Issues with my Table setup

[mstillalive]

Gurus,
After much deliberation, i finally settled for a Cogram 4000 DD Turntable . It came with a Shure M44-7 cart and the stylus was a Shure N44-7. After setting it up, I ran one of my 'Test' LP's. There are a couple of odd things i have observed.
1. There seems to be a lot of sliding on the outer tracks. works good on the inner tracks
2. The cart belly actually sits on the LP surface :O , sure that cant be right.

Can someone please help me understand what is it that i am not doing right.I sure would not want to ruin any of my records because I messed up the setting up

Any ideas are much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mstillalive]

Here are a few pictures

 

[peace_sells]

2. The cart belly actually sits on the LP surface :O , sure that cant be right.

Looks like your tonearm and cartridge haven't been calibrated. Either the tonearm is not parallel to the surface..or the tracking force of your cart is way too high..

Or maybe the cart is the prob. Is it a brand new cart?

1. There seems to be a lot of sliding on the outer tracks. works good on the inner tracks

Sliding on the outer tracks is I think because your anti-skate is not set right (probably because your antiskate is way too low. It needs to be set at around the same number as your tracking weight)

***From your pictures it looks like the cantilever of the cart is damaged.

 

[mstillalive]

Thank you Peace sells!

I was not expecting any replies at this hour

No it is not a new cart, it was shipped with the TT.

Also, and forgive my ignorance, as far as I understand, the black dial on the counter weight would for adjusting the tracking force right ?

The tiny weight hanging over the pulley is as I understand the anti skate. No matter what groove i put the wire loop through, it would still slide inwards towards the center of the record.

Thanks

 

[jls001]

Post # 5 here: http://www.hifivision.com/phono-tur...ht-anti-skating-help-required.html#post408397

The above are generic steps for an arm with calibrated weight. If it isn't, one needs a stylus scale to set exact tracking weight.

Second, do read manual of the TT.

From the symptoms you described, it looks like tracking force is insufficient. IIRC, M44-7 needs 1.25 grams.

Once you're happy with the tracking and tracing, adjust the null points using the stupid protractor for 9 inch arm. I personally prefer the Baerwald. It will help avoid inner groove distortion.

Also, set correct overhang (data can be found in TT's spec sheet). This ensures the cartridge is at the correct distance from the pivot (or spindle).

 

[mpw]

mstillalive,

these are the challenges in running a TT.... I reacll you were deliberating weather TT at all ??

persist with it .... dont let go... and once it starts singing you may realize the fun the TT is.

It is a lot more fun with experienced FM's like jls001, sachu, omishra on the forum to help out.

also... these are teething stuff... once you get the line and length ( a cricketing parlance ) correct you will like it even more.

njoi !!

regards
mpw

 

[sachu888]

Kindly check stylus suspension. It looks to be gone.

Regards
Sachin

 

[G401fan]

The base of the tone arm may be set too low. Not sure if this arm allows you to raise the entire assembly by way of a calibrated screw on the right hand side near the base where it is fitted on to the plinth. Ideally, you need to get the top surface of the headshell parallel to the record when the stylus is in the groove.

Alternatively, the cantilever of the stylus assembly may be shot. You could check this by keeping the arm on its rest, and, very gently, touching the stylus tip with your forefinger or, if that's too scary, with a soft brush. If it moves upward without any resistance, then you need a new stylus. If there is some spring action, you're okay, and you could then check tone arm height, VTF and anti-skate.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

On that tone arm, you can raise the tone arm height. From the picture, it appears that the tone arm needs to be raised at the back and this can be done by loosening the screw at back of the tonearm stem. After lifting it to a height parallel to the record, you can tighten the screw. Once that is done, you have to set the tracking force to the specification of the cartridge you are using. If these steps are done, i feel, you will be able to overcome your problem

 

[mstillalive]

Thank you all,

A special shout out to all you senior members. I was not able to log in since the past few days hence the late reply

Going by the suggestions, i was
1. Able to stop the skipping/skidding
2. The needle had some springy action to but the cart was still bellying

Next step is to try and raise the arm as suggested by Mr. Jacob. I did notice the screw but was a little apprehensive about fiddling with it. I shall get to it tonight
Thanks

 

[Record Player]

Just incase you need this.

A pictorial illustration of balancing a tonearm:

https://kb.wisc.edu/wsum/page.php?id=20270

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Thank you all,

A special shout out to all you senior members. I was not able to log in since the past few days hence the late reply

Going by the suggestions, i was
1. Able to stop the skipping/skidding
2. The needle had some springy action to but the cart was still bellying

Next step is to try and raise the arm as suggested by Mr. Jacob. I did notice the screw but was a little apprehensive about fiddling with it. I shall get to it tonight
Thanks

For the safety of the stylus, I would suggest you remove the stylus while you raise the arm and see that the arm is parallel to the platter after you place a record on the platter. Once you raise the arm position the belly of the cart will not touch the surface . All the best

 

[greenhorn]

Sorry if this solution seems rather obvious - the stylus does not look like an N44-7. Where did you get it from? The plastic does not sit flush with the cartridge, and definitely not in parallel to the cartridge body. A comparison with any M44-7 Picture will make that obvious . It appears to be a generic stylus intended to be used for one of the other shure series(M91?), and consequently the VTA is off. This trick usually works with a lot of shure styli, but I believe the M44/55 have the body inclined at a different angle compared to the others.

sharing a picture of the classic N44 stylus
http://www.needles4jukeboxes.com/IMG_1583.JPG
and the current type
http://www.esotericsound.com/PhonoCartriges/ShureM447web.jpg

The stylus in the image shared by the FM doesn't look like either of the above.

If I were you, I'd get an original N44-7.
http://www.bajaao.com/studio-record...47-replacement-stylus-for-m447-cartridge.html
looks like a decent price, though few folks have had a bumpy ride ordering from them.

And don't bother asking your friend in the UK. they cost 25-29 pounds here

 

[reubensm]

The stylus seems a non-OEM replacement stylus and may not be the correct one from your cart. From the pictures, looks like the tonearm height had been calibrated previously for an Indian ceramic cart. The M44-7 is one of the taller ones out there. Raising the tonearm height will definitely solve the issue (assuming that the stylus is not worn or damaged)