What influences the sound of a TT?

[greenhorn]

I'd gotten a JVC belt drive turntable, and it works more or less, the sound is nice - better than tape, but I still feel something is missing. The Sound is a bit anemic. The sub takes care of the bass, but the mids and highs, there is still a bit of warmth missing. It has a bit of an 'edge' to it. Granted the only other analog sources I have are My own cassette decks, and the only other TT setup I've heard is Rajiv's fabulous setup.

Will upgrading the cartridge be enough to change it? I'm thinking of an AT 92E or something similar. Or will i need to get a good Direct drive turntable?

 

[jls001]

What is the current cartridge? Any idea how new or worn out is the stylus?

By edginess, do you mean the treble is more prominent than your liking?

A well-balanced sound takes some work to achieve on a turntable. Assuming that the cartridge is not unduly worn out, it is very essential to set correct tracking force and antiskating force, and to align the cartridge to null points (ignored too often).

 

[greenhorn]

it's not that its too much. It sounds kinda like my tweeters have been replaced by cheap metal ones, and its screwing up the highs and the midrange.

the current stylus should be worn. Apparently it was never replaced ( this TT was apparently '86 vintage) and is still running on the stock cartridge (not sure about the brand) and stylus(should be a conical DT 45).

The calibration stuff, sadly this one doesn't have. It's a P mount, and the weight seems to be factory set ( there appears to be a screw i can use to adjust the counterweight, but its not calibrated), and anti skate is just a non adjustable spring somewhere in the innards.

 

[reubensm]

critical factors that directly influence sound from vinyl:

1) phono stage
2) cartridge type, brand/model, stylus condition and cart alignment
3) tonearm type and tracking (inclusive of tone arm cabling and earthing for the tonearm and tracking force/antiskate)
4) type of TT - DD, ID or BD
5) pressing of vinyl played
6) how clean your vinyl is
7) plinth of TT

 

[reubensm]

it's not that its too much. It sounds kinda like my tweeters have been replaced by cheap metal ones, and its screwing up the highs and the midrange.

the current stylus should be worn. Apparently it was never replaced ( this TT was apparently '86 vintage) and is still running on the stock cartridge (not sure about the brand) and stylus(should be a conical DT 45).

The calibration stuff, sadly this one doesn't have. It's a P mount, and the weight seems to be factory set ( there appears to be a screw i can use to adjust the counterweight, but its not calibrated), and anti skate is just a non adjustable spring somewhere in the innards.

honestly, with this TT, your options are limited. These type of TTs are not meant for hi-fi listening. The only realistic options available to you would be to change the cart and dampen the plinth (cabinet in this case). From experience, the tonearms on these TTs have serious limitations with regard to tracking.

 

[Hiten]

The Sound is a bit anemic. The sub takes care of the bass, but the mids and highs, there is still a bit of warmth missing. It has a bit of an 'edge' to it.

Over time unused rubber suspension holding the stylus may become hard and may not give adequate low range giving impression of mid/high range edgy.
Regards.

 

[greenhorn]

for the time being I've decided to connect my speakers to the headphone out of my Pioneer amp, since it provides a bit more gain than the tape monitor out, which was directly connected to the phono stage output. Now the edge is gone, and there is some sweetness to the sound, but then it's become a bit veiled. Not unexpected, but since it takes care of the hum issue also (as now I can run my speakers at a lower gain). I'll stick to this.

Have ordered an AT 92ECD for 2.2k from grabmore.in. Let's see if makes a change

 

[omishra]

Duplicate post.

 

[omishra]

critical factors that directly influence sound from vinyl:

1) phono stage
2) cartridge type, brand/model, stylus condition and cart alignment
3) tonearm type and tracking (inclusive of tone arm cabling and earthing for the tonearm and tracking force/antiskate)
4) type of TT - DD, ID or BD
5) pressing of vinyl played
6) how clean your vinyl is
7) plinth of TT

I would like to agree all of above point,but suggest to separate points 5 & 6 from above list. Those are anyway media and would affect any setup - good or bad. Also I would like to add place of TT with respect to feedback from speaker and other environmental sources of vibration.
Not least your cart loading in case of MM carts is also important.

 

[greenhorn]

The AT92ECD seems to have fixed the 'edge' that was there in the sound, but now it sounds rather bland. Not sure what to do next

 

[jls001]

The AT92ECD seems to have fixed the 'edge' that was there in the sound, but now it sounds rather bland. Not sure what to do next

May be you can elaborate what you mean by 'edge'. Was it pleasant? Or irritating? Did you re-balance your tonearm after swapping cartridge?

 

[greenhorn]

no it was not pleasant. as i had mentioned before, it sounded like a metallic resonance somewhere in the higher frequencies , like the sound of a cheap metal tweeter. I did not like it.

My TT has a basic tonearm with absolutely no settings whatsoever.

 

[jls001]

My TT has a basic tonearm with absolutely no settings whatsoever.

It will have calibrated counterweight. Please balance it correctly as per the recommended tracking weight of the new cartridge.

 

[sachu888]

My TT has a basic tonearm with absolutely no settings whatsoever.

There should be a counter weight to balance the tonearm,else you can't use it with a MM cart.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[greenhorn]

this is what my TT looks like
JVC AL-A1 Hh Photo by mrow2 | Photobucket
http://img2.iwascoding.com/0/paid/2013/06/18/76/FA5FCCF1A9B6465B9AD084CCEC608C06.jpg

there is some sort of counterweight, and there is a screw inside which holds a weight, but there is no calibration

 

[peace_sells]

this is what my TT looks like
JVC AL-A1 Hh Photo by mrow2 | Photobucket
http://img2.iwascoding.com/0/paid/2013/06/18/76/FA5FCCF1A9B6465B9AD084CCEC608C06.jpg

there is some sort of counterweight, and there is a screw inside which holds a weight, but there is no calibration

If there's no calibration then maybe you should buy a Gram Weight Scale (a least count of 0.01 g would be good enough i think). Use that to set the weight according to the instructions given in the manual of the cartridge.

 

[reubensm]

this is what my TT looks like
JVC AL-A1 Hh Photo by mrow2 | Photobucket
http://img2.iwascoding.com/0/paid/2013/06/18/76/FA5FCCF1A9B6465B9AD084CCEC608C06.jpg

there is some sort of counterweight, and there is a screw inside which holds a weight, but there is no calibration

with all due respect, your TT is purely entry level. such TTs are designed for basic use, the user is not expected to change the cart, just to keep changing the stylus when it wares out, hence the manufactures saw no need to have customizable calibration. Counterbalance and anti-skate are factory adjusted and sealed.

 

[jls001]

there is some sort of counterweight, and there is a screw inside which holds a weight, but there is no calibration

This, however, does not free you from the responsibility of correctly balancing it :lol:.

So get yourself a jewellers digital scale that can read to 0.01 grams. I bought mine off ebay.in, from a seller in Rajkot. Total expense less than Rs 500. Infinitely useful.

 

[sachu888]

This, however, does not free you from the responsibility of correctly balancing it :lol:.

So get yourself a jewellers digital scale that can read to 0.01 grams. I bought mine off ebay.in, from a seller in Rajkot. Total expense less than Rs 500. Infinitely useful.

Hi Joshua,
Can you post that link.I also need one.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[jls001]

Can you post that link.I also need one.

This is the seller, but the model looks different and its resolution is only upto 0.1 grams. One should look for 0.01 grams resolution.