Need help with cartridge setup

Hi everyone,

I've got a Roksan Radius V with Nima tonearm and a Denon DL-160 cartridge. I partially bought this cartridge because I was attracted by its relatively low required tracking force (1.3-1.9g) and I thought that would mean less wear on my records.

However I recently got the Hi-Fi News Analogue Test LP, and I'm finding that the cartridge is not tracking well, even at 1.9g tracking force (the recommended maximum). At this force it will just about track the first of the four BIAS tracks (12 dB), but it can't hack the second (14dB). I know that the BIAS sections are for anti-skate, but it doesn't seem to matter how much/little anti-skate I put -- there's distortion on both channels, which suggests to me that it's not tracking properly (same thing with the outer, middle, and inner tests on side 2, which are all 15 dB).

If I increase tracking force to 2.3g or so, then it will track the first two fine, but distort on the third. There's no distortion on the first or middle tracking ability tests on the other side, but there is minimal distortion on the final (inner) track.

This suggests that at 1.9g tracking force it can only track the 300Hz tone up to 12dB, and it must be increased to 2.3g to track up to 15dB (but no more).

I tried raising the force to 2.5g and then it was able to track the 16dB track, but still not the 18dB track.

I'm wondering whether there could be other problems with it -- I've used the provided two-point setup method that came with the record. I've visually set the azimuth since my Audiolab 8000a doesn't have the mono blend function needed to use the test record's track for this purpose. Finally I've set the VTA as best I can -- even with the arm at its lowest height, the arm is not quite parallel to the record, with the cartridge very slightly lower (can only tell this with Roksan's parallel line sheet).

Could it be that my alignment wasn't perfect enough, or that I've made some other kind of error? Should I not be expecting this cartridge to track beyond the first test or two at the recommended tracking force? I know this is a budget cartridge, but I had read that it was fairly decent at tracking.

Finally, is it a terrible idea to set the tracking force above the maximum in order to track better? I.e., at 2.3g rather than 1.9g? Which is preferable in terms of the sound?

Thanks for any help

Lydgate

 

For anyone who cares, after reading this, I've decided not to worry about the last two tracks, simply got it to pass the first two tracks with a bit conservative anti-skating. It's still slightly over the recommended tracking force but I think it should be ok.

 

Some people claim to be able to hear a difference of a tenth of a gram. I say get out more! Antiskating is something I've never been comfortable with! I hate to say it, on one of my TT's where I couldn't get it right I just took it to my hifi shop and bunged him £50 including fitting the tonearm! He had a lot of hassle but stuck to his price! I sold it shortly after that! Had a few since then with nothing like the hassle!

Welcome to the forum

 

OK, I got nervous and set it back to "2g" but after hearing Gram Parsons distort a bit and being dissatisfied, I figured out what the problem was. The scale itself is a little over 1cm high, this gives an incorrect reading by around .5g if placed on top of the platter. I got it perfectly level to the platter and dialed it in to 1.9g. This read as 2.4g if the scale's on top of the platter. So basically I can track the first two happily with the recommended max of 1.9g. I could increase it to 2g or so and track the third, but as that site says no records are cut that way, so may as well save the wear.

 

I wondered if it was the scale! You can get a digital one on ebay that I use, for about £35. If you buy the same one with a Roksan or Clearaudio logo its between £50 and £120!
Its very good, and backlit. The weighing area mimics the thickness of an LP and has a sweet spot so you can get very accurate readings.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UK-Digital-St...14&_trkparms=72:1690|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

 

I use that scale too and can highly recommend it

 

That's great, guys, thanks. I'll make a note of that for the future, but for now I think I'm happy with the way my cartridge is set up after about two hours toil

Maybe if I bother to set up the inputs on my M-Audio Audiophile 2496 then I can set the azimuth using the test track, but for now I think I'll leave it.

 

A plastic arm and plastic cartridge means you will never be able to join the tight enough ( without breaking something) to get good tracking no matter what the alignment.

Tightness of the arm cartridge interface has a large effect on perceived tracking distortion.

 

had a few DL-160's myself, inexpensive.. and was well satisfied with the results, they always tracked and sounded well but can not recollect ever having the need to go above 1.7g, i don't mind spending a good deal of time tweaking with the test record and always like to keep tracking force as low as is possible, no distortion or other gremlins..just crackles.
I have three good quality records in nr perfect condition that i run through after setup, if they play as i know they should, all is well, problems after will be in the vinyl.

not that it matters as you are now sorted but as well as Gram Parsons, did you try other records?

 

Yep. That's what you get with scales that are thicker than a piece of paper and unipivots:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/in_balance_e.html

 

Lydgate .. don't forget to buy the MintLP Best Tractor for your arm - turntable combo .. you can't belive the improvment it can add.

http://www.mintlp.com

 

Arms like the Nima with a very low centre of gravity (most unipivots) will show significant variance in VTF with varying height. You really do need to measure it at or close to the record height or as you have discovered it'll be way out.

Good you have it sorted though