Can a phono cable cause mistracking?

[Johnny Vinyl]

As some of you may know, I recently added the Morrow Audio PH5 phono cable and have been very pleased so far. However, a few days ago I cued up the Classic Records vinyl of Sarah McLachlan - Solice, and I discovered some serious mistracking or what I think is mistracking. For those of you who own this reissue you will know that it's very dynamic and has some serious low end. I've never before noticed anything abnormal with playback on this album, which leads me to thinking it must be the cable.

On average I play my vinyl between -20dB/-25dB and if I really want to rock out I set it at -15dB, but never more. I've never experienced any issues with any of my vinyl at these levels. What I'm hearing can best be described as a heavy rumble or thudding when it comes to very low frequency passages. There is no skipping that I can make out nor do I visually detect any odd tracking movements. In order to play this LP without issue it needs to be dialed back to -25dB and that's just not acceptable to me.

I'm also thinking it could be a combination of the PH5 cable and possibly that my TT needs more vibration and/or isolation control. I'm just making a stab in the dark here though.

Hopefully I can find a solution, but that will depend on some advice or thoughts from you. I sincerely welcome your input, so let 'er rip!

Thanks,
Johnny

[Goheelz]

I use a fairly heavy Harmonic Technology cable on my unsprung VPI Aries, and I notice that the weight hanging off the tonearm RCA connectors is significant. Here's why I notice: The turntable sits on a Gingko Cloud platform, and unless the cable is dressed properly for support, the weight of the cable can actually change the leveling of the platter a bit by titling the softly-sprung Gingko Cloud platform. If you have a turntable with suspension of some kind, I can see how the level might change with heavy tonearm cabling.

Not sure what you mean by "minus 15db"; in actual dB measurement, for comparison with others that is, how loud are you cranking things? This would give some idea of the sort of acoustical feedback situation you might have (a situation that in my case I was trying to address with the Gingko Cloud).

[Rust]

I doubt a change from one phono cable to another could cause a cartridge to mistrack. Does this happen only with this particular LP? If so then it is likely the LP itself. Mistracking would not be visible to the naked eye, the movements are much to small. It is possible that the cartridge isn't capable of tracking certain cuts, or the LP is defective, or that it is mechanical noise from the table (less likely if it is the only LP this occurs on). The new cable may allow more low frequency transfer which allows this to be audible.

I've noticed that some of the McLachlan recordings have a lot of deep synth bass which could possibly cause mistracking. The LP could also be defective. You may want to double check your cartridge alignment and tracking force. You could try playing the LP on someone else's system to see if it is unique to your setup. But if the problem is unique to that LP, it's probably that LP.

Oh, and as Goheelz mentions, insure your table is not pulled off level by the cable.

[JCOConnell]

Is there a significant difference in mechanical rigidity between your new and old phono cables? maybe the new cables are much more flexible/compliant allowing the table to vibrate more easily?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I use a fairly heavy Harmonic Technology cable on my unsprung VPI Aries, and I notice that the weight hanging off the tonearm RCA connectors is significant. Here's why I notice: The turntable sits on a Gingko Cloud platform, and unless the cable is dressed properly for support, the weight of the cable can actually change the leveling of the platter a bit by titling the softly-sprung Gingko Cloud platform. If you have a turntable with suspension of some kind, I can see how the level might change with heavy tonearm cabling.

Not sure what you mean by "minus 15db"; in actual dB measurement, for comparison with others that is, how loud are you cranking things? This would give some idea of the sort of acoustical feedback situation you might have (a situation that in my case I was trying to address with the Gingko Cloud).

It's definitely not the weight of the cable, so I can eliminate the possibility of that being an issue. One of the previous cables I used (Valab/King) were considerably heavier.

My IA is calibrated in MINUS dB the louder the volume is set. At -15dB it plays fairly loud, but without causing any room issues. I use this level maybe 20% of the time.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I doubt a change from one phono cable to another could cause a cartridge to mistrack. Does this happen only with this particular LP? If so then it is likely the LP itself. Mistracking would not be visible to the naked eye, the movements are much to small. It is possible that the cartridge isn't capable of tracking certain cuts, or the LP is defective, or that it is mechanical noise from the table (less likely if it is the only LP this occurs on). The new cable may allow more low frequency transfer which allows this to be audible.

I've noticed that some of the McLachlan recordings have a lot of deep synth bass which could possibly cause mistracking. The LP could also be defective. You may want to double check your cartridge alignment and tracking force. You could try playing the LP on someone else's system to see if it is unique to your setup. But if the problem is unique to that LP, it's probably that LP.

Oh, and as Goheelz mentions, insure your table is not pulled off level by the cable.

I haven't tried her other LP's yet, but I'm quite sure it's not the LP itself as this record has been played through various systems of varying quality and this is the first time I've experienced the issue.I think, like you suggested or thought, that the cable is allowing more low frequency signals.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Is there a significant difference in mechanical rigidity between your new and old phono cables? maybe the new cables are much more flexible/compliant allowing the table to vibrate more easily?

I don't know what you mean by mechanical rigidity. I haven't noticed any physical differences.

[JCOConnell]

I haven't tried her other LP's yet, but I'm quite sure it's not the LP itself as this record has been played through various systems of varying quality and this is the first time I've experienced the issue.I think, like you suggested or thought, that the cable is allowing more low frequency signals.

regarding frequency responses of cables, ususally the most common differences would be in the highs due to differences in capacitance. It would be very unusual for one cable to pass more lows than another relatively speaking.

[JCOConnell]

I don't know what you mean by mechanical rigidity. I haven't noticed any physical differences.

was the old cable physically stiffer?

[Johnny Vinyl]

no.

[mep]

Johnny-How about posting a picture of your table and the tonearm cable that shows how the tonearm cable is hooked up and routed?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Johnny-How about posting a picture of your table and the tonearm cable that shows how the tonearm cable is hooked up and routed?

That's gonna be tough (if not impossible) as my rack is only about a foot from the wall and I couldn't take a shot of both component connections together. I assure you though it's not the connections as I have a clean line (and securely & accurately connected) going between the TT and the IA. It's not a cable stress issue.

[mep]

Does your new cable actually plug into the bottom of your arm or is is your phono cable terminated on both ends with RCA connectors.

[Johnny Vinyl]

RCA connectors on both ends. The arm wiring goes to a junction box attached to the bottom of the plinth. The phono cable is attached to it.

[MylesBAstor]

As some of you may know, I recently added the Morrow Audio PH5 phono cable and have been very pleased so far. However, a few days ago I cued up the Classic Records vinyl of Sarah McLachlan - Solice, and I discovered some serious mistracking or what I think is mistracking. For those of you who own this reissue you will know that it's very dynamic and has some serious low end. I've never before noticed anything abnormal with playback on this album, which leads me to thinking it must be the cable.

On average I play my vinyl between -20dB/-25dB and if I really want to rock out I set it at -15dB, but never more. I've never experienced any issues with any of my vinyl at these levels. What I'm hearing can best be described as a heavy rumble or thudding when it comes to very low frequency passages. There is no skipping that I can make out nor do I visually detect any odd tracking movements. In order to play this LP without issue it needs to be dialed back to -25dB and that's just not acceptable to me.

I'm also thinking it could be a combination of the PH5 cable and possibly that my TT needs more vibration and/or isolation control. I'm just making a stab in the dark here though.

Hopefully I can find a solution, but that will depend on some advice or thoughts from you. I sincerely welcome your input, so let 'er rip!

Thanks,
Johnny

Could it be you are getting more bass from your system and you are getting feedback that way?

Did you try for the hell of it going back to your old cable?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Could it be you are getting more bass from your system and you are getting feedback that way?

Did you try for the hell of it going back to your old cable?

I am indeed getting more bass, but I don't know how feedback plays into that.

Putting the old cables back was already in the back of my mind, so I'll be doing that today. I'm also going to give the other CR reissues of Sarah's albums a spin.

[MylesBAstor]

I am indeed getting more bass, but I don't know how feedback plays into that.

Putting the old cables back was already in the back of my mind, so I'll be doing that today. I'm also going to give the other CR reissues of Sarah's albums a spin.

You are now getting low frequencies that are disturbing the table.