Tired klyde or am I biased?

Posted by: julian62/135 on 20 November 2003

Tuesday — Klyde, Ekos I, Prefix, Hicap, LP12, Lingo, 62, 110, “bell wire”, Triangle Zephyrs.

Wednesday — a freshly serviced hicap enabled me to ditch the 110 and connect a pair of 135’s. At the same time mana shelves and sound frames where introduced for support and naca 5 replaced the old “bell” wire. The Zephyrs are finally on spikes on “skeets”; a big upgrade all in one day.

Initially the sound quality was startling good, the shelf took away the mush of multi instrument passages, the amp gave amazing ummph. However 10 or 20 sides later and it became apparent that the high frequencies particularly toward the end of the disc sound rough, scratchy and distorted. (Rather than muffled and disguised)

Sadly the revelations have revealed some short comings.

So my question to the knowledgeable:-

Is the problem likely to be incorrect tracking force/bias (currently 1.7/1.7)

Or

A worn out cartridge (inspected at grahams N1 four months ago and given the nod.)

I reckon to have used the cartridge 200/250 hrs in four months.

Also is it possible to test either of these theories with a “stereo test record”. If so, what tests need to be included on the record, web advertised discs seem to differ widely and none specifically mention a test for washed up cartridges.

Or is the only solution to box up the Linn and take the whole lot back to grahams to be put under the microscope?
Posted on: 20 November 2003 by Bob McC
If things deteriorate towards the end of side I'd check the set up of the cartridge first in all its aspects. You've made a massive improvement there all in one fell swoop. Certainly get your tip checked out at a dealers.

Bob