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JMW9 setup tracking problems... need help

Hi,
After almost 20 years I decided to return to analog. Looking for a good TT, found here in Audiogon a VPI Super scoutmaster with JMW9 arm in perfect condition and decide to buy it. I follow all the setup procedure: first level the turntable; then lower to arm until is parallel with the plate (to get that I had to lower the arm up to its lowest point); use an arm load meter to set up the traking force(I use a Denon 103R cartridge at 2.88g; little bit high of its higher set up of 2.8g); and rotate the counterweight to get perfect lateral balance; and finally I use the alignment jig to setup the perfect placement of the cartridge in the headshell. Everything looks OK but each time that I try to play a record the stylus runs across the vinyl and jumps half a song or more and sounds are sometimes (not always) intermitent. In inner grooves stylus track better b ut not perfect.
Maybe this is a silly question but dont know what else to try (I recheck everyhting and all looks ok) and VPI is not open until the 7th and will love to spend this holidays enjoying this grate TT. Thanks in advance
jorsan
jorsan OP
178 posts
 
Hi Viridian, I checked that this morning buy I will verify if the arm is properly grounded tonight. I live in Miami FL. so no, no dry air here. Hope the problem is not a broken cable when I untwisted the wire that runs from the arm to the locking collet. Will post my findings.
Thanks for your response.
jorsan OP
178 posts
 
Viridian, the day before yesterday called VPI and spoke with Mike, he told me the same: problem must be static charge so he ask me to run a cable from a big nub that is located at the bottom of the turntable to a ground wall outlet. Well I've tried that and doesn't work; I think (maybe Im wrong) the air in my house is not dry enough to create this kind of static problem so maybe you have other ideas that I can try. thanks
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Jorsan, please try my suggestion, outlined above. It is virtually free and will take very little time to try.
jorsan OP
178 posts
 
Thanks Viridian, I verify that the arm is perfectly grounded to the phono preamp so I assuming what you want me to try is " ...mix one part fabric softener to two parts water and spray it on the carpet around the installation..." right?
jorsan OP
178 posts
 
After all night with some sprayed towels around the turntable (I have wood on the floor not carpet, so I decided to use this option), this morning I turn the TT and found that about half LP everything goes OK but after that the same "shots" starts again. One thing that Mike from VPI told me is that because the denon 103R has a plastic case promotes this problem. About a week ago I placed an order for a wood case from Europe (not for this reason but to add more mass to my arm)so will see if this solves the problem.
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