(Real quickly here- Planar 3/ RB300/ Incognito wires/ Michell Tecnoweight & Easy Riser VTA/ Shure V15VxMR w/new stylus)

Questions:
1. Side 1, tracks 6,7,8, and 9, the bias (anti-skate) test. I can pass 6 & 7, but on track 8 the buzz moves to the left for a second, then it's quiet, and then it's on the right for a second. An analogy would be my system is doing a Hula dance. I set the bias to produce equal buzz time in both channels. This may be related to question 2, but do you think I'm ok?

2. The entire record is off-centered. The first side isn't as bad as the second, but it's enough to piss me off. Is this common? I haven't notified the vender yet.

3. Side 2, tracks 2 & 3, the cartridge/arm resonance tests. On track 2, the lateral sweep, I get the worst resonances at 9 & 11 Hz, which is perfect as far as I know. On track 3, the horizontal sweep, the resonance is at it's worst right at the beginning, or 20 Hz. Is this right? I thought the two should be the same.

4. Side 2, tracks 1,4, and 8. Am I supposed to get the same results from these tracks? That's the way I read it, but since it's off-centered I get different results.

5. Last question! Track 5, the cartridge aligment test. Is it possible to get the test tone to go away entirely when you switch to mono? I can get it real quiet, but there is always a slight tone present. I must have spent an hour with my Wally Tractor trying to make it go away completely, but everything looks perfect.

Please, I realize that is alot of questions, and I apologize for my inexperience, but I'd like to hear what others think. I'm soooo close here.......!

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien

 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - Balle Clorin 22:16:29 03/11/04 (1)
 Re:"Lets find a better product!!!" - subcoolman 09:00:35 03/12/04 (0)
 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - Doug Deacon 10:22:45 03/11/04 (5)

...

Show full thread outline!

 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - Balle Clorin 22:16:29 03/11/04 (1)
 Re:"Lets find a better product!!!" - subcoolman 09:00:35 03/12/04 (0)
 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - Doug Deacon 10:22:45 03/11/04 (5)
 Thanks Doug! - subcoolman 18:43:52 03/11/04 (4)
 Maybe it's the arm or record - "It's the music" 00:40:28 03/12/04 (3)
 Re: 9Hz horisontal AND 9Hz vertical - Balle Clorin 00:10:09 03/13/04 (0)
 Could be - Doug Deacon 06:05:48 03/12/04 (1)
 Re: Could be - subcoolman 09:04:57 03/12/04 (0)
 Mine is off-center, too. - JefferyK 10:11:47 03/11/04 (0)
 Similar results - "It's the music" 09:48:59 03/11/04 (1)
 I'm not the only one, then. Thanks! (nt) - subcoolman 10:10:55 03/11/04 (0)
 I've never had any problems with off centered records - artemus 09:48:55 03/11/04 (3)
 Truck on, Bro! - JoeLip 09:03:22 03/12/04 (0)
 But then where does the "duck" mat go? - subcoolman 10:12:41 03/11/04 (1)
 The duck mat still goes under the record. And it make an improvement to the sound also. - artemus 10:43:24 03/11/04 (0)
 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - bryan 09:04:10 03/11/04 (1)
 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - subcoolman 09:23:32 03/11/04 (0)
 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - evaia 08:35:48 03/11/04 (1)
 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - subcoolman 09:15:48 03/11/04 (0)
 Re: New Hi-Fi News record problems - -Allan S 08:29:41 03/11/04 (0)

I am sure one of the more technically qualified can explain what is going on with the off center if possible I would return it now.

Enjoy your new deck.

as

I havent got one with me at the moment but Track 5, the cartridge aligment test is actually an azimuth test isnt it? It is not testing alignment but whether the stylus is vertical and not vearing off to the left or right. Not familiar with WallyTractor but I thought they were to align the cartridge for Baerwald or whatever rather than azimuth.

I am not convinced by the pressing quality of my copy of this record either, mine spits and pops like anything and was cleaned properly and always looked after. As for the off centre, if you have no luck with a refund or replacement then try enlarging the spindle hole and then shifting the record so that the cartridge does not swing in and out when it plays. You can do it with a gentle push on the rim as it plays if you are brave enough!

Good luck with all this, setting up is a black art IMHO

Cheers

David

Thats not alignment, its azimuth. My record is a piece of crap too. In particular this track really sucks. the sound/tone is totally on the right channel on my system and other systems Ive tried it on. its just my lp as I have tried another persons older HFNRR Lp and it was fine. Poor quality control from a company you would expect better from, for doing work that is all about trying to get things perfect... thats why I bought the damn thing in the first place. Worst money I spent. The only thing I use that LP for is for setting antiskating with the flat plateau on side 1 where i can watch how the antiskating is behaving.

I'll go with the return/ replace route before drilling the center, but sorry to hear yours is so noisy. The copy I have is brand new and completely dead quiet.

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien

Sorry to hear that your track 5 doesn't work very well (or at all!). My copy gives me an equal tone in both channels, and in mono it is much quieter but still audible. Just interested to see if anyone has been able to get it to "self-cancel" as the record states.

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien

• My Vinyl Setup

I get the same results as you do on the resonance tests, I'm using a Michell Tecnoarm 'a' (ie RB250 based) with Ortofon Kontra B.

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien

The record is fun to play with, but I'm not sure how meaningful or accurate it is.

I was able to get through the entire vertical resonance track with no noticeable resonance whatsoever. On the lateral, I started getting resonance at around 8 Hz. Is that good?

The rumble track results were a little high.

Jeffery

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien

2. Yes it's common. Yes it sucks and makes the whole thing useless. Yes you should return it if possible.

3. 9-11 Hz lateral resonance is pretty close to ideal. 20 Hz vertical resonance is too high. You may have to increase your vertical moving mass to get it lower. (Of course this will probably increase your lateral moving mass too.) Just guessing, but I think the Shure is pretty high compliance for this arm.

4. Ideally you should get the same results, but only a high end linear tracker could do that perfectly. Use these to adjust your antiskating, as mentioned in #1.

5. It may be possible, but I've never heard anyone claim they did it. An tiny imbalance anywhere in your reproduction chain could prevent total silence.

As others have said, its more of a toy than a real fine-tuning tool. It will show up cartridge/arm mismatches, and I fear it may have done so in this case, but otherwise it's a novelty.

Would you mind:

-How can I increase the vertical moving mass? A glob of BluTack, maybe? Or should I wait until the cartridge breaks-in more? It has only about 20 hours on it right now.

Shure doesn't give out much info on the carts, and won't answer email questions pertaining to compliance, cu, etc. I put it on because it was cheaper to retip than a new MC (money is tight), and I thought it matched the RB300 pretty well from what I read. Live and learn?

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien

1 + 2. All caused by off-center /eccentric record. My record is very bad 2-4 mm eccentricity at the outer edge.
This makes the record basicly USELESS.I was planning to by "the producers cut" version and hoped for a better quality. But after your experiece I will not bother. I did not realize the problem with eccentricity with the record until it was to late and my vendor was out of business. Please complain to your vendor!!
I actually enlarged the center hole and center the record manually, very difficult and inaccurate. By another test record instead.

3. I get about the same resonance value both horisontal and vertical.'

4. Yes you will get different results, the deviation/radius ratio changes.

5.I also have a remaining tone.

Lets find a better product!!!

Balle Clorin

Given that Balle also gets the same results for the resonance tests, this is starting to suggest to me that either Rega arms work out at 9-11Hz horiz, 20Hz vert with any cartridge or the record / arm combo forces this. Maybe the vert test is useless?

Anyone else comment on their Rega results?

Yes, a dab of blue tac on the headshell would increase moving mass. Don't forget to reset VTF of course. Unfortunately this will also increase moving mass in the horizontal plane, which will probably change the near perfect 9-11 Hz resonance you've already got there. Offhand I can't think of a way to increase moving mass in the vertical plane only.

Waiting for more cartridge breakin is definitely a good idea. As the suspension breaks in the resonance behavior of the cartridge/arm system will certainly change. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

If/when your budget allows, you definitely should consider a lower compliance cartridge. The Rega arms work really well with these, and if your arm will accept the HIFI Mod then your overall performance will take a huge leap upward. Save those pennies!

Thanks for the info. Good to know my results aren't atypical.

If you ever come across a "good one" (HFNR), give me a shout. I'll do the same.

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien

Yes, I'm saving my milk money, but those -20xl's ain't exactly cheap!

I'll give the Shure plenty of break-in over the next few months- my vinyl finally sounds better than ceedees! Yeehaw!

Jim
audio apprentice.
--------------------------------
"...for advice is a dangerous gift,
even from the wise to the wise,
and all courses may run ill."

J.R.R Tolkien