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Review of the 'Quest 20' Ortofon/Digitrac

Are there phono pre amps that will allow you to adjust cartridge loading on the fly? Right now I am using the ART phono pre amp. The problem is, I am not good at soldering, nor would I trust myself with a soldering iron. I would have to see if I could get someone to put something together for me to allow me to adjust cartridge loading. This is something I would like to experiment with.
 
Best way is the way described at http://daveyw.edsstuff.org/vinyl/loading/

There are a number of phono stages that have dual rca input plugs - that way you can connect loading plugs (same as in the method on the website named above) directly without an adapter.

Whatever the loading inside the phono stage is (whether switchable or otherwise) you can use paralel loading to raise the capacitance and lower the resistance.

What you cannot do is lower the capacitance or raise the resistance...
For that you need a phono stage with lower capacitance and higher resistance!
Ideally you want a phono stage with no additional capacitance (0pf) and 100k or higher resistance.

The most economical one I found that allowed for that was the firestone audio Korora.
It has switchable 220pf capacitive loading (which can be turned off), and it has an empty resistance slot, that you can ask to be filled with a high resistance when ordering....

Alternative is to modify an existing phono stage to alter the two parameters, build your own phono stage, or find one with switchable loading.
Others that have switchable loading:

Musical Surround Phonomena

Others that have loading plugs
Naim
JLTI Phono

Many vintage components also have switchable loading...

bye for now
David
 
Hi Steve,
before I wrote the little review on the digi, I had played several records the past few weeks. I felt safe to write this review, because I have been very impressed with this cartridge. I just did not want you to think that I had regrets about purchasing this cartridge. If I had it to do again I would have.

Yesterday was the first time I had played these records using this cartridge. Like I said, I don't care for those records any way. I feel bad, because maybe I should have talked to you privately about this. I am sorry if I have offended you in any way, that was never my intention.

You have helped me a lot.
Thank you
 
Not at all, Bill. You heard what you heard and that is useful info, it's the cause that is of interest whether the record or some other factor. I have several records I like that have problems some of which I still don't know why. Most of them are second hand at least so who really knows their history.
 
I am going to try to listen to these records through my headphones, and see what happens. I am a little worried. When my wife and kids were out last night, I was listening to some digital content. And I thought I could hear the same thing. I am hoping my speakers are not blown.
 
I just took a quick listen through my headphones, and the records are doing the same thing. It is a rolief to know my speakers are not blown. could adjusting the antiskate help reduce the distortion?
 
Hi Steve, I tried adjusting the antiskate by ear, and it did not work. I set it between 1.0 and 1.5 grams. Does this sound about right? I have even had my wife check the stylus, and she told me it is clean. I guess this may just have to remain a mystery. I have always been curious. When I hear something wrong with audio, I like to try to figure out what is going on.
 
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One thing that I forgot to mention earlier. When I was listening to the records through headphones, and adjusting the antiskate by ear. I took the headphones off during a loud passage. I put my ear next to the tonearm during this, and while the loud passage was playing, I heard the distortion through the cartridge. Could the stylus not be staying in the grooves very well on these records?
 
Normally you expect to hear this more with a low compliance cartridge as they are more reactive, and the cartridge body will move more (and therefore you will hear the vibrations)

With high compliance designs this is unusual....:scratch2:
 
What David said. I wonder if a bit of blu-Tack around the base of the cart and the most forward part of the adapter would help.
 
Pio1980 said:
What David said. I wonder if a bit of blu-Tack around the base of the cart and the most forward part of the adapter would help.
Click to expand...

How mmuch do you think I would need to use? If I use the blu-tack, would I have to raise the tracking force? If this is caused from cartridge movement. could it be because the cartridge is not screwed in to the P-mount adapter?
 
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I don't know that the security screw adds any clamping effect, you don't have the proper one for your adapter. I'd use the least amount necessary along the side of the base as the additional mass effectively increases the tracking force tho' likely by very little.
 
Thank you steve, I will have to see what I can do. I will have to get my wife to help me with this. She use to work on computers before we got married. I am thinking if she can mount harddrives and work on motherboards, this should be pretty easy. I just don't want to mess anything up.

If I ever switched between my other P-mount cartridges, would this cause problems in using them? The other day, I was cleaning the stylus with a magic eraser, and it stuck to the stylus. I was very careful at getting it off, but I hope I did not damage it. So it is possible this distortion could be my fault.
 
Try to keep the Blu-Tack or what-ever off the cart pins. I don't see this creating an interchangeability problem other than keeping the stuff where it does the most good. The tactile feel thru the magic cleaner is pretty much nil, try to get a Discwasher SC-1 stylus cleaner. It should have sufficient tactile feedback to keep you out of trouble. Short of that the much smaller LAST stylus cleaner brush from whom-ever sells it for $5.
 
It might be a few days before I can apply the blu-tack to the cartridge. I am trying to find some stores around here that carry it. I found some on amazon, if I can't find it anywhere around here. Would Radio Shack carry blu-tack? I will also look in to getting the Discwasher stylus cleaning brush.

Thank you Steve and David for taking the time to help me with this. I appreciate it.
 
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You can probably find an equivalent product at any hardware store or "everything" store (Target, Walmart, etc). For example, Duco Stik-Tak, or other brand of adhesive putty.
 
Another alternative is plasticine, or whatever the local pre-schoolers use (various brands) - ie: non hardening modelling clay.

usually available at any toy store - art shops also often carry it.

Modelling clay tends to be a bit softer than blue-tack and its equivalents... somewhat better at low frequency damping.
 
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