Taming cartridge brightness

Huge differences and not a single needledrop in sight, seems legit. Must be the bigfoot of HiFi.

 

I don't know how adjustments to VTA can yield such huge changes when the effective VTA changes album-to-album (due to cutterhead grind and alignment), with album thickness, and while riding over warps.

You'd think if VTA were so monumentally impactful, listening to albums would be impossible due to the variability in the medium itself.

Anyways.

 

@davey_d How many hours are on your cartridge?

 

You obviously have trouble reading. Don't argue and stop being lazy. Do it yourself - unless you're deaf, it should be clear as the difference between blue and black... or are you allergic to firsthand experience?

I know you can't help yourself and need the last word. Prove me wrong, for once.

 

Better than nothing but not ideal for testing FR.

 

Also, what gain setting are you using?

 

At least for some Audio Technica cartridges, 220pF is already more than works best for me.

 

Yes, this has been my experience as well, with dozens of turntables and cartridges. Hence my original comment.

 

Try to put a little bit more weight on the tonearm, just a little bit and see if that might help. I see the phono stage as the weak link in your system btw, it‘s not better than the one in the Marantz.

 

What shape are your records in?

 

Do you have a mate nearby you could swap TT / cart with for a quick try out?