Help with low riding Ortofon OM10 on an Elipson Alpha 100

[Engel]

Hi all,

Bought an Elipson Alpha 100 on sale after reading some good reviews. It sounds decent and keeps good time.

However, the fitted Ortofon OM10 cartridge rides awfully low (see pics) and even scrapes the vinyl on some records. The cartridge comes factory fitted and aligned. I've checked the turntable user manual and I can't see any mention of being able to adjust tonearm height.

VTF is adjustable as is anti-skating. I have tracking adjusted to 1.5gm as measured on a cheapie little digital gauge.

I've been reading up online and and this doesn't seem an uncommon problem for this cartridge.

Am I dealing with:

- cartridge suspension gone?
- damaged cantilever or stylus?
- vertical tracking angle problem?
- poorly aligned cartridge?

I'm far from an expert in all this, so tips and suggestions from the great hive mind are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Your VTA is not correct. The arm pivot needs to be raised for the top of the cartridge to be level with the record surface. If your arm doesn't have adjustable VTA, then use a thinner platter mat.

 

[Engel]

Your VTA is not correct. The arm pivot needs to be raised for the top of the cartridge to be level with the record surface. If your arm doesn't have adjustable VTA, then use a thinner platter mat.

Thanks. It came with a felt mat so I might try something thinner as you said. Just can't find any way to make an adjustment to VTA on the tonearm and the manual doesn't say anything. Plus it's a newish model French turntable - that's what you get for straying from the better known makes!

Here are a couple of pics of the tonearm in case someone can see something I'm missing. Silver ring at the back is for tracking force and the little black knob is on top is for anti-skate.

 

[Engel]

Thanks. It came with a felt mat so I might try something thinner as you said. Just can't find any way to make an adjustment to VTA on the tonearm and the manual doesn't say anything. Plus it's a newish model French turntable - that's what you get for straying from the better known makes!

Here are a couple of pics of the tonearm in case someone can see something I'm missing. Silver ring at the back is for tracking force and the little black knob on top is for anti-skate.

View attachment 2205149 View attachment 2205150

 

[Engel]

Whoops, accidentally replied to my own post when I was trying to edit

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Thanks. It came with a felt mat so I might try something thinner as you said. Just can't find any way to make an adjustment to VTA on the tonearm and the manual doesn't say anything. Plus it's a newish model French turntable - that's what you get for straying from the better known makes!

Here are a couple of pics of the tonearm in case someone can see something I'm missing. Silver ring at the back is for tracking force and the little black knob is on top is for anti-skate.

View attachment 2205149 View attachment 2205150

Arm doesn't look like it has adjustable VTA. That Ortofon cartridge has tall dimensions. You could go with a different cartridge like an Audio Technica VM95E. Not as tall as the Ortofon. The VM95 series has threaded holes so mounting it is a breeze! Have you ever changed a cartridge before?

 

[Engel]

I actually just installed the VM95 on my Lenco and it's great. Love it. It was my first proper installing but after some nervous moments I got it. The Elipson is for my sister. She liked the look of it and it was going for a song from a local dealer. So could do that.

As we speak, I'm running the Elipson with no mat, just vinyl to platter (don't worry, not a valuable record!), as a way to test the thinner mat idea. Seems to be a little better as it has increased clearance between cartridge body and vinyl.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

The bottom of the Ortofon cartridge should be parallel to the record surface too. You can see how far off it is.

Bought the VM95C for my Technics SL-1650 changer when I stack the 45s. Wanted a cheap cartridge with a conical stylus because of the high VTA the arm has on that turntable, it's a changer. Sounds really good playing my 45s!

 

[Engel]

Will experiment with finding a thinner mat in the meantime but maybe the VM95 is the way to go.

 

[Engel]

OK, so was bothered that the head shell seemed askew. I gave it a gentle twist. Now seems it sits straighter and the cartridge rides a little higher! No change in sound, certainly no degradation. Maybe it's all good? One can only hope.