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I need help/advice with ADC XLM SME3009 TD160

The short story is that I have become very frustrated with what I thought was going to be a pretty nice setup.
I'm just returning to vinyl in the last couple of years, and I bought a Thorens 160 with a SME 3009/II/Improved mounted on it, and mounted a NOS ADC XLM cart on....it has never sounded quite right, but in the last 2 weeks things have gotten worse.

Using the HFnews test record, I can track the 2nd 300hz track (track 7?)without distortion, but the 3rd 300hz track is pretty bad(both channels evenly) and the music sounds like it. Bass is ok, but mids are kinda weak and highs are tizzy, sometimes the sax sounds more like a kazoo and the cymbals sound like static.

I have done a ton of research, read the archives, tried setting VTF from 1.25gm to 1.8gm, VTF hi/mid/low and checked and rechecked cart geometry......nothing is getting me the sound that I know the XLM and TT is capable of.

At this point, I have just ordered a Shure V15 IV to try and an Ed Saunders V15 stylus, but I am really reluctant to give up on the ADC easily.....
Is it possible my NOS stylus is bad after only about 100 hrs?
If it's bad already, I can't afford to buy a new stylus every 100hrs....I tried another old stylus, but it's condition is kinda unknown....
While trying different carts, I damaged the arm wireing so I'm doing a rewire which will at least resolve those potential connection and cable issues, and use a low capasitance phono cable, but I can't help but think that there is something else I'm missing.

Any advice would be appreciated,
thanks, Robert
(for now I'm using my Marantz TT OM5 cart and CeeDee player
my system is a modified dynaco pre and st70 w/A25 speakers)


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Topic - I need help/advice with ADC XLM SME3009 TD160 - kellymon 12:33:12 09/18/06 (13)


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