thaqza Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 All of my vinyl's (both new and old) tend to sound very shrill when high notes are hit, especially with "S" sounds. It is not my speakers as when I try the same exact song on CD, there exists no distortion in the highs. I have also tried with headphones and the same results are present. I am relatively new to the whole vinyl experience. I recently purchased a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (2M-R Cartridge). I've paired it with a Bellari VP130. Everything was purchased new and set up correctly. What is it that I could possibly be doing wrong? There is no inherent reason for records to distort when the music/vocals hit a high frequency, correct? Sorry if those questions sound silly. Just looking for some advice! Does anyone have similar issues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dethrock Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 This might sound stupid but have you looked at your stylus? I've had this happen with a few records when there's fuzz or dust on the stylus. Cleaning it should fix if that's the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaqza Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 I can check it out this evening but I doubt it is that as it's been like that ever since I unwrapped it/started using it. Hypothetically, yes it could have gotten dusty in the process, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanellos Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Check the dust as he said. Posting pics might help us determine whats wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 might also be worth going through the setup process again and making sure that everything is balanced and level. I had some issues after moving the (flimsy) rack that I keep my gear on just a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BennyWatts Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 If none of the previous tips work, I would check your cartridge alignment. Conrad Hoffman has an idiot-proof arc projector to help you align your cartridge here: http://www.conradhoffman.com/chsw.htm. I noticed when my cartridge was off, my music had a lot of sibilance, or a shhh sound on words that started with S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamrocks Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 i will attest to the fact that you can pick up enough dust to affect the sound before finishing a side of a disc. the good thing is that it is a simple fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_demarco Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 It's probably your phono amp. I know people have reported the Bellari VP130 being too bright and with a bunch of other entry level phono pre's you have the ability to change the moving magnet to moving coil, pF and impedance/resistance levels. For example, on my JD-9 phono pre, I have the ability to adjust these values so that everything sounds right with the cables that I am using. Have a look here and you can see the switches (http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/102/1028627.html)%C2'> What are your options? Find a friend with another phono pre and see the differences, or a friend with an amp that has a phono input just to see if it is your phono. I'm saying this from experience because I've been in your boat. Now that you've picked up some really good gear and you notice these issues, you'll need to invest possibly a bit more to get a solid set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_demarco Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 This might help to what you're trying to accomplish. I understand this might be over your head, but just try and understand what you will need to do to take the harshness away (in theory). Good luck. http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=6674 (for the record, here are the specs on your table) http://www.musicdirect.com/p-75872-pro-ject-debut-carbon-turntable.aspx EDIT: I'm going to ask what interconnects are you using before you check out the link above, it might help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 This all depends on how long it has been doing this and I am assuming you bought all this new. If it was all fine before and it's come on recently or gradually its most likely a dirty or worm stylus. But if it's done it all the time from new it's more likely a cartridge alignment issue, a cartridge being out in any way will produce all sorts of problems so check all of the alignment in every direction at least twice. One clue with alignment can be if it does it more at either end of a side, cartridge alignment is always a compromise and you are looking for the happy middle. If you are absolutely certain the cartridge is correctly aligned in every direction, all the weights are correct and everything is clean and not worn then it would be a mismatch or limitation in the components you are using so that would be a call back to who supplied it and depends on how long you have owned it whether you have any redress there. That list of components does include everything in the chain including the interconnects etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaqza Posted October 24, 2013 Author Share Posted October 24, 2013 Thank you all for the replies. As stated above, yes, everything was purchased new. Cleaning the needle unfortunately did not make the shrill S's go away. I will look into re-aligning the cartridge this evening as a second remedy. Again, this is not a HUGE issue but only happens during certain points of certain songs when the highs reach a certain volume. b_demarco, unfortunately I do not have another phono amp that I can try. Womp womp.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinch Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 If it's not a bad factory alignment, which is very possible, it might just be that you're experiencing the same thing I did when I got my first Debut years ago: that increasingly many records are just mastered/pressed really badly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannibal Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 If it's not a bad factory alignment, which is very possible, it might just be that you're experiencing the same thing I did when I got my first Debut years ago: that increasingly many records are just mastered/pressed really badly. Sounds like we had a similar experience. Sibilance is almost always due to mistracking issues, and it's usually just a matter of doing what one can to reduce it, as getting rid of it completely (or as near as we can get) requires large investments of money and laser precision. It's why i swapped out the cartridge on my DebutIII shortly after buying it and then sold it after only about a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circuit bored records Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 My debut carbon's 2m red cartridge was misaligned out of the box and was causing a lot of sibilance on all of my records when I first got it. I re-aligned it and it took care of the problem, but unfortunately I just wasn't a fan of how bright that cart is overall. Ended up switching it with my Shure m97xe and upgraded the stylus and have been extremely pleased ever since. But yeah, on a brand new table and stylus it sounds like the cart is not aligned properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaqza Posted October 25, 2013 Author Share Posted October 25, 2013 For the life of me I can't understand how to re-align the cartridge. Even the above link to the "idiot proof" re-alignment program is beyond me. I have no idea which measurements they are talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Simplest answer is to print a cartridge alignment protractor out but you need to make sure your printer prints out exactly as the the picture so 1:1. I haven't got any links saved on this PC so do a google search or hopefully someone can post some links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_demarco Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 1. 2. (super nerdy guy, but very helpful) read this afterwards. http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge-alignment-protractors.shtml mydenvermint 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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