Distortion on my vinyl

Ok I've been having an issue and this has happened on 3 different records.... I have other records that play just fine no issues... BUT these 3 records which used to play fine now are distorted and kinda skip a little only at the beginning of the record both sides... after the first track then no issues.... What is going on here?? They seem to have a slight warp but nothing major.... I've had a new cart for a year now was professionally set up by musicdirect its a Clearaudio Concept table with a Sumiko Amethyst cart.... Does it need a little more tracking force? I don't know I never have touched anything of that.... Thoughts??

 

Measure your tracking force... most cartridges have a range and it might need to be bumped up a bit. There are a number of inexpensive electronic scales- very easy to use.

 

Yeah... I had a little tool that came with my table that helps with the tracking force... I can’t find it! Ugh... I’ll keep looking if not I’ll have to buy something... With a small adjustment with my records that play fine be effected? It’s interesting because I have this record on cheap ass vinyl from the 70s plays just fine...

 

How level is it? It has to be PERFECT.

 

Just checked the level... it was pretty level slightly closer to one of the black lines... made a slight adjustment... no effect.... still the same...

 

If you're getting distortion primarily from either the left or right channel, it might be an anti-skate adjustment. Lot's of threads on here to help. I recently used the inner groove method at both 33 and 45rpm until the tonearm was moving very slowly toward the spindle.

Good discussion here: Using HIFI news test record to set anti skate

Also, from what I read the anti-skate adjustment on the Clearaudio is under the table and a PITA. The groove method might be the ticket.

 

The problem is its only happening on a few records.... others play just fine no issues...

 

And these few records are clean?

 

They look clean too me... I cleaned one of them just to make sure.... nothing changed...

 

Videos of these records playing would help. "Slight warp" could mean anything. If it's a nasty edge warp, that can cause problems.

 

Does the skip happen when the stylus traverses the warp?

 

What records?

 

First record of RHCP Stadium Arcadium, Pearl Jam VS first pressing... Hampton Hawes All Night Session Vol 2

 

It seems to...it sounds distorted and wants to skip and will a little.... Always at the beginning of the first track it will clear up usually mid first track or second track...

 

Well the RHCP is a pretty quality but challenging record anyway so there shouldnt be much of any distortion on a proper setup. I dont recall anything like that anyway.

Maybe the stylus is starting to wear after a year or so.

 

That would be shocking as I don’t play that much vinyl and other records play just fine

 

The fact that some other records play fine on its own doesnt mean much. RHCP is a challenging cut, as indicated by the amount of people on Amazon and other places that report skipping and distortion. There isnt any issue like that with the cut that Im aware of, its down to setup.

So I guess theres some issue maybe with alignment, anti skate, VTF or other.

 

Purely one man's opinion, but I would get a scale and protractor just so you can double check cartridge alignment and VTF yourself, even if you're not comfortable actually making the adjustments. Take nothing for granted, especially since you seem to be having issues on a few records.

 

Next step is to confirm that the correct VTF is being applied. Get one of the little electronic scales from Amazon. Forget about finding the one somewhere in your house. Let us know when you have accomplished this.

 

Probably not the cause, but maybe worth a check: just wondered if the lift/lower is falling away sufficiently in order for the stylus to plant fully in the groove? Differing record thicknesses could explain why it’s only a few records that are affected.

 

Those 3 days records are probably giving your stylus a workout and exposing either setup or cartridge profile/condition.

How many hours on the cart? Just also want to add that unless you have either a set of scales or you are really nailing the process of floating the tone arm during setup, then tracking could also be out and you may be tracking with too little force like the previous post mentioned.

 

I've got a few LP's that have a hardly noticeable micro "edge warp" near the lead in groove. From the side while playing, it doesn't look like much, but they can bounce the stylus bigtime. Right on the outer edge of the LP. Hate those things.

 

Has only happened one time to me if I recall, and yeah its very annoying.

 

try cleaning your stylus with an approved cleaner and stylus brush. i find this mandatory every few weeks or so.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Techni...technica+stylus+cleaner&qid=1614720004&sr=8-3

 

It seems pretty clear to me that if only three are giving you issues, the problem is with the records. There's not much you can do except clean them but that's probably not going to fix the problem.