End of side distortion

Mikeg · Post by **Mikeg** » 2014-03-18 14:59

Hi

I am experiencing end of side distortion on some albums. I am after some advice on how to reduce/eliminate it. I have become aware of more recently so it may be down to recent changes in my system.

My system is LP12, kore, ittok, Adikt, Avondale TAPS, Naim 72/HiCap/250, SBL’s.

Settings:
Adikt to Headshell 0.266Nm

VTF 1.7g (per Ittok) 1.748g per Roksan electronic gauge

Bias 1.9

Arm pillar (raised slightly-1.5mm) 2.6Nm

Adikt lugs have been removed and alignment is correct via a Linn protractor

I have checked the bearings using the info from a post by ThomasOK. Passes the vertical test easily with a small 25mm sq pice of paper. Horizontal - 0.25 bias – smoothly swings accros the rsurface iof the record, 0.4 – swings back to it’s rest.

I have made some changes to the system recently which may have Highlighted the problem:

New tweeters to replace aging 26year olds
Kore, plinth and SS topplate
Recent service to 72/HiCap

I have also recently started using Lyra’s SPT fluid and that is when I started to be particularly aware of the problem. At the start of the record the music was clear and clean but on the final track it sounded like a dirty stylus mistracking. Cleaning with green paper reduced but did not eliminate the problem. I have stopped using it partly for this reason but also because I am not convinced that musically it is better than green paper with silly putty.

The Adikt has probably less than 500 hours use so I don’t think it is due to be replaced.

Any advice would be most welcome

Mike

ThomasOK · Post by **ThomasOK** » 2014-03-18 20:15

Sorry to hear that you are having a problem with this. Overall the setup sounds about right to me. You might try changing the arm height, see if lowering it improves things at all. The other thing to try would be another stylus. One of the good things about an Adikt is that you have a removable stylus. This allows you to try a new one if you are ever in doubt about the performance of the current one. If it turns out the new one sounds the same it can go back into the box until you need it. But if it sounds significantly better then there could be a problem with your stylus in which case you might want to have it looked at by a dealer with a high-power microscope to see if there is any visual indication.

Interesting your comments on the SPT. I have wondered if it was really all it is cracked up to be.

morego · Post by **morego** » 2014-03-18 21:05

I agree with Thomas. You must look at your stylus. Use a diamante loupe. They are 10x and very good for checking. As alternative make some macros with your digital cam and study them on you computer screen.
A photo of my Gyger II - Linn Adikt Needle

--- have fun with a klick---

Sunny regards...Frank
MoreGo

Mikeg · Post by **Mikeg** » 2014-03-19 10:21

Hi Thomas

Thanks for the suggestion to lower the arm pillar slightly. I tried it last night - lowered by about 1mm so almost parallel. I tried it on one of the tracks I had problems with, Sting's "Fragile" from 'Nothing Like The Sun' . Early days but no distortion.

I also revisited using SPT. One track (same album) I thought untreated sounded better was "History Will Teach Us Nothing". Using SPT produced a wider sound-stage and more detail but the pace seemed slower with less energy. Untreated the track had real drive and power. However a quick listen after lowering the arm pillar and using the SPT there was clearly an improvement. I have more listening to do before I can say for definite it is better but it certainly seems worthwhile at the moment.

The Adikt does seem to be much more sensitive to setup than other cartridges I have had

Mike

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » 2014-03-20 14:58

Hi
I´ve experienced the same thing with Adikt! I played around with different VTF and it helped a little! The biggest improvement was when I increased the antiskating, it was apparently to low. I have it now set at 2.1 on the scale. I don´t hear any distortion any more. The overall sound quality was increased significantly! Hope it works the same for you!

ahaa · Post by **ahaa** » 2014-03-27 20:55

I changed to my fourth Adikt stylus yesterday and was amazed once again by the difference it makes. The two last styluses I have changed after 21 and 17 months respectively which for me means less than 200 hours. I don’t know what burdens most – age or playing time, but towards the end of the life span the music loses its magic and gradually becomes grey and boring in my opinion – and distortion comes sneaking.
Try out Thomas’ advice and get a new stylus!

(My LP12: Ekos II, Radikal – all carefully set up by Fredrik L.)

morego · Post by **morego** » 2014-03-27 22:13

ahaa wrote:I changed to my fourth Adikt stylus yesterday and was amazed once again by the difference it makes. The two last styluses I have changed after 21 and 17 months respectively which for me means less than 200 hours. I don’t know what burdens most – age or playing time, but towards the end of the life span the music loses its magic and gradually becomes grey and boring in my opinion – and distortion comes sneaking.
Try out Thomas’ advice and get a new stylus!

(My LP12: Ekos II, Radikal – all carefully set up by Fredrik L.)

Hi, do you sell you old Adikt stylus to me?