Left Channel LP Distortion

Tvad,

forget setting AS using that test record! As Doug Deacon has pointed out, those tracking grooves are way beyond anything a normal record would put a stylus through. Most likely you can get much better results with far less AS. We've traded the metal AS weights on our Triplanars with a few o-rings. I believe I have less than 1 gram of weight on the cantilever for AS. You will get much better micro-detail and timbre with less AS.

When I encounter left channel distortion I usually try to increase VTF by a few tenths of a gram (again, o-rings used for VTF find adjustment). If that doesn't improve things I write it off to damage or just a bad pressing. It does come with the territory with some used LPs.

I think Lewm has brought up a valid point that I neglected to mention. Fortunately, Doug covered it well. The method that works best is exactly as he describes. Add ONLY as much AS as is needed to stop any right channel distortion.

My XV-1s is much heavier than the Universe that Doug uses. I find that I need a bit more AS. Maybe as much as 1/2 a gram more. I've always believed that this is due to the additional weight. The XV-1s is almost 13 grams, compared to about 9 for the Universe. I believe that the Urushi is around 9 grams also, so I'm perplexed as to why Lewm finds it necessary to apply so much more force. I don't know the compliance specs for all three of these cartridges but this is probably a clue. As is how VTF is applied. Here again the approach that works best for me is to apply just enough VTF to prevent mis-tracking.

A light-handed approach to VTF and AS does help keep these parameters on our side and does not allow them to cross over the line to the evil, dark side. Pun intended.