THE EQUIPMENT: Pro-Ject X2 table Sumiko Amethyst cartridge Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 phono stage Marantz PM7005 THE SITUATION: Simply put: I am experiencing a great deal of shrillness and exaggerated treble in my setup. This is surprising to me as review after review of the Amethyst describes it as warm and smooth. I'm experiencing spitty, harsh highs, most notably on hi hats, rides and sibilant vocals. I love the sound of the cartridge otherwise and it sounds totally excellent across the rest of the frequency range. But the high treble exaggeration is a real bummer. I've ruled out speaker placement/room stuff as doing an A/B with streaming audio (Qobuz, Apple Music) sounds completely correct... and my turntable is definitely much, much brighter sounding. This is across dozens of records in every genre and every quality of pressing imaginable. I seem to have everything set to Sumiko's specs... input impedance at 47k, combined capacitance (tonearm+cable+phono stage) is around 160pF (recommended:100pF-200pF), VTF at 2.2g, VTA slightly tail down. I know that this topic has been covered here and there across this forum, but I've searched high and low and tried a whole lot of solutions to no avail. So, if anybody has some advice for me here, I'd be very grateful. THINGS I HAVE TRIED: - Quadruple-checking my alignment/overhang with protractor (cartridge seems to track more or less perfectly) - Adjusting VTA (does not seem to have an effect) - Adjusting VTF (played around with 1.7g-2.3g, and though the sonic character does change, these harsh highs are always present) - Switching to low capacitance cable (initially used the Pro-Ject Connect It E, which is 130pF, now using .5 meter Blue Jeans LC-1, capacitance should be around 25pF now) - switching between the external Pro Jet phono stage and the internal phono stage in the Marantz - increasing capacitance on phono stage to 220pF all the way up to 400pF (counterintuitive, but thought it was worth a try) Thank you!
That cartridge shouldn't be "bright". Lowbeats tested it, see below. Their load is 210pf total + 47K. Alle 6 neuen Sumiko Tonabnehmer im Vergleich - LowBeats I don't see any excessive peaking there. In fact it looks like there is a bit of a dip in the response. What I would want to do in your situation is measure the frequency response from the phono stage output and see what the FR is there. If it looks okay, then your issue is something else downstream or the records you are playing.
Another thing: I can't keep track of all the PJ phonos. Is this one of those models with the little dip switches on the bottom? If so, it is very easy to set those wrong by accident.
Thank you. Yes, it's the one with the dip switches on the bottom. They are definitely set correctly (and I've tried every single possible combo of them, just to throw stuff at the wall). And it's not the records I'm playing - I've tested dozens if not hundreds, and it occurs on every single recording, from the nicest Kevin Gray cut Miles Davis LP to original Bowie pressings in NM condition to Boards of Canada. I do have a Hi Fi News test record on the way and I'm going to test frequency response as soon as it shows up. But apart from that, I'm really at a loss.
I think it's gotta be the cartridge, then. Order one of the <$100 AT models from Amazon and give it a try.
Has the issues always occurred with this setup or it's something new? If the latter, when did it start and was anything done to trigger the problem (moving components around, etc).
I purchased the table, the cartridge, and the integrated amp all at the same time, and the treble issue was apparent from the get go.
1. Were they new? 2. Who set it up, initially? 3. Are you using the 18-volt power supply cable that came with the phono preamp? 4. Have you tried engaging Analog Mode on your amp to see if that helps? Frankly, if you're experiencing the same issue when using the dedicated phono preamp *and* the internal one from the Marantz, streaming sounds perfectly fine, and your tried adjusting everything possible with no success, it's the cart. System synergy is a very real thing... for good or ill. Cursory research shows some have complained about Sumiko carts being very bright. Pro-Ject themselves recommend the Ortofon 2M series. If you want to try a cheaper one to confirm that it fixes all your SQ issues, get the 2M Blue which is roughly $200. The Bronze is the sweet spot in the series. The sound signature of the Blue is *warm*. I can tell you that from experience. It tracks well, too.
It shouldnt be the cart, the response is pretty neutral. My guess is the pre amp is doing something weird but you tried the other one too. Quite mystifying. Maybe the cart is faulty?
1. yep, all new except the amp 2. set up at the shop 3. yep! 4. I have! The overall sound is subtly better, but highs still there. It does seem that I need to just bite the bullet and try out another cartridge to rule out anything else. But as others have said, mystifying!
Yeah, that's why I'm so confused, this cart should NOT be sounding this way. That's why I'm seeing if this makes sense to anybody on here! Thanks for the replies all, I'll see about sticking something else on the table and report back.
I am surprised that changing the VTA did not make a difference. Something is weird, could just be a defective cartridge.
I agree- I’ve the same experience as you. I’ve experimented a lot with the VTA setting on my SME IV tonearm. It’s very easy to adjust even on the fly and yes there have been audible differences during testing.
Yep. Through multiple turntables, the difference was huge and undeniable. A link won't change how ridiculously obvious it was.
I used to follow that guy over the internet around 20 yrs ago, I basically read all he wrote and I’m not sure if I would see him as ”that scientific guy”. I clearly remember he wasn’t always right about everything in his articles. I agree. I haven’t seen any articles or tests with similar conclusions.
I have to chuckle at the idea that you somehow believe I care what you think. Demonstrating strong opinions based on inexperience is your MO. You then challenge anyone who says different, regardless of their actual first-hand experience (of which you have little to none) to prove you wrong. It's always the same show. I'll have to yawn and tell you to use those things on each side of your head called ears once in a while. You'll appear wiser which would be a welcomed change.
First-hand experience is hard to beat and especially in this case. The audible differences when the tonearm is ”tail up” or ”tail down” are very clear. If one has never experimented with this with ones own hands and ears one should be careful to make any claims about this subject.