Hey there, I just (3 days ago) switched my cartridge from a Concorde to a AT-VM95SH. I checked everything thoroughly (level, if the arm is parallel, cartridge alignment) and weighted my tracking force, setting it to 2.2g (maximum recommended). Still, I note a bit of sibilance,so I played a bit around with the tracking force and noticed that I enjoy listening with a tracking force a bit (0.2/0.3) higher than the maximum. Would this be problematic on the long run for the records or the cartridge or is it such a small deviation which shouldn't worry me? Can this be a consequence of not "breaking in" the cartridge? Because do feel it's getting less. I just notice much more content on the higher end of the spectrum than with my Concorde black and it hurts a bit my hears (not literally but annoys me a bit). Do you think it's just a matter of not being used to the cartridge and finding the content on that range excessive? PS: TT - Reloop RP-7000 MK2 (Technics like TT) Headshell: AT-HS6BK Speakers - some nice Mission from the 80's Amp - Kenwood integrated from the 90's (no phono pre-amp, using the one on the integrated). Also important, all my records are cleaned with the Pro-ject VC-E before playing and they are usually fairly new or in NM+) Thanks in advance
Do you notice any mistracking at the lower tracking weights? That’s the usual sign you need to increase tracking weight. Sibilance could be related to vertical tracking angle; you can try lowering the back of the arm slightly to see if things improve (assuming your arm is adjustable). Or it could be something that goes away with break in. Or it could just be how the cartridge sounds. In any event, I would not run the cartridge above the recommended maximum tracking weight.
Couple thoughts: 1- are you measuring this with a digital scale or just the arm markings? Digital scales will be accurate-arm markings tend to be a "ballpark"--so you may not even HAVE it above max if that's how you're measuring. 2- mistracking sibilance isn't only tracking force, it's anti skate. Those work in tandem. So, it could be for whatever reason your AS is set to higher and more weight just matches that....also the AS can effect the digital scale's read. So, turn it to minimum....dial the weight...then dial the AS, which there's no real accurate measure for (that I know of)---so there's a bit of ear based set up. 3- I get to be a broken record (and a punny one) about this...but loud ESSES means it's tracking properly. Loud DISTORTED ESSSES means it's mistracking. Otherwise, "sibilance" as I define it in engineering it's taken away with set up....the distortion that calls attention TO it is....what you want to hear is a loud CLEAN "ssss" sound. Also, because it's HF distortion, it can also be the gain staging of the phono stage. The 95sh is relatively high output, but not brutal like an Ortofon 2m or DJ cart....I can certainly set my Mani to it's second highest (highest MM) setting and in combination with a hot cut early 80s record get something in my chain to distort in a kind of sizzly way. Also, on my Technics 1500, the 95SH (and same headshell I think) works well with the actual recommended rather than max....at 2g. I wish it had a 35db setting like the Mani2 or Zen does. As it stands it does what? 30/40/42 or something? And then the 60+ for MCs....I'm rambling--but my point is that distortion in the HF sibilance might BE gain staging. I can describe the difference--mistracking sounds "a little unnatural stereo'izing" of the ESSSES....where HF distortion tends to be more garbled. And then--sometimes the distorted parts of the sibilance is in the recording itself. John Waite's vocal tone is reliant on that very spitty U87 distortion....makes him sound "tougher"...so, anyway--reference the digital for the album, too--to hear what it actually sounds like.
Maybe the cart needs more hours of break-in or more precise setting (Shibata cut is not easy with "crude settings", this is why my dealer doesn't sell for every customer). Shibata cut diamond I learn to know last month with Hana SL. Hana SL ...all about this cartridge This famous cut is prone to be "bright", I'd not put more VTF than manufacturer recommendation, when it's done with about fifty hours more, one of the most musical in my carts.
Good possibility the sib is baked in also. I have some sibilance issues with the US cut of OMD-Junk Culture, but zero with the UK. I personally wouldn't go above or even to the max. I find the soundstage collapses.
Hey Jamie Lang, I measured the tracking force with a precision scale, the anti-skating is set to 2.4 at the moment. I will try to set it higher. I tried with different records, all of them have that high frequency content. I noticed mostly on hi hats, brass sections and distorted synths/guitars and a bit on voices. Unfortunately I cannot test with another amplifier at the moment, but the other cartridge didn't sound like that. I do think it's getting better, maybe as other user mentioned, it can be the break-in. How many hours of break-in should I expect?
Actually I tried with the integrated amp from the turntable and a line in on the amp, to avoid using the phono in the integrated amplifier. It sounds the same.
It doesn't seems like the weird stereo S you mentioned. It seems like I noticed more the existing distortions mid-high content, like some extra crispiness. I always compare with the digital versions and indeed I noticed the above mentioned. Maybe this cartridge an extra crispiness and I have to get used to it
Another thing I just compared: With the Concorde black I had far more mid range content and it was far louder than this cartridge. This cartridge sounds far more like the typical U curve on the EQ.
Above maximum specified tracking force CAN be a no-go, but it’s definitely less risky than TOO LOW tracking force. A bit too low is way more likely to cause damage to your records way quicker than a bit too high, due to mistracking. With too low force, the stylus can take off because of the speed in the grooves and starts bouncing and slamming against the groove walls.
re: antiskate….there’s no reason to think more. Rule of thumb is to set it with the weight. So, 2.2 weight gets 2.2 AS….but, I tune that by ear, and here, it ends up being shy of that. So, for my 95sh at 2gr it’s set where markings say is 1.7’ish. Since I have no idea the actual force exerted, I just have to go by the markings for recall. I will also check the action in a big runout groove, too. That’s where I’d start on a new deck. You want it to SLOWLY move towards the center and fall into a groove. Too much and it moves toward the edge….too little it sort of slams itself to the middle into the groove. As mentioned, too much weight will collapse the stereo field by limiting up and down movement.
Also another question on this topic: If I eventually return this needle and want something in between the models I mentioned regarding sound and detail, what would you recommend (costing around the same as this at model 270$/€)?
Yeah, I didn't give it so many hours to break-in, but I think it was miss for me regarding this needle. I was looking for something with a "rounder" sound and it feels a bit analytical for my taste.