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Grain/Distortion heard on Inner 1/4 of LP

I've been adjusting this and that with my new Clearaudio Emotion/Virtuoso setup, and I thought I had things tuned in pretty well, but now all the albums I listen to exhibit pretty bad distortion when listening to the inner 1/4 of an LP. Up until that point, everything sounds clean and superb. I've meticulously realigned my cart several times and adjusted overhang to the point where I don't think it could be any better when using the naked eye. I also raised my VTA to assist in dynamic and bass response.

I was told to solve this problem I need to adjust my VTF, but I've been messing around with that too and can't seem to get the distortion to go away. I've played with anti-skate as well, but the distortion is coming evenly from both channels, so I don't believe that is the issue.

Have any of you experienced this problem? Is this a cartridge alignment issue, VTA, VTF, etc.? What have you guys done to resolve this?

Thanks
jwglista
tvad
9,467 posts
 
After I aligned my cartridge with the MintLP Best Tractor, inner groove distortion vanished. Dynavector XX2 on a KAB Technics SL1200 MK II.

You might consider this tool.
jwglista OP
205 posts
 
Wow that thing is $100. Do I really have to spend that much to get my setup perfected? How can the provided alignment chart not be accurate enough?
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Jwglista, your questions are valid. They have been asked and answered in several threads. If you're interested to learn more about the MintLP, I recommend doing a thread search.

I can only say that in my set-up, it worked as advertised and rid my analog playback of the problem you describe.
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