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I've just opened a new Sumiko Pearl cartridge ordered from Needle Doctor and mounted it on two turntables: 1) Pioneer PL-15D 2) Lenco L75 w/ Linn Basik LVX. My setups are pretty meticulous. I use a laser level/pointer to align the site line on the Turntable Basics mirrored protractor and a Shure stylus force gauge. Then I use the Hi-Fi News Test Lp. I've been testing cartridges and listening to them today as follows: The best tracker is the Ortofon OM20, which will seamlessly track all three torture test bands on the lp. Second best is a vintage Shure M91ED with original stylus. Then a Stanton 681EEE with immaculate original stylus that I just got. And finally, the brand new Sumiko Pearl. This cartridge, no matter how much I play with setup, anti-skate, or stylus force, will not even pass the first band on the test lp without failing miserably. I've tried it on both tables/arms. How could this be? I hardly ever buy new cartridges. Is this something to do with the suspension needing to loosen up? Is this normal? If so, how long should I break it in to expect it to start tracking well and which record should I destroy in the process? Unfortunately, aside from the horrible results on the test lp...the cartridge sounds pretty wonderful. But it seems to me that we have another Grado here...something with nice, vivid midrange and smooth tonality that is ultimately useless unless you don't mind creating piles of groove damage. I must have good tracking ability. Your comments/thoughts?
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Topic - Sumiko Pearl fails tracking test miserably out of box. Is this normal? - Mr Blue Sky 19:19:22 06/23/12 (25)
- RE: Sumiko Pearl fails tracking test miserably out of box. Is this normal? - Larry I 05:47:29 06/25/12 (0)
- UPDATE: Sumiko Pearl is now tracking well on the following table/arm: - Mr Blue Sky 19:11:35 06/24/12 (2)
- "It must be because the other two are garbage" ... - reelsmith. 06:24:13 06/25/12 (1)
- RE: "It must be because the other two are garbage" ... - Mr Blue Sky 22:12:17 06/25/12 (0)
- Ed is correct... - Doug G. 12:21:20 06/24/12 (3)
- I disagree. - Hergest Ridge 20:36:36 06/24/12 (2)
- Methinks you are missing the point... - EdAInWestOC 05:23:22 06/25/12 (1)
- I'm not - Hergest Ridge 00:18:42 06/26/12 (0)
- Couple questions... - rebop 04:02:51 06/24/12 (2)
- RE: Couple questions... - Mr Blue Sky 14:05:34 06/24/12 (1)
- RE: Couple questions... - rebop 15:55:40 06/24/12 (0)
- I want to be nice about this but I have to say it like it is... - EdAInWestOC 20:31:11 06/23/12 (8)
- yup, send it back - hifitommy 01:19:15 06/24/12 (0)
- I just got a DL110 - Macromusic 20:53:34 06/23/12 (0)
- I absolutely agree with everything you've said BUT... - Mr Blue Sky 20:47:45 06/23/12 (5)
- RE: I absolutely agree with everything you've said BUT... - AnalogJ 18:46:20 06/24/12 (1)
- That sounds reasonable... - EdAInWestOC 05:26:03 06/25/12 (0)
- If you had a DL-110 and DL-103 and they were both bright... - EdAInWestOC 22:37:42 06/23/12 (1)
- Agreed (nt) - jbcortes 03:35:12 06/24/12 (0)
- DL103 bright? Wow... - kuma 21:17:59 06/23/12 (0)
- RE: Sumiko Pearl fails tracking test miserably out of box. Is this normal? - Mr Blue Sky 20:10:23 06/23/12 (2)
- Its worse than that... - EdAInWestOC 03:07:15 06/24/12 (0)
- RE: Sumiko Pearl fails tracking test miserably out of box. Is this normal? - krenzler 00:53:05 06/24/12 (0)
- Forget about test records. How does it track heavily modulated sections - Opus 104 20:00:54 06/23/12 (0)
- RE: Sumiko Pearl fails tracking test miserably out of box. Is this normal? - Hergest Ridge 19:52:04 06/23/12 (0)