From Jonathan Valin's RCA Bible 2nd Edition 1994

Thanks for the info Michaelw. It would be an interesting book to own, but unless I find it languishing in a 2nd hand shop at bargain price, not currently on my horizon!

Re the Soria Series labels, the two albums I own do have the shaded dog label, and not the sans dog label as per the photos above -see pics below. I think that the book above seems to be focussed on the Living Stereo issues, whereas mine are mono.

Well, it does not say mono anywhere on label of album cover, but the album numbers have the prefix LD whereas stereo ones are LDS. It seems the albums I own - Verdi’s Requiem and Berlioz’s Carmen, must have been issued in Stereo and mono versions - I deduce that from an imprint on the back page of the accompanying booklets, which reads LD/LDS followed by the album number.

I note my records are notated “made in Canada”.

I cleaned these op shop buys on my Ultrasonic Record cleaning machine two days ago, and have so far played Side 1 of the Requiem (these records must have been pressed in the days of stacker record players as the sides are oddly numbered - Record one has sides 1 & 4, two 2&5, three 3&6) and am a bit disappointed. The playing and singing is mostly very fine, but at orchestral and choral crescendos (and there are many of them) there is considerable distortion, especially noted on the R chanel- being mono I would expect distortion evenly between the Spkrs. Makes me wonder if the problem is the use of a stereo cart, or does mono need a heavier playing weight? Have just increased the playing weight by .25, with no difference. I have looked closely at the record in bright sunlight using my reading glasses, and can see no record damage.

But, I have played other mono records without any problem!

I also have Karajan’s Requiem on DGG 415 092-1, Vienna PO from 1985, so played Side one of that to compare, and it is gorgeous - even though it proudly states it is a digital recording! I think Reiner’s 1959 effort would probably be as good if it were not for the distortion.






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I do have several rca Victor Living Stereo albums. Over the years have bought any in good condition that I found in 2nd hand shops - as well as Mercury living presence albums. Must say though finding any in playable condition is a rarity. The only album that seem to be everywhere, is the one featuring balalaikas. Also saw a Sousa marches one recently, but that music does not appeal.

mercury living presence sr90310 - balalaika favourites !

a landmark album of recordings by americans in russia.

Nov 9, 2017 8:42:07 GMT 12 sub said:

.....The playing and singing is mostly very fine, but at orchestral and choral crescendos (and there are many of them) there is considerable distortion, especially noted on the R chanel- being mono I would expect distortion evenly between the Spkrs. Makes me wonder if the problem is the use of a stereo cart, or does mono need a heavier playing weight? Have just increased the playing weight by .25, with no difference. I have looked closely at the record in bright sunlight using my reading glasses, and can see no record damage.

Not always the case, but with peak distortions on only one ch, one always suspects anti-skating - eg. R-ch distortion tends to suggest inadequate anti-skating.

With a pivoted tonearm with angled headshell, the outward Skating force, together applied inward Anti-skating, tends to make cartridge tracking less than stable - because skating forces are always varying & never completely in balance. Some pundits don't bother with Anti-skating, esp with longer tonearms & less angular offset Try that, as an experiment.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Nov 9, 2017 20:16:32 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

With a pivoted tonearm with angled headshell, the outward Skating force, together applied inward Anti-skating, tends to make cartridge tracking less than stable - because skating forces are always varying & never completely in balance. Some pundits don't bother with Anti-skating, esp with longer tonearms & less angular offset Try that, as an experiment.

I had been wondering about that, especially since I now remember I did not adjust antiskate after installing the Denon DL103R.   Playing weight before that was 1.5gm and antiskate the same.  Denon weight 2.5, antiskate now adjusted to match, but hasn’t made any difference!  The distortion remains in R Chanel at peak levels.

tried listening with volume turned down, distortion still there.  If a problem with the cart, would be there on all records - it isn’t.  So must be some damage in the groove not visible to naked eye.  Those are the breaks buying 2nd hand - only cost $3, so no great loss.  Beautiful packaging and booklet, worth the money alone!

have yet to play the Carmen set -will need to set time aside for that - as fine weather is keeping me in the garden, and other chores, until 6pm each day.

Yes, a common problem with s/h records,... groove damage.

Does it happen with your own records?
If so...

- what tonearm used with the 103R?
- try more antiskating force.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Nov 11, 2017 11:23:07 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

Yes, a common problem with s/h records,... groove damage.

Does it happen with your own records?
If so...

- what tonearm used with the 103R?
- try more antiskating force.

No problem with any other records, just this one.  My collection is probably 95% bought 2nd hand - have close to 3000 - which is why the US RCM is such a boon!  

Have only bought about 5 new albums in the last seven years.  Edit - just counted them, there are seven!

I carefully look at the 2nd hand records before buying, and so far (since mid 90s) have had very few issues.

The 103R is set up on my Yamaha YP-D9 TT, the S shaped gimbal based tone arm is said to have 3mg vertical and 5mg horizontal sensitivity, so should be a good match for the cart.

When my Plinius 8150 is returned from Gary M, I will try playing the record again with one of my MM carts, see if it makes a difference.  I suspect that my cart is simply not handling the extreme modulations of the crescendo peaks.  On the  parts of the record on which distortion (a loud crackling/sizzle) occurs, the pattern of the grooves is markedly different to the rest of the record.  The rest of the record plays perfectly.

I noted that when adjusting antiskate, with arm raised above record, as I added more weight the arm gradually moved back toward the rest.  Antiskate is adjusted by turning the small weight to match one of the marks on the shaft - the marks indicate 1,2&3gms - see photo attached.  When I bought the TT I was told that the fine diameter cord attaching the antiskate lever to the tone arm had broken and had been replaced by a piece of fine diameter nylon fishing line.  Could that have upset things?

No, the cord should not make a difference, nylon is commonly used, as long as the weight is free to move without friction.

Skating force is inward, because of the offset angle of the tonearm-headshell - Anti-skating is applied outward, to balance it.


The R-ch information is cut on the outer groove wall.



I find that some records (s/hand) simply have groove damage - probably due to previous poor cartridge setup (eg. too low tracking weight, poor alignment).

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Nov 9, 2017 13:24:31 GMT 12 michaelw said:

mercury living presence sr90310 - balalaika favourites !

a landmark album of recordings by americans in russia.

Yep, I have that one on vinyl

Nov 13, 2017 11:42:46 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

I find that some records (s/hand) simply have groove damage - probably due to previous poor cartridge setup (eg. too low tracking weight, poor alignment).

From all that you have described sub I can only conclude the same - groove damage

Nov 12, 2017 8:41:38 GMT 12 sub said:

Nov 11, 2017 11:23:07 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

Yes, a common problem with s/h records,... groove damage.

Does it happen with your own records?
If so...

- what tonearm used with the 103R?
- try more antiskating force.

No problem with any other records, just this one.  My collection is probably 95% bought 2nd hand - have close to 3000 - which is why the US RCM is such a boon!  

Have only bought about 5 new albums in the last seven years.  Edit - just counted them, there are seven!

I carefully look at the 2nd hand records before buying, and so far (since mid 90s) have had very few issues.

The 103R is set up on my Yamaha YP-D9 TT, the S shaped gimbal based tone arm is said to have 3mg vertical and 5mg horizontal sensitivity, so should be a good match for the cart.

When my Plinius 8150 is returned from Gary M, I will try playing the record again with one of my MM carts, see if it makes a difference.  I suspect that my cart is simply not handling the extreme modulations of the crescendo peaks.  On the  parts of the record on which distortion (a loud crackling/sizzle) occurs, the pattern of the grooves is markedly different to the rest of the record.  The rest of the record plays perfectly.

I noted that when adjusting antiskate, with arm raised above record, as I added more weight the arm gradually moved back toward the rest.  Antiskate is adjusted by turning the small weight to match one of the marks on the shaft - the marks indicate 1,2&3gms - see photo attached.  When I bought the TT I was told that the fine diameter cord attaching the antiskate lever to the tone arm had broken and had been replaced by a piece of fine diameter nylon fishing line.  Could that have upset things?

Sorry just jumping in here, you say above that all your other records play fine and its only this one you have trouble with

Then i would definitely say its the record dont go changing the setup just for one record otherwise all the other records could be messed up - alignment wise

Trying to accomondate all pressings is impossible, just setup the tonearm/cartrigldge to the specifications you know work and leave it, its just a bad recording thays all

Chasing the perfect setup is only achievable if every pressing is perfect, unfortunately this is not the case, we would have better luck finding a unicorn

By the way just my thougths 😉

Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI