Hi Guys,
I am seeking some advice regarding what could be the issue with my turntable. I am experiencing a somewhat distorted sound while playing LPs - it seems that it mainly affects the instruments and to a lesser extent the vocals.
I have made a quick video recording here:
It is supposed to sound like this:
Do you think it is the Pickup which is done? or might it be an adjustment thing? needle pressure e.g.
i bought the turntable used, close to a year ago, anticipating the Pearl 3 RIAA, and it has been playing great since, however it is my first turntable so i am not that experienced regarding things that might be going on in a turntable. It is a Rega P3-24 with a Rega Exact pickup.
I have tried a different RIAA - it did not change anything, and there is no issue when i stream something, so it is isolated to the turntable.
I am seeking some advice regarding what could be the issue with my turntable. I am experiencing a somewhat distorted sound while playing LPs - it seems that it mainly affects the instruments and to a lesser extent the vocals.
I have made a quick video recording here:
It is supposed to sound like this:
Do you think it is the Pickup which is done? or might it be an adjustment thing? needle pressure e.g.
i bought the turntable used, close to a year ago, anticipating the Pearl 3 RIAA, and it has been playing great since, however it is my first turntable so i am not that experienced regarding things that might be going on in a turntable. It is a Rega P3-24 with a Rega Exact pickup.
I have tried a different RIAA - it did not change anything, and there is no issue when i stream something, so it is isolated to the turntable.
It's possible the stylus is worn out. You bought it used, so hours on the cartridge are unknown.
Check the stylus with an eye loop, 10x minimum. make sure it's clean.
Pull the cartridge connectors with a pair of micro plyers, and make sure the pins are clean.
Check stylus tracking weight with a scale if you have one.
Plan to buy a new cartridge anyway.
jeff
Check the stylus with an eye loop, 10x minimum. make sure it's clean.
Pull the cartridge connectors with a pair of micro plyers, and make sure the pins are clean.
Check stylus tracking weight with a scale if you have one.
Plan to buy a new cartridge anyway.
jeff
If you bought it used and one year passed its most likely the worn stylus.
Dont risk your records and get new cartridge.
Dont risk your records and get new cartridge.
Wow, that is something else!
I’ve heard the same distortion to a lesser extent on a used turntable/cart combo. Under a microscope, the stylus was “fully cooked” and the cantilever was bent. People tend to use too much tracking force to compensate for bad/scratched vinyl, and if they also lower and raise the tonearm manually the cantilever eventually gets bent or twisted. That ruins the vinyl.
It would be good to isolate the cause by switching to a different cartridge. If the distortion remains, it might be down the signal chain.
I’ve heard the same distortion to a lesser extent on a used turntable/cart combo. Under a microscope, the stylus was “fully cooked” and the cantilever was bent. People tend to use too much tracking force to compensate for bad/scratched vinyl, and if they also lower and raise the tonearm manually the cantilever eventually gets bent or twisted. That ruins the vinyl.
It would be good to isolate the cause by switching to a different cartridge. If the distortion remains, it might be down the signal chain.
You mean loupe, not loop! A magnifier - actually you need a high gain magnifier to see the stylus tip properly, x100 microscope or so, but some phone cameras have a useful macro-mode range that might help.
It it is the stylus being worn out, replace immediately, if its chipped, replace it and your records too(!). Diamond stylii last 500 to 1000 hours max on standard vinyl.
Another possibility is lack of tracking force, or grot on the stylus (you clean the stylus regularly?), or oxidation in the connector contacts, or instability in the preamp causing HF oscillation.
It it is the stylus being worn out, replace immediately, if its chipped, replace it and your records too(!). Diamond stylii last 500 to 1000 hours max on standard vinyl.
Another possibility is lack of tracking force, or grot on the stylus (you clean the stylus regularly?), or oxidation in the connector contacts, or instability in the preamp causing HF oscillation.
The stylus must be cleaned before each side. There are dedicated cleaners for this.
Record wear is permanent. The record must be clean. There are dedicated cleaners for this.
The turntable must be aligned and properly adjusted. There are devices for this.
Best to replace the stylus and/or cartridge, if you got it used.
Record wear is permanent. The record must be clean. There are dedicated cleaners for this.
The turntable must be aligned and properly adjusted. There are devices for this.
Best to replace the stylus and/or cartridge, if you got it used.
Thanks for your help everyone.
I never lower/raise the tonearm manually (don't know from before I bought it), use a stylus brush before every session and a vinyl brush on the LP for every sides.
It has come creeping over a few months until now where it is bad and I don't use it at the moment (before being fixed).
I will change the pickup and hope that my records hasn't been damaged.
I never lower/raise the tonearm manually (don't know from before I bought it), use a stylus brush before every session and a vinyl brush on the LP for every sides.
It has come creeping over a few months until now where it is bad and I don't use it at the moment (before being fixed).
I will change the pickup and hope that my records hasn't been damaged.
New pickup -> all good again 
My records haven't been damaged as far as I can tell, thanks your help 😀
My records haven't been damaged as far as I can tell, thanks your help 😀
Stylus cleaning also requires more than just a brush. Some of the gunk won't come off without some kind of solvent.
There are a variety of methods, with varying degrees of success, but a drop of isopropyl alcohol on the brush should help.
However, only brush the stylus tip from the back to the front, the same way as the record groove passes the tip.
Otherwise, the cantilever will be bent or broken.
There are a variety of methods, with varying degrees of success, but a drop of isopropyl alcohol on the brush should help.
However, only brush the stylus tip from the back to the front, the same way as the record groove passes the tip.
Otherwise, the cantilever will be bent or broken.