Splashy treble on vinyl

[wilro15]

I have recently dug out my old Technics SL1210 mkII from my DJing days to listen to my records. The Technics is connected to a Gemini DJ mixer which in turn is connected to my PC so I can record the vinyl.

The sound coming out is all wrong though. The treble is very splashy and really loud and over the top, not enjoyable to listen to at all.

I'm using a Stanton cartridge, the needle is clean. Any ideas what causes this?

 

[chebby]

Do you get the same problem if you plug it directly in to your Arcam A18's 'Phono MM' input?

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Chebby's correct. If you connect direct to your mixer you're not getting RIAA equalisation, so the treble will sound overpowering. You need to use a the phono input assuming the mixer has one, or a phono preamp if it hasn't.

 

[wilro15]

Good point, I had not thought of trying that. Both are in different rooms so I may have to try it when I have a good few hours to make it worthwhile.

 

[wilro15]

@altruistic.lemon the mixer does have phono inputs - it can accept 2 turntables at once. There is a switch marked Line/Phono on the back, which is set to phono for vinyl.

 

[chebby]

I suppose the next question is have you rebalanced the arm and set the tracking force and bias anew? (Or was it just set from the last time you used it?)

 

[chebby]

Assuming the back panel of your mixer looks a bit like this...

http://www.djkit.com/images/products/PS-626USB_BackLRG.jpg

... have you also got the TT connected to the respective PH1/LN1 L R inputs as well as having the LN1 PH1 switch on PH1? (If you are using CH1 inputs.)

 

[wilro15]

@Chebby yes the turntable is hooked up to the mixer correctly. I suspect I may have a problem with the setup of the tone arm, back when I used the deck originally I was never really sure how it was supposed to be setup. I need to have a dig around on youtube, I think I remember seeing a video of someone showing how to set it up.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The deck will need a once over if it hasn't been used for a long time. As mentioned, reset the weight, and double check the VTA of the arm too, just in case. Check the stylus to make sure there is something left of it, and if it is worn, replace it. Personally, I'd recommend looking at a different cartridge. Like most DJ cartridges, the Stantons weren't exactly designed for sound quality, more for a robust cantilever that wouldn't break regardless of the abuse a DJ would give it. It is also worth trying a felt mat if you don't already have one - some have reported improvements over the supplied rubber one.

 

[chebby]

Switch off the deck and unplug it.

Set anti-skate/bias dial to zero. Rotate the counterweight - on the back of the arm - back and forth (gently) until you reach a point where the arm 'floats' and is parallel to the platter.

Ensure that the stylus doesn't touch anything whilst doing this.

Now that's done, clamp the arm on it's rest and gently turn the tracking force dial in front of the counterweight (you may have to hold the counterweight to ensure it doesn't move when turning the dial in front of it) until the dial is on it's zero setting. (When zero is on top and dead vertical.)

Then rotate the counterwieght anti-clockwise (the dial should move around too) until you get to the recommended tracking force value for the cartridge (usually around 1.5 to 2.0 for most cartridges) and that figure is dead vertical.

Now dial up the same number on the little anti-skate/bias control.

Good to go now.

You have to do all this without any stylus guard fitted so be careful.

All this should be done on a level surface. (You can do fine levelling with the adjustable feet and placing a small spirit level on the plinth.)