Vinyl Asylum

Posted by MichaelM (A) on May 17, 2007 at 06:57:10

... the right channel just doesn't seem right.

Today my RB300 arrived, and I attached a Sumiko Pearl to it.

My only alignment tool was the one that came with the arm, and spent lots of time getting that right (still want to get a proper protractor though).

I set the tracking force to 2g, and the anti-skate to 1.5g (or thereabouts).

Anyways, to test, I used the classic records 45/33 rpm sinlge of Procal Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale". The left channel sounds fine, but the right channel is distorting quite a bit. Can almost describe it as a radio station slightly out of tune.

I tried setting the anti-skate to maximum (2g), but still no luck

Is this an anti-skating issue ? Or something else ?

Other records didn't seem so bad, but there was still some slight crackling in the right channel.

It's too late for this, one should never try turntable setup after dark ...

:(

• Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... - krenzler 12:39:09 05/17/07 (2)
  In Reply to: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by MichaelM on May 17, 2007 at 06:57:10:

  "creativepart" has a point.

  Your arm needs to be mounted at exactly the correct mounting distance as specified for Rega (I believe it's 222mm?) for Rega's one-null-point protractor to be useful. I take it it's the one null point type?

  The second (outer) null point will most likely be off if the mounting distance isn't dead-on and you won't know it. :-)

  You could try the 3 protractors at the very top of Vinyl Engine's protractor page - depending on whether you prefer Baerwald, Stevenson or Rega's own null points (which are 60,0mm & 114,7mm).

  Ignore all this babble if your turntable is a Rega also or if you've gotten the mounting distance correct. :-)

  Have you checked that the bearings are free from excess play & that there's no pulling from the tonearm cable? Has it been rewired at any point? Is the turntable level?
  
  

  • Vinyl Engine Protractors.   (Open in New Window)

  
  

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  • Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... - MichaelM 17:15:00 05/17/07 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by krenzler on May 17, 2007 at 12:39:09:

    Silly me forgot to mention that it's a Planar 3 (not a P3).

    It used to have an R200 arm (those crazy S shaped things), hence this being my first attempt at proper setup.

    I did swap channels going into the phono stage to ensure that the source wasn't the phono stage or the amp.

    I guess the only other thing I can think of is the fact that there is a little slack in the arm hole, so it may not be exactly 222mm from the spindle.

    Over the weekend I'll try and get a proper two point protracter, sit down, and concentrate.
    
    

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  • Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... - krenzler 12:42:12 05/17/07 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by krenzler on May 17, 2007 at 12:39:09:

    There's a couple of very nice (arc) protractors at the bottom of that page by the way but they're only useful if your mounting distance is exactly 222mm (as mentioned).
    
    

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• Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... - Tightwad 08:19:42 05/17/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by MichaelM on May 17, 2007 at 06:57:10:

  You have to get better at troubleshooting. There is actually a finite (though frustratingly large) number of variables in the path from record to speaker. Systematically address each variable until you have identified the true source of the problem.

  Some strategies:
  -- manipulate the variable through its entire range, i.e. max to min
  -- switch the polarity of the variable (i.e. rewire left-to-right and right-to-left)
  -- don't ignore the obvious
  
  

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• What turntable? Is the pivot distance correct? - creativepart 07:39:44 05/17/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by MichaelM on May 17, 2007 at 06:57:10:

  What turntable and is it set up for the Rega Tonearm? You didn't mention that. Of course, if it's not you can set up things all day long and it won't be right.
  
  

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• Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... - hairydog 07:13:28 05/17/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by MichaelM on May 17, 2007 at 06:57:10:

  Since other records were'nt as bad, I'm thinking its not a connection or other hardware problem, also your arm would have to be pretty out of wack to cause what you describe. Maybe you are just really used to the dead quiet of cd, is this your first vinyl experience? If a record is really worn out, and I mean really worn out, you can get more noise than sound. You are probably on the right track to set your skating a little lower than tracking force on the Rega arm. The supplied protractor will get you in the ball park, but it is a good idea to fine tune it with a db system, geodisc or any of the many other tools for the purpose.
  
  

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• Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... - maabx 07:08:30 05/17/07 (1)
  In Reply to: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by MichaelM on May 17, 2007 at 06:57:10:

  I've read on this forum that the Rega arms do not need much anti-skate. Did you try going the other way with it, say to .5?
  
  

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  • Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... - miner42 11:12:04 05/17/07 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Just setup my first tonearm/cart and ... posted by maabx on May 17, 2007 at 07:08:30:

    With my Rega P5 (RB700 tone arm) my AS (1g) is about half of the VTF (1.7g).
    
    

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