I’m going to have a complete system check, including re-dressing my cables - perhaps look at some sort of lifters?

I rearranged everything on my stand a month ago, prompted by my Plinius 8150 losing the R channel on phono. I put that down to excess heat, as the amp does get very hot, and it was on the bottom shelf which has the smalllest amount of free space around the component sitting there. I now have the amp on the second shelf, below the TT sitting on the top shelf. Other components were moved as well.

I had not used the phono section on the amp for several months, ever since I got my Ortofon 2M Black running through my Pure Audio Vinyl, which is configured for MM only.   Wanted to use my second TT fitted with Denon DL103R about a month ago, connected it up to the 8150 and then found the R channel had gone - presumably an Op Amp.

Ever since I have not been happy with LP playback. It seems to have lost its magic. Favourites such as Linda Ronstadt have lost their warmth and special resonance. Which is why I splashed out on a protractor and azimuth/VTA guide. However, everything seems to measure up OK. The 2M Black is recommended to have a 20degree VTA, while the Linn Ittok LVIi arm is recommended to be parallel with the LP surface - which is where I have it.

Am I correct in my understanding that the parallel arm effectively provides 20 degrees of VTA?

I have checked for cables crossing each other, especially the phono ones.

The only other change to my set up was when I dismantled my LP12 and packed it away ready to take to Auckland. However, that trip did not eventuate and the LP12 is back on the top shelf of the stand. That included removing the arm and cart, then reinstalling. Will probably have to go back over that process again!

Lemme see if understand you correctly, you changed a number of things around the same time....

- New cartridge, 2M Black
- Using a different phono stage now, PA Vinyl
- Moved power amp (closer to TT)
- Re-set up the LP12 incl re-installing Ittok + cartridge.
- Other?

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

as to 20 deg vta, depends on the cartridge design, it may not always equate to a parallel tonearm.

to get a definitive answer you need to measure the stylus with microscope etc

Mar 29, 2019 19:00:08 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

Lemme see if understand you correctly, you changed a number of things around the same time....

- New cartridge, 2M Black
- Using a different phono stage now, PA Vinyl
- Moved power amp (closer to TT)
- Re-set up the LP12 incl re-installing Ittok + cartridge.
- Other?

Had the cart since last year and was performing with expected magic set up on my LP12, through the PA Vinyl - which is configured for MM only, which I had for a few months before getting the 2M Black.

Dismantled everything a month or so ago and packed the LP12 in its box intending to take it to Graham for some mods to be done to the power supply.

Hooked up my other TT, which was fitted with 103R cart, and then found R channel via the MC input on my Plinius 8150 was dead.  It had beeen working up until I bought the PA Vinyl.  I then rearranged everything on my stand, thinking excess heat was the problem re the 8150.  Had to put a MM cart on my 2nd TT and fed that to the PAVinyl.  All working fine.

Due to other priorities, the trip to Graham did not eventuate, so once more exchanged TTs, and set up the LP12, reinstalling the 2M Black.  The magic wasn’t there.

However, spent time this afternoon, dismantled arm and cart, dressed cables a little more neatly, reinstalled arm and cart being meticulous with set up, taking my time.  Which isn’t easy for me as I suffer from essential tremor (a family curse!).  It worked, as the magic is back.

The only continuing problem is the sensitivity of the LP12 to footfall near the stand, and if I have to adjust volume (a manual job as no remote) if my hand shakes the arm can start to skate across the record!  Have tracking weight set to 1.7 so is not too light.  Something I have to live with!

Re checking VTA as suggested by Michael, I do not have the equipment for that!

sub - good result.
So, we suspect maybe phono cable dressing in the LP12, the famous P-clip, etc.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Yes, the P-clip could have had something to do with it. The phono cables were not exiting the back of the TT through the provided slot, instead exiting cramped under the hardboard base. Took the base board off and readjusted the P-clip to free the cable.

Also,setting up properly using my new protractor and azimuth/VTA guide, could also have had something to do with improving things. Prior to that had been using a paper protractor I had printed off a website. That had worked before, but perhaps more by good luck than good management!

Before getting things to sound magic again, I had been pondering other solutions - change the amp, as I was wondering if it had been damaged by overheating; change the phono cables, as compared to the cables on my Yamaha YP-D9, the Linn cables look puny and cheap!; and change the power cord on the Linn, ditto.

In many respects the circa 1976 Yamaha YP-D9 TT is streets ahead on some aspects of build quality - cables, solidity of build, and not least the sophisticated VTA adjustment on the arm. So easy to use and can be done on the fly! Just misses out on sound quality, the Linn providing that little bit more “air” and delicacy to the sound.

The arm cable dressing can affect largely the sub-chassis suspension, its 'bounce' & degree of freedom of movement.

And yup, 2mm Overhang error will change things.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

the linn p-clip can be a huge pia.

when i had my lp12 i used a mod squad termination box (din plug from arm to tiffany rcas in a ice alu box) that got rid of the p clip and the grotty stock ittok arm cable.