You don't mention anything about: A) if your deck has been properly cleaned / lubricated / worn-out parts replaced / adjusted prior to spinning vinyl. I think that Dual is over the 30 year age point, which means it'll need all of the above unless it's already been done; B) what phono section / preamp you're using, or any of the other related equipment. I think one of your post's mentioned "receiver", so I'm doubtfully wondering if the "receiver" 's phono section is anything to get excited about and is an important part of the reason for your current dissatisfaction. So, I further can't comment about impedance matching et al, very important parts of the sound reproduction chain. If your phono section sucks, you'll need to upgrade. So, I'm not sure I agree with your comment, Quote:
And it's not the receiver, since it sounds exactly the same on each phono input. |
BTW - just how many phono inputs does your receiver have? Are any MC, or only MM? Maybe you've got a ceramic section as well, my old Fisher receiver circa 1961 has one of those...
Furthermore, I got an excellent chuckle from reading this:
Quote:
The guy at my record shop gave me the impression that the cartridge really isn't that important, and that I'd be fine with a $20-40 one |
If he meant that you wouldn't be able to hear any difference between a $40 cartridge and $500 cartridge due to the quality of your deck and receiver, maybe due to the information he has that opinion is valid. Otherwise, I have no clue how he comes to that conclusion.
With the above in mind, I recommend:
1) first rechecking all TT set-up parameters - turntable / platter leveling; cartridge alignment, tracking force, VTA, azimuth (if adjustable); etc. [There are plenty of free protractors alignment devices available on the web, good place to start, and stay for quite a while, is The Vinyl Engine.] Anyway, remember to recheck the parameters if you change any of the above. Offhand I cannot remember if your rig is VTA-adjustable (my Rega P25 isn't, so I purchased and installed the Pete Riggle VTAF, with very favorable results). [NOTE: I love using Walker SST on the cartridge pins, ups detail retrieval
very nicely. You may want to consider cleaning the deck's RCA plugs; additionally, you can subsequently coat them with SST on them as well. CAUTION: APPLY SST ACCORDING TO WALKER'S DIRECTIONS ONLY! The aforementioned is in caps for good reason.]
2) getting / borrowing a HiFi News Test record. First use it to set the anti-skate. Then do the torture tracks and see how things sound / track. If it's not properly tracking all but the most difficult of the torture tracks, you've got problems.
3) determining what cartridges match optimally with your tonearm. Cartridge compliance is critical: it is important to know the compliance of the cartridge to determine which tonearm works best. Heavy arms need low compliance cartridges, light tonearms match with high compliance cartridges. Go to The Vinyl Engine, once you find out more about your tonearm, and check the cartridge database for optimal / acceptable matches.
Good luck. Sounds like you've got a lot of homework ahead of you, but that's the vinyl learning / tweaking curve. It's not for everyone.