nosaj122081
New Member
Hello all,
I recently restored a Dual 1009SK to full functionality, thanks in NO small part to all the information I got here... It made me fall back in love with vinyl, after a decade-plus, digital-only hiatus. It works, sounds, and looks fantastic, and I'm almost 100% happy with it... ALMOST. Call it 98%.
Cartridge is an Empire 888TE, new EVG stylus (232 VDE from VoM, probably 20-30 hours), an ART DJ Pre II to a Marantz AVR, driving a pair of SEOS-12 based mains. I set the Dual up for single play, I have the headshell "wedge" and shimmed the cart another couple mm to level the VTA. I used both a Pat's Audio alignment jig and a Baerwald protractor to set the geometry (and have redone it a few times).
I just can't chase off a bit of sibilance on a few tracks/records (specific offenders include Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, and Ian Astbury, the latter 2 on brand new records)... Its VERY rare and minor, but enough to irritate the hell outta me, especially because it sounds fantastic, otherwise.
I'm thinking the cause is my EVG mistracking the sibilant grooves...The sibilance isn't channel-dependant, my pre-amp isn't running out of headroom (sibilance remains, even at low preamp gain), capacitive load on the cart doesn't impact it, and I don't think it's the recordings. Careful realignments and varying the VTA haven't helped, but running a bit heavier than recommended VTF does seem to improve things a bit. Plus, in researching my Empire cart here, I read some not-so-enthusiastic reviews of my specific EVG stylus due to sibilance, but bought it anyway.
As much as I love the 888's sound otherwise (it does really sound great), instead of rolling the dice on a NOS stylus, I think I'd like to move to a more modern cartridge with currently manufactured stylii, and something with a microline; seems like it would track my sibilant passages better. Obviously, I'm shooting for at least a lateral move from the Empire, sound-wise.
I've really got my eye on the AT-VM95ML, it seems to check all my boxes, including "wife-approvable price". Would it pair well with the Dual's "light for the 60s" tone arm? With my limited tonearm vs compliance understanding, it seems like it would.
I also looked at the AT-VM540ML or 440MLa/b, but thought their higher compliance wouldn't match as well (and admittedly more $$$). Originally I had an Ortofon OM/Super OM 30 in mind, but now since it requires cobbling one together, it gets a bit costly (new 30 styli were $300 everywhere I saw, and a few bucks for a body).
Thanks for any advice! And for unknowingly helping me restore my Dual!
I recently restored a Dual 1009SK to full functionality, thanks in NO small part to all the information I got here... It made me fall back in love with vinyl, after a decade-plus, digital-only hiatus. It works, sounds, and looks fantastic, and I'm almost 100% happy with it... ALMOST. Call it 98%.
Cartridge is an Empire 888TE, new EVG stylus (232 VDE from VoM, probably 20-30 hours), an ART DJ Pre II to a Marantz AVR, driving a pair of SEOS-12 based mains. I set the Dual up for single play, I have the headshell "wedge" and shimmed the cart another couple mm to level the VTA. I used both a Pat's Audio alignment jig and a Baerwald protractor to set the geometry (and have redone it a few times).
I just can't chase off a bit of sibilance on a few tracks/records (specific offenders include Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, and Ian Astbury, the latter 2 on brand new records)... Its VERY rare and minor, but enough to irritate the hell outta me, especially because it sounds fantastic, otherwise.
I'm thinking the cause is my EVG mistracking the sibilant grooves...The sibilance isn't channel-dependant, my pre-amp isn't running out of headroom (sibilance remains, even at low preamp gain), capacitive load on the cart doesn't impact it, and I don't think it's the recordings. Careful realignments and varying the VTA haven't helped, but running a bit heavier than recommended VTF does seem to improve things a bit. Plus, in researching my Empire cart here, I read some not-so-enthusiastic reviews of my specific EVG stylus due to sibilance, but bought it anyway.
As much as I love the 888's sound otherwise (it does really sound great), instead of rolling the dice on a NOS stylus, I think I'd like to move to a more modern cartridge with currently manufactured stylii, and something with a microline; seems like it would track my sibilant passages better. Obviously, I'm shooting for at least a lateral move from the Empire, sound-wise.
I've really got my eye on the AT-VM95ML, it seems to check all my boxes, including "wife-approvable price". Would it pair well with the Dual's "light for the 60s" tone arm? With my limited tonearm vs compliance understanding, it seems like it would.
I also looked at the AT-VM540ML or 440MLa/b, but thought their higher compliance wouldn't match as well (and admittedly more $$$). Originally I had an Ortofon OM/Super OM 30 in mind, but now since it requires cobbling one together, it gets a bit costly (new 30 styli were $300 everywhere I saw, and a few bucks for a body).
Thanks for any advice! And for unknowingly helping me restore my Dual!