Distortion in right channel = too little anti-skate.

I have also found that a little more tracking force can help.

I would try the tracking force first.

Also clean the stylus.

Hope this helps.

msg

ah! good info Todd, thanks!
I'll give those a shot.

halo

The protractor - make sure the stylus is in the middle of the middle of the pattern in both patterns. You'll have to move the cartridge up forward or backward on the headshell to achieve this. It takes time to get it perfect. You can get free protractors at vinylengine.com.

I think this is a good video on how to set up a 'table and he talks about the cartridge alignment and how to set it using a protractor:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WM-aIDwfrhc&t=605s

Nightfall

Something easy to overlook, make sure the wires on the back of the cartridge aren't really loose. Put a toothpick in the barrel and crimp it down some if they are.

mhardy6647

Distortion in one channel is probably mistracking -- If the alignment's OK, check the antiskate. I think the earlier post is correct; left channel issues correlate with too much antiskate.

As an editorial (grumpy old man) aside -- antiskate is one of those things that can often do more harm than good, in my utterly un-humble opinion. A little antiskate can go a long way

EDIT: Actually the other two comments in tratliff's posts are good points, as well.
Sometimes folks seem to assume that less VTF is better -- it rarely is (IME/IMO). Optimal VTF is better (best, in fact -- the superlative adjective form). Usually (again IME/IMO) the high end of the 'recommended' range is usually "best". Disclaimer: my experience is all with conical & elliptical styli; I've never used styli exhibiting any of the more exotic geometries(!).

And, as tratliff mentioned, a little fuzzy-wuzzy on the stylus can wreak some audible havoc.

mhardy6647

Nightfall wrote: »

Something easy to overlook, make sure the wires on the back of the cartridge aren't really loose. Put a toothpick in the barrel and crimp it down some if they are.

Yeah -- iffy connections can have audible consequences, too, now that Nightfall mentions it!



I am adding lots of value to this discussion, ain't I?
Derp.

soundfreak1

I want to add... check the headshell contacts where it connect inside the arm tube. A q-tip and some isopropyl cleans these contacts pretty well as dust, dirt, and general "gungus" can build up over the years here and can cause that exact problem.

Nightfall

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Nightfall wrote: »

Something easy to overlook, make sure the wires on the back of the cartridge aren't really loose. Put a toothpick in the barrel and crimp it down some if they are.

Yeah -- iffy connections can have audible consequences, too, now that Nightfall mentions it.

I learned this one recently, super easy to overlook.

erniejade

Did you buy the lp new? I have been given some records that were played with a ceramic cartridge and were distorted on my table but on the friends it was fine.

msg

I figured this out late last night and early this morning. I got stupid grown-up chores to see to, so I'll post up on it later.
You guys are gonna laugh me right off the forum.

There's been a lot of good info in this thread so far, so it hasn't been a waste; thanks for all. I'm going to spend some real time dialing in my table per the recommendations here so far.

treitz3

I'' take a stab at it.....sounds like it was just a rookie type mistake.

Dust on the cart?

Tom

msg

As promised, I'm back to post up what I discovered to be the problem with my turntable distortion issue. So you guys can joke on me. I'm sitting there thinking something's really jacked up as both tables, begin to sound progressively worse as albums play. The solution was ridiculously simple.

First off, "Shuddup, Tom" << Russ told to me I could say that.

Second. #$&*%. Todd, Mark & Tom, you were right!

I took a look at my stylus. Looked like a had just a bit of fluff on there.
Then I pulled out a little loupe, and, when I went to inspect the stylus, imagine my reaction when I found this stuck to the end, staring back at me...

msg

I didn't think for a second that lint on a stylus could cause that kind of distortion! It was pretty nasty sounding.

The main reason I didn't think about it was because I've been cleaning records lately, and always use the Hunt lint brush before and after play on every record. I had no idea it could accumulate to this degree. I thought lint was just for dirty people.

Btw, Don King's hair above is taken from an actual photo of the lint accumulation on the Grado Green I use.

msg

This was the first time I actually had a close look at a stylus and cantilever. It's really kind of neat, and to think that this is where the sound transfer from the record begins.
It's really quite amazing.

Before/After

lightman1

So THAT'S where the rest of my bellybutton fur went. Thanks Scott. Hold on to it for me.

msg

Lol, still holding. Stuff's worth money!
Howt... how'd you manage to get a leaf in there?
Intact, no less.

lightman1

I work outside. All kinds of flora and fauna floating about. Is my chipmunk in there? I haven't seen him in a few days.