Fluance RT83/Ortofon 2M Red sibilance/distortion

[Ptm1545]

I'm glad things are improving, slightly.

Just some food for thought...

If I were you, I'd really try to play those records which you feel have distortion on someone's table who knows they have a solid setup. Just to rule that out.

If you are hearing distortion on certain records, and now you are hearing it still, on technically a nicer more detailed setup, either in more or less amounts... it could be the records buddy. Could be, not necessarily.

I've had used records gunk up carts before. I've had a used record, I'm fairly certain, which actually bent a cantilever.

A few months ago I got a New record. Gave it a quick wipe and threw it on. Terrible sounding. I inspected the record closer, there was a thin, thin residue of something on it, barely noticeable. Glue or something. I was able to clean the stylus thankfully. And I trashed the record.

Are you using the same phono pre on both tables? If so, diagnose it.

Are you using the same amp? Same speakers? Make sure you rule those out as culprits. (Most likely they aren't. But check everything.)

Are you hearing distortion in just one channel on both tables?

There are many factors to diagnose. My main concern is that you are hearing the same issue, on the same records, on two different tables.

Again, I run a few Ortofons. No IGD issues. Specifically, I run a Silver, also bonded, almost identical to the Red. Its not my best cart, but it's not bad at all. And no distortion.

Good idea, I'll try to find someone with a great setup to test out these records on. There are definitely a couple of albums I own where there are known issues on the pressings, I've seen comments on their Discogs listings about IGD on certain songs. That said though, there are a couple of other albums where I notice more sibilance now than I did before on my LP60 (moreso sibilance than distortion).

And yes, I'm using all the same equipment on both. Again, there are some albums where I definitely notice a big improvement in sound, the treble boost really helped open them up!

 

[cratz2]

I tend to think it's a setup issue. I've had two Reds quite a while and I didn't quite love them, I didn't feel they were horrible. Granted, with the first one, I didn't really use the table very much but when I started getting back into vinyl maybe six or seven years ago, I had one that I'd swap around between a SL-D2 and a 1300.

I have an RT85 with the Blue and adjustment was not quite perfect when it arrived.

I didn't really hear a lot of sibilance and I tend to have brighter, detail-oriented systems. IGD was more of an issue but I still didn't find it too distracting.

What I noticed is that things like cymbals were bright but didn't sound super natural. The other decent cart I had at the time was an AT12Sa which was just radically better in that department but I still enjoyed the Red as I feel it sounded bigger and more exciting but definitely less refined and less natural, esp on the higher frequencies.

Here are some clips I did with my second Red which had several hundred hours on it at this point. Mostly using the 1300 or the SL-D2 but the last one is on a belt drive that had slight speed issues but it was the inside track. Or maybe I'm just not sensitive to IGD.

Some of them actually sound better than I remember.

https://clyp.it/2j4i2unp

https://clyp.it/eyi4rlqr

https://clyp.it/m5xhbc13

https://clyp.it/r533l2ve

https://clyp.it/1yxzpg0h

https://clyp.it/roqso3m1

https://clyp.it/uwxr4trt

 

[Chops54]

The 2M Red isn't as bad as many make out. It's an entry level cartridge so often ends up partnered with a lower end turntable. It's a stepping stone for those starting out too and maybe those starting out are not as adept at setting things up. The phono stage may not be the best at this level either. Tbh who would use a 2M Red in anything but a budget system? Would anyone expect top sound from a budget system? What I do know is that a 2M Red properly set up on a good table into a decent phonostage actually performs quite well.

 

[Toblerone]

The 2M Red isn't as bad as many make out.....

.....What I do know is that a 2M Red properly set up on a good table into a decent phonostage actually performs quite well.

Agreed.

and

Agreed.