Matt123 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Hi guys. I'm hearing some distortion when listening to songs that have multiple instruments and loud. Typically during the chorus portion of songs. I'm not talking death metal or anything overly loud. Here this on the new Ryan Adams album and Beatles stuff. I bought my turntable off Ebay and have never brought it in for a tune up...Do you think it could be a counter-weight or needle issue? My setup below... Pro-Ject Debut 3 w/ Ortofon M2 Red cartridge (Original owner made the upgrade) Creek phono pre 8w Tube amp Klipsch KB-15 bookshelf Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 could be a million different things. Where are the speakers placed in relation to the turntable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Could be that 8watt tube amp too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt123 Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Could be that 8watt tube amp too. Thought about that but it has a lot of headroom. I've put other powered digital sources through it and cranked the output and have never had this problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Right, but tubes are sensitive, vinyl is senstive... combined? Sensitive. I'd try ruling out the amp with a separate amp/integrated or something. Since you didn't name a brand, I'm guessing its a kit... so there's a ton of room for error with kits. Also depends on the tubes used! Following what dummycore said, could be a million things. Start trying to isolate the issue. Try a different amp. Try a digital source with the same songs. Try different speakers. Try different cables. If you have a friend with a table, have em bring it over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I'm just picturing a turntable perched on top of a pair of speakers. volume goes up, sound goes to shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I seem to remember he posted it once... and it wasn't like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 BUT his speakers are on the same unit... and it doesn't seem like a real steady unit. Pro-Ject Debut III w/ 2M Red Cartridge upgrade Kit build 10w tube amp Creek Phono Preamp Klipsch Bookshelf Speaker Pair..... Spinning 180g Zeppelin I in the photo. Move the speakers off the same unit. Move em to stands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 yeah, stands. but for now try just setting them on the floor or something to see if the distortion goes away. if that doesn't work...you got a dime handy? aflycon and ajxd 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 if that doesn't work...you got a dime handy? I got an 8th....wait you mean change? That reply did give me a good laugh though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannibal Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 If it's only on the loud parts, it could also be a tracking error with lots of possible culprits. Triple check your alignment and VTF(preferably with a scale), and closely inspect the cantilever and stylus for damage or dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt123 Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 BUT his speakers are on the same unit... and it doesn't seem like a real steady unit. Move the speakers off the same unit. Move em to stands! Nice memory ajxd! I have since relocated the speakers to floor stands...No change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Then you'll want to move onto the more complicated stuff Kannibal mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 If not a worn stylus or alignment then that only leaves impedance mismatch or too high a gain. As ajxd suggested valve amps are sensative so an impedance issue is possible and you can cure it with a buffer stage between the phono stage and amplifier or you can make up a resistance box to put between the turntable and phono stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt123 Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 If not a worn stylus or alignment then that only leaves impedance mismatch or too high a gain. As ajxd suggested valve amps are sensative so an impedance issue is possible and you can cure it with a buffer stage between the phono stage and amplifier or you can make up a resistance box to put between the turntable and phono stage. Thanks allenh. Did check impedance on phono output and amp input, both are 100k. I'm really suspecting the turntable needs a good setup done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Most MM carts want a loading of 47k and 100pf capacitance so 100k might be a bit high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt123 Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Most MM carts want a loading of 47k and 100pf capacitance so 100k might be a bit high The Creek phono is a OBH-18 MM. Specifically for Moving Magnet. The spec sheet says 47K input which is an exact match to my Ortofan 2M red cartridge. Also specs <100k output which matches my tube amp input. I need to do some setup work on the turntable. Thanks for the input allenh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 The Creek phono is a OBH-18 MM. Specifically for Moving Magnet. The spec sheet says 47K input which is an exact match to my Ortofan 2M red cartridge. Also specs <100k output which matches my tube amp input. I need to do some setup work on the turntable. Thanks for the input allenh. Yes the figures are right so it does sound like alignment is the issue which tbh with turntables it usually is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt123 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Guys, I appreciate all of your input. Got around to adjusting the vertical tracking weight today. Bam, distortion gone and my system sounds great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannibal Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Good to hear. Thanks for posting that you got it fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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