MC Cart for Pro-ject Carbon Tonearm (7-12g)
- Thread starter bluepearl
- Start date
Trower
Two-Headed Boy
If the bass is too heavy you may want to raise your VTA, it may help.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
This is what I was thinking, this cartridge shouldn't be bass heavy, and break in is likely to result in more bass if anything. Therefore he should do some experimenting with the VTA, lift it just a little, I think. Or maybe his last cartridge was just really, really bright.
I was playing with the VTA with my 2M Red and I found it difficult to make minor adjustments, once you release enough tension on the "shaft" to move it, it falls all the way down and you need to start from scratch. Any recommendations?
As it is now the tonearm is set parallel with the record surface...
As it is now the tonearm is set parallel with the record surface...
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
Yes, be careful.
Seriously, you need to hold the whole pivot assembly (back part of tonearm) with one hand and very slowly loosen the hex nut for VTA adjustment. Once you feel that it's loose enough to move, ever so slightly lower it, then tighten gently, and take a look. It can be a slow and frustrating process, but, contrary to what a lot of people here say, I've experienced improvements with VTA adjustments that made a huge difference.
Yes, be careful.
Seriously, you need to hold the whole pivot assembly (back part of tonearm) with one hand and very slowly loosen the hex nut for VTA adjustment. Once you feel that it's loose enough to move, ever so slightly lower it, then tighten gently, and take a look. It can be a slow and frustrating process, but, contrary to what a lot of people here say, I've experienced improvements with VTA adjustments that made a huge difference.
Would I lower it or raise it? I assumed you would raise the pivot assy to increase the VTA...
Trower
Two-Headed Boy
Yes raise the pivot assembly, that would make the cart move to more of a tail (back of the cart) up position.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
On your arm, Dynavector is nice. So is Ortofon and Denon Moving Coils. All three are worthy candidates. I like Denon for the money.
Which Denon are you using? Which table do you have?
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
I use a DL-160 on several different turntables. I have heard one on a Pro-Ject Expression III and loved the sonics. I use DL-160 cartridges on my Technics SL-1600 backup and on my Technics SP-15 with Audio-Technica tonearm.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
I'm sorry I meant to say raise it a little, that's what you want to do in your case or if it ever sounds "muddy," dark, or the bass is bloated. My mistake.
Tedrick
Infinity-phile
Probably not. Bass performance (and treble, too) CAN be affected by the cartridge loading, however. Does your phono-preamp have adjustable loading for MC carts?
Actually the "crazy" bass seems to have passed, it still has a serious kick though, I'm on hour 9 for break in.
My phono pre has two settings for gain; 61 and 66 db. It has fully variable loading (knob) 100 ohm to 47k ohm. my cart specifies; 1000 ohms / 30 ohms so I figure 500ish is good, I just turned the knob until it seemed right in the zone...