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I have a new model P3/RB300 set-up on 640p phono amp. I just bought a Goldring 1042 with about 30 hours on it to replace my well used Goldring Elektra. First mounted it quite forward, but after some remeasurement moved it back in the headshell. First impressions are mixed. Its very detailed, but seems lacking in any bass weight and sounds hissier than the Elektra. Any suggestions? Thanks, Alex.
By the way, test discs used were Rickie Lee Jones Nimbus Supercut, Cat Stevens Teaser and Firecat (180g analog reissue), Randy Newman Nimbus Supercut and ZZ Top Eliminator. Alex.
You are tracking too lightly and the cart is probably not aligned properly. Did you use an alignement guage?
I did use a protractor and am playing at 1.75 or 2 grams. Its a curious thing, the RB300 I'm using never requres any anti-saking. (I've had about 4 Planar 3's in the past that have needed it - about the same as the tracking weight, so I suspected at one point the arm may be iffy). I've read reviews of this cart sounding clinical and lacking in bass, its jsut suprising I prefer their cheaper elektra!! Anything else anyone thinks I could do to improve this?
The hissing part is a common problem with too light of a tracking force. Having ownwed a 1042 myself in the past I found it to be a little heavy in the bass. The anti-skate would not affect bass performance; it might cause mistracking and result in a hiss sound but the bass would still be good. Are you sure the cart is not damaged in some way? Is the proper pins where they should be and the cart in phase?
Connections are fine, I'll try with the tracking force. Problem is, isnt record life lower and wear greater with a higher tracking force? I ran the Elektra at 1.5g and it sounded great. Bass was great last night on a Nimbus Supercut of Supertramp's Breakfast in America but not so great on other LPs.
Actually the cartridge should be tracking at the high end of the range. Record wear occurs due to mis-alignment more so than tracking force. The worst case occurs when the cart tip rattles around in the groove due to to light a force applied. I would track the 1042 at 1.8g's for a start. The conventional wisdom on carts and tracking is more is better than less force. Yrs ago Shure did a electron scan of the record grooves to determine wear patterns and they found that the cart should be well seated in the groove and angled properly for best case wear conditions. Thats a good sounding cart. Once it's dialed in on the Rega it should be a real musical sound. That is the cart Audionote modifies for their IQ series.