# Help! My turntable is distorting on sibilance and high frequencies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050 "2008-03-12T00:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/1 "2008-03-12T00:39:10Z")
The turntable is a standard Technics 1200 mk2 (or m3d, I can’t remember - it’s the regular 1200 with the pitch reset button next to the slider). The cartridge is a standard shure square-style cartridge with a little headshell around it - not one of those long pointed ones like the ortofons or whatever. This is running into a basic [rolls phono preamp like this one](http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=245-035) and the output of that is running into a home stereo receiver. I’m getting a terribe “shhhh”-style distortion and fuzzing of sibilants; any s-sound in sung vocals, any cymbals, high frequencies, etc. So if someone sings “simle,” I’m hearing “schhmile.” Sounds awful. Is happening on old records and brand new just-taken-out-of-the-wrapper records equally. Do I need to replace the actual stylus, or is this a cartridge issue? I generally keep my records brushed and the stylus free of crap, but I haven’t changed the actual stylus in this cartridge for about five years or so. Is that likely to be the issue? What sort of other issue could it be - the cartridge as a whole? Some of my mechanical settings? I was thinking about switching to one of those long ones like [this one](http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ortofon-Concorde-DJ-S-Turntable-Cartridge-Set-?sku=801205&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26049830) - not the model, just the style - anyway. 1. Help with problem. 2. Suggest a good cartridge in that “long finger” style for basic home listening on average equipment (non-audiophile). ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/2 "2008-03-12T02:20:35Z")
Turntable? What’s that? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/3 "2008-03-12T03:18:11Z")
You can try cleaning the contacts. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/4 "2008-03-12T03:34:41Z")
I’m thinking its the needle. Back in the day I had a turntable (and a buggy whip and an ear trumpet), and the needle does wear out and start cutting grooves in your vinyl and sounding like crapola. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/5 "2008-03-12T04:36:29Z")
Unless you’ve only played it very infrequently 5 years is well past a normal (even high quality) needle’s useful life if used regularly. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/6 "2008-03-12T17:36:34Z")
Yeah, I’m going to just try replacing the stylus. I’m looking to make an eventual lifestyle change with the whole cartridge, though. Can anyone recommend a good replacement cartridge for regular home listening? ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/7 "2008-03-12T19:40:32Z")
I used to work in radio back when turntables still had an option for 78rpm. Of course, radio went semi-digital in the 80’s with CDs and the ClearChannel ate the world. My vinyls are stored in the basement and I haven’t had a turntable for… oh 20 years now, but when I did, and as long as we still had turntables (Technics 1200 BTW) Ortofon was the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/8 "2008-03-13T05:56:46Z")
I haven’t unpacked my vinyl in about 12 years. I see there are now USB turntables - maybe I’ll rent one and convert my disks to digital. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-turntable-is-distorting-on-sibilance-and-high-frequencies/441050/9 "2008-03-13T06:51:32Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] I’m thinking its the needle. [/QUOTE] Seconded by a jukebox repairman.