What's the solution for high frequency mistracking?

Posted by mcguirek (A) on March 14, 2012 at 13:19:57

I'm using a Dynavector 20XL, attached to a Zupreme headshell, on the stock arm of my Technics SL1210. The 20XL has a Micro-Ridge diamond on a hard aluminum pipe cantilever with a 12 X 10-6 cm/dyn compliance. I estimate the resonance frequency of this setup at 9.07.

On some records (good, clean ones), at some passages - usually louder, strong pieces - there is some mistracking at higher frequencies. Generally this occurs during vocal passages - e.g., Opera - but yesterday I received Claude Bolling's 'Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano' and in places Jean-Pierre Rampal's flute hits some of the frequencies which causes the stylus to mistrack.

HiFi World magazine says that in addition to mistracking large, low frequency excursions, a "stylus has an effective tip mass too and if it is excessive it will not be able to accelerate fast enough to follow the groove at higher frequencies. This commonly produces mistracking on loud vocals having a strong sibilant content.

Budget cartridges have their stylus mounted on a small pedestal called a rondel. This allows it to clear detritus on the disc surface. But it also adds to tip mass and degrades high frequency tracking. A small diamond without a rondel (nude) is common on quality cartridges but fluff can gather under the stylus and cause mistracking."

I have tried adjusting tracking weight and VTA without change. So, is the solution to buy a cartridge with a higher compliance, a more expensive cartridge, a thinner, lighter cantilever?

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Topic - What's the solution for high frequency mistracking? - mcguirek 13:19:57 03/14/12 (29)

RE: What's the solution for high frequency mistracking? - jfine 19:13:26 03/14/12 (0)

Thank you, gentlemen - mcguirek 18:33:06 03/14/12 (0)

RE: What's the solution for high frequency mistracking? - Dave Garretson 17:28:34 03/14/12 (0)

In my experience... - Bry 16:22:06 03/14/12 (0)

Hmm, this is interesting... - mcguirek 16:16:09 03/14/12 (2)

RE: Hmm, this is interesting... - Bry 16:40:16 03/14/12 (1)

RE: Hmm, this is interesting... - mcguirek 17:46:35 03/14/12 (0)

RE: What's the solution for high frequency mistracking? - rocky raccoon 15:08:14 03/14/12 (2)

RE: What's the solution for high frequency mistracking? - mcguirek 15:14:13 03/14/12 (1)

I used the Mint too. It's decidedly *not* always a matter of proper alignment, etc. nt - jdaniel@jps.net 15:23:02 03/14/12 (0)

I've been using AT 130e on humbler Technics arm with absolutely no mis-tracking, not Opera, not Piano, flutes - jdaniel@jps.net 15:00:41 03/14/12 (0)

Could a hard mat contribute to the problem? - mcguirek 14:57:06 03/14/12 (1)

A friend had an identical problem with a copper mat. - Dave Pogue 16:58:09 03/14/12 (0)

First, try to rule out groove damage to the LPs in question. - Opus 104 14:41:59 03/14/12 (4)

RE: First, try to rule out groove damage to the LPs in question. - mcguirek 14:44:41 03/14/12 (3)

Really? I've heard brand new records with noise and signs of - Opus 104 14:59:08 03/14/12 (2)

RE: Really? I've heard brand new records with noise and signs of - mcguirek 15:04:46 03/14/12 (1)

RE: Really? I've heard brand new records with noise and signs of - Crazy Dave 15:27:09 03/14/12 (0)

Better arm -nt - E-Stat 14:39:16 03/14/12 (10)

The best way to improve the 'table, but... - olddude55 16:28:41 03/14/12 (0)

RE: Better arm -nt - mcguirek 14:41:42 03/14/12 (8)

"the arm has nothing to do with it" ? - E-Stat 14:49:06 03/14/12 (7)

Some claim that certain arms ring like a bell. nt - jdaniel@jps.net 15:29:12 03/14/12 (1)

Certainly possible - E-Stat 15:44:34 03/14/12 (0)

RE: "the arm has nothing to do with it" ? - mcguirek 15:03:30 03/14/12 (4)

If what you say were true - E-Stat 15:15:59 03/14/12 (2)

RE: If what you say were true - unclestu 15:53:20 03/14/12 (1)

defunct ? - rocky raccoon 00:32:42 03/15/12 (0)

Alas - rocky raccoon 15:12:40 03/14/12 (0)

What's the solution for high frequency mistracking?

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