Quote from: Zeno Marx on June 03, 2011, 04:15:25 AM
GZ was never known for warping, but they are the kings of non-fill/minuscule bubbles that cause an extraordinary amount of crackling and popping. It's particularly terrible with their opaque colors and white vinyl.
??? I have never seen or heard about this. I see it all the time on Master Media pressed vinyl (germany). There is plenty of that. And too many times out-of-central pressings too. A lot of metal gets done there.
There is some occult mysteries with the turntable. I used to have Technics DJ turntable, and I had couple vinyl, which had lock groove if I listened with that. No amount of needle weight would get through them. Changing any setting or changing needle made no difference.
IF I listened same album with ANY one turntable, it would play perfect. This issue was shown and tested with experienced vinyl fetishist friends. And nobody could believe it. There appeared to be no explanation why this simply system as turntable is, would have such a weird quality. Vinyl show nothing, and plays perfect with everything else. I recall it was old Rotting Christ 12", so not talking about some new shabbily done pressings, but early 90's.
I sold the turntable since I got irritated. Now I operate with Pro-Ject turntable, which requires like 3 times less needleweight that the common DJ turntables, and never skips, bounces, jumps, etc.. One would need to check out the needle & turntable settings what is accurate weight. For some it is more and for some it is less.
QuoteTonearm:
Mass Adjustment
Be sure your tonearm has adjustable tracking weight. Arms that lack an adjustable counterweight are built only for a single model of cartridge and may cause big tracking problems. To adjust tracking weight, first calibrate the mass to zero. Dial the counterweight away from the pivot point until the tonearm floats perfectly level, with the stylus at the level of the record's playing surface. Hold the counterweight still and set the dial at zero. Then, spin the counterweight in until the dial reads the mass specified by the cartridge manufacturer. Normal audiophile cartridges typically track at 1.0 to 1.5 grams; club DJ cartridges can range from 3 to 5 grams; and 78 rpm styli should be weighted at 3 grams. But these are general guidelines. Follow the manufacturer's specification. Running the tracking weight too light can be as bad, or worse, than running it too heavy.
About this Ashpool... you have Yellow Tears 12"? When I first listened it, I thought is this going to break my turntable? I mean, the physical shaking of tonearm is brutal. To me, it simply looks like the groove is so strong, it makes whole tonearm shake franticly. If it would be badly calibrated turntable, possibly would just skip in moment when groove takes wild turns...? Really good record anyways!