I am running it at 1.5 grams, as measured by a shure force gauge.
New cartridge, now some adjustment questions.
I recently purchased a Shure v15mxr cartridge on closeout and mated it to my music hall mmf-2.1 table. There has certainly been an enormous improvement in sound quality. Just this week my back-ordered Hi-Fi News test record came in, and after running its tests, I can hear that my cartridge is not tracking all the test tracks perfectly. So I have a few questions.
1) It has some difficulty tracking the 300hz test tone tracks on side 2. On all three tracks there is at least slight distortion at some point in the track. I tried re-aligning my cartridge, but got no signifigant change. What factor is typically at fault here? Is it cartridge adjustment, or some other factor?
2) On the bias setting (anti-skate) tracks, it tracks the first two perfectly, but starts to break up slightly on 3, and terribly on 4. My table has limited anti-skate adjustment, (weight on a string). I made it better with some adjustment, but given that these are also 300hz test tones (as the tests above), I assume the two are related.
This seems to be a very helpful record, except they don't give many suggestions as to fixing the problems you find! Suggestions would be much appreciated!
1) It has some difficulty tracking the 300hz test tone tracks on side 2. On all three tracks there is at least slight distortion at some point in the track. I tried re-aligning my cartridge, but got no signifigant change. What factor is typically at fault here? Is it cartridge adjustment, or some other factor?
2) On the bias setting (anti-skate) tracks, it tracks the first two perfectly, but starts to break up slightly on 3, and terribly on 4. My table has limited anti-skate adjustment, (weight on a string). I made it better with some adjustment, but given that these are also 300hz test tones (as the tests above), I assume the two are related.
This seems to be a very helpful record, except they don't give many suggestions as to fixing the problems you find! Suggestions would be much appreciated!
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- 17 posts total
Jed, the Hi-Fi News test disc is very challenging and, basically, it is intended to show the breaking point in just about every setup somewhere in those grooves. My recommendation to you is to set aside the test record and play a good quality classical orchestral recording. Listen carefully, and make some final VTA and VTF adjustments by ear. If the orchestral music is being played cleanly, you're in good shape irrespective of what you hear on the test record. For setting up by ear, follow Lloyd Walker's turntable set up recommendations. . |
You say that you are tracking at 1.5 grams, that would indicate that the brush is down. Have you tried putting the brush up and tracking at 1gm? Sometimes, the brushes don't work right. Have you checked the plinth of your turntable to be sure that it is level? A static balance arm depends on the table being level to work properly. When you hear the breakup, which channel breaks up first, left or right? |
Viridian, The instructions that came with the sure indicated that VTF be set at 1.5 grams, and if the brush was down, actual tracking weight would be 1 gram. I have not been using the brush, as even before I had the test record I could hear the effect it had on the music and the noise floor. With the brush down on the test record, the cartridge does not track well at all. So you are saying I should try 1 gram, without the brush? |
Jed, please read the directions that came with the Shure again. They indicate that you must track at one gram with the brush up, and one and a half grams with the brush down. This is because the action of the brush pushes the arm upward. The actual effective tracking force is the same either way. You are tracking way too heavy. Try again, you are way off. Remember, this will cause you to reset the VTA and anti-skate as well. You did not answer my other question. Which channel breaks up first? Marty |
- 17 posts total