New TT vs. »historical« Testing Record

[Pauli]

Hi everybody!

My new Technics SL-1500C is with me one week now. So far, I don’t regret the purchase at all.

Nevertheless, I wonder what a TT of the SL-1500C level is expected to perform regarding tracking ability. I therefore put on a decades-old Testing Record of mine and listened to four of its »bands« labelled:

Tracking Test, in mono:

300 Hz: 45, 68, 85 μ
100 Hz: 55 μ

The first three were – well: OK. The fourth (100 Hz: 55 μ) was a sonic disaster.

Sorry, I have to correct myself as I mixed things up ...

Here is the correct situation:

300 Hz, 45 μ: mainly OK
300 Hz, 68 μ: few distortions but mainly OK
300 Hz, 85 μ: heavily distorted
100 Hz, 55 μ: no distortions

What should that tell me? Is my SL-1500C not set-up well yet? Or is that »historical« Testing Record due to be dumped finally, since those »bands« may very well be physically worn out by now?

BTW: My TT before the Technics was a Sony PS-X60 with AT-VM95E. It played those four »bands« not flawlessly either, but notably better than the new Technics, especially the 100 Hz: 55 μ 300 Hz: 85 μ part.

 

[Jose Jimenez]

What is the cartridge in there now? What is the tracking force?

 

[Pauli]

It is the pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red, with 1.8 tracking force / antiskating.

 

[Jose Jimenez]

I read in another post where it was suggested that the test record could be worn. It appears your new turntable is a wise investment. I used to use the albums like Shaft, I Robot, Gaucho, etc. to listen for sibilance. How does the music you enjoy play and sound compared to the older deck?

Last year I picked up (taking a chance) a number of Audio Tecnica Styli that were around 40 years old. I have tried two of them, a Shabata 14Sa and a nude elliptical AT135 and could not be happier. They sound wonderful tracking at the lower range. I played the records I knew well and heard them in a 'different light'!

It appears you know what is important. I make certain the alignment is good at two points and set the tracking force for just about 2 grams with appropriate anti-skate and give it a listen (level deck). I have read where some of us hobbyists have said that some new cartridges sound good, but when it comes to the end of a record, they just can't handle the inner portion of an album without mistracking. That's a shame.

I'll check back later. Hope you can get it right.

 

[Pauli]

If have the tune »My Girls« by Tears For Fears on an EP, and my old Sony TT had big problems to play back a certain portion of it (9 or 10 seconds from the start, where the lyrics go »a sound soul«) without massive ssssss-distortion. The new Technics TT does that one quite fine.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Get The Ortofon test record and redo the test,? Easier with a known reference

But a cartridge should do 68um fine

 

[Balle Clorin]

2M blue is a better cartridge and will do better than Red if you are not happy, just get a Blue stylus and put it on.

 

[Jose Jimenez]

How do you like to Ortofon Red vs. the old AT?

 

[Pauli]

Sorry, I have to correct myself as I mixed things up ...

Here is the correct situation:

300 Hz, 45 μ: mainly OK
300 Hz, 68 μ: few distortions but mainly OK
300 Hz, 85 μ: heavily distorted
100 Hz, 55 μ: no distortions

 

[Pauli]

How do you like to Ortofon Red vs. the old AT?

To me the Technics SL-1500C with Ortofon 2M Red sounds better than I remember my old Sony PS-X60 with Audio-Technica AT-VM95E. I can only put it that »complicated«.