"David Goodwin" wrote in message


I'm getting some *major* sibilance/high-frequency problems on some
albums, the problem being that I have no idea if they've always been
there or if it's this cartridge that's introducing them.

Kudos on perceiving that it's hard to tell whether an audible change is due
to something that was always there but being suppressed getting through, or
whether the change is due to the new component manufacturing distorted
sounds of its own.

Most experienced hands judge these kinds of situations by listening to a
range of recordings, and applying logical deduction to their judgments. If
the excess sibilance appears only on old recordings, then it is probably
correct to blame the recordings. If the excess sibilance shows up on new
recordings but primarily at high levels, then the problem is more likely to
be with the new cartridge.

The problem
shows up most frequently as a kind of sibilance...it isn't, however,
just that the "S"es are particularly harsh, but that some instances
introduce tons of noise into the signal. The sibilance is very
"dirty," in other words, with a burst of distortion often accompanying
it.

If this happens with recordings known to be in good shape, the finger points
more directly at the cartridge or how it is set up. Can you increase the
tracking force? Is there some chance that despite all the supposed
guarantees of proper adjustment inherent in the P-mount system, the
cartridge is still misaligned?

If the problem is more prevalent at the beginning of the recording, you
might want to look at your anti-skating adjustment since the skating force
is largest for the outer grooves.

Additionally, certain periods of high-frequency activity often
introduce a lot of noise into the signal.

Sounds like mistracking. Adding stylus force may be a solution. Perchance
the stylus has picked up a big wad of dirt and needs to be cleaned?

Could this problem be cartridge related?

Maybe.

Is it fixable?

Maybe. One possible fix might be another cartridge.

Might my records just be kinda trashed?:-(

Probably not all of them, but possibly the ones you like to listen to the
most.