QuestionQUESTION: I recently purchased a new turntable that got many positive reviews,MY question:It has it's own gauge to adjust the tracking force but I also have one that breaks down the grams in more precise increments,Should I and would I get a more accurate reading using my own stylus force pressure gauge?Also my last turntable had an easy to install P mount type cartridge,this has a standard mount,are those difficult to replace if you ever have to? How long will the stylus last generally if care is taken when playing records and everything is set up correctly?
ANSWER: ONE: The proper tracking force is best done experimentally. I do not recommend you rely on the gauges as they may be accurate, or maybe not, but that does not fit the requirement of the cartridge. Here is the best way to set the tracking pressure. I recommend it to you:
ONE: Turn the pressure gradually lighter until you begin to hear distortion or breakup from the needle lifting out of the groove during loud passages on the disc. Then, gradually turn the pressure heavier until the tracking is without any breakup. Try this on several discs, especially ones with loud bass and others with lots of hard treble.
TWO: The correct pressure is when it is the least weight possible but tracks correctly on all discs without going into distortion or breakup of the sound (caused by the needle jumping out of the groove).
P mount cartridges are fine so long as they mount properly in the tonarm of your TT.
It takes a lot of playing to wear out a stylus - so long as the pressure is set properly. Setting it too light will wear it faster than too heavy. Also, keep the dust build up from accumulating under the point. Best way to clean your recordings is mild soap and warm water. Rinse them off with cool water and let them dry in a dish rack. Don't use any of the commercial cleaning devices as they do more damage than the warm water and mild dish soap will do.
Did I answer all your questions?
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QUESTION: Thanks,the turntable already came with a cartridge mounted and the instructions said to thread the counterweight?on the tonearm as far as it will seat and to put the slider on the tracking force a notch before as far as it will go it goes up to 2 grams but the one before it is 1.75 grams the recommended tracking force for that cartridge in the tonearm for this turntable.I hear no didtortion at all in the recordings one record skipped for about 5 seconds on one track .but it didn't do it on a few other records I played so what causes that,a severely warped disc? I made sure the record was very clean and I use the method of cleaning you suggested except I wipe the records dry with a soft microfiber cloth so I am curious as what would cause skipping on just one ecord.Also is it usually the norm for records to sound alot more laid back than a cd or does it often have to do more with the equipment and recordings used? I know that many music lovers rave about the warmth and musical satisfaction they get from listening to records over CDS and I do agree that I am impressed by what I hear and started collecting records about a year ago because there were many CDs that sounded harsh and too bright especially many 80s rock while thir lp versions sound to my ears more musical Whats your take on that? The records may sound somewhat less "In your face" and as forward on most recordings than a cd but generally to me is more musically satisfying.
AnswerI like my method better. Trust me.
If you have a defective disc it will cause the needle to jump out. Also, some discs have such high amplitude groove undulations the needle, cartridge and tonearm just can't handle the large excursion. But, if it not a severely loud passage it is likely a defective disc with damaged grooves.
Vinyl recordings are full of distortion; but alot of the distortion is harmonically related - so it sounds warm and fuzzy. The cutting engineers like cutting stylus that give a warm sound rather than IM or odd harmonic distortion. Over the years the listening public have learned to like the sound of the old vinyls. When the cd came along the distortion levels of real tones and test signals came off the cd with super low distortion. They are good. Recording engineers had to learn to record and master with purity in mind. In my opinion - which is based on hundreds of hours of listen testing and testing of others - in the long run the CD and other digital recordings are an order of magnitude superior to analog vinyl. Now, not to say that some of the recordings that I like are not vinyl, but it is due to the music NOT the recording medium. Those who claim that vinyl recording technology is superior to cd have their head in the sand so far as I am concerned. Digital recording and reproduction technology is far, far superior to vinyl and it is demonstrably so with every kind of (objective) measuring technique and listening test that humans can devise.
There are too many compromises and judgment calls in lp engineering; digital is very objective and scientific. You get it all with cd music; the lp is engineered by the mastering guys to sound good and they are, in great part, artificial sounds.
That is my opinion.
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