Dual 1218 Tracking Issue

[pcxt21]

Recently got a hold of a Dual 1218. When through and re lubricated it, per the service manual in the Library. Then I replaced the steuerpimpel and made a few adjustments. However I've been noticing that near then end of records especially Close to the Edge the audio specifically the vocals and high frequencies become....distorted almost tinny. For reference I'm currently running my 1218 with a Shure M97xE and have it aligned per the protractor that came in the box. I'm just wondering if anything on the Dual may be causing this? Any help would be appreciated I'm somewhat new to turntables and this is my first Dual.

[Alec124c41]

Recently got a hold of a Dual 1218. When through and re lubricated it, per the service manual in the Library. Then I replaced the steuerpimpel and made a few adjustments. However I've been noticing that near then end of records especially Close to the Edge the audio specifically the vocals and high frequencies become....distorted almost tinny. For reference I'm currently running my 1218 with a Shure M97xE and have it aligned per the protractor that came in the box. I'm just wondering if anything on the Dual may be causing this? Any help would be appreciated I'm somewhat new to turntables and this is my first Dual.

If you are referring to the plastic jig for positioning the cartridge, I found that (with my Duals) positioning the stylus at the midpoint of the open side of the V, rather than at the vertex, sounded better.

Cheers,
Alec

[mmarston]

Recently got a hold of a Dual 1218. When through and re lubricated it, per the service manual in the Library. Then I replaced the steuerpimpel and made a few adjustments. However I've been noticing that near then end of records especially Close to the Edge the audio specifically the vocals and high frequencies become....distorted almost tinny. For reference I'm currently running my 1218 with a Shure M97xE and have it aligned per the protractor that came in the box. I'm just wondering if anything on the Dual may be causing this? Any help would be appreciated I'm somewhat new to turntables and this is my first Dual.

Every US Atlantic pressing of "Close to the Edge" that I've had (3 copies) sounds fairly tinny & harsh in the last few minutes of (especially) side 1. Alignment helps, but can't entirely eliminate it. I think some of it must be on the master tape, as even the CD seems to have some of it. It sounds to me as if engineer Eddy Offord may have deliberately underbiased the tapes to increase treble response.

Just my 2 cents. Try Alec's suggestion, if it sounds good on other albums, you're good.

Best,
Mike

[lini]

Alec: I fear he rather refers to the protractor that comes with the M97xE...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

[pcxt21]

I do. However recently I decided to try the Stevenson protractor from here. Seems to work better on my new copy of Fragile. So do you folk recommend any later pressings of Close to The Edge that may have been mastered differently?

EDIT: Had another thought looking at a Dual 1219 owners tonearm problems. Does anyone know if the 1218 is also capable of being a stacker? Is it possible that the system which adjusts the tonearm height to compensate for stacking records is causing a tracking force issue?

[josephazannieri]

Yo pcxt21:

I would check one additional thing on this unit. Watch the cartridge as it gets toward the center of the record, when it starts to distort. Get your eyes down close to the turntable so you can watch the stylus. See if the stylus is being pulled sideways by the changer trip mechanism. What will happen is that the stylus will move toward the center of the record as it is being drawn there by the grooves, but the arm, which is dragging a little, will stay behind. Your Shure is a high compliance cart that can be pulled some distance sideways by a dragging arm mechanism. If you observe closely and this is happening, you will see it right away. This will cause considerable distortion.

This sort of sideways pull is corrected by checking the arm mechanism to be sure that it moves freely and does not hang up as changer mechainsm gets toward end of record. Could be sticky grease, or changer trip mechanism hanging up. Misalignment will not be as big a distortion producing problem as arm drag.

And good luck from that draggy old guy,

Joe Z.

[mmarston]

I do. However recently I decided to try the Stevenson protractor from here. Seems to work better on my new copy of Fragile. So do you folk recommend any later pressings of Close to The Edge that may have been mastered differently?

(snip...)

There is a ten year old thread on the Steve Hoffman board about this... the OP concluded there was no "best" among those sampled... http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=5349

MM

[pcxt21]

Yo pcxt21:

Your Shure is a high compliance cart that can be pulled some distance sideways by a dragging arm mechanism. If you observe closely and this is happening, you will see it right away. This will cause considerable distortion.


Joe Z.

Just as you suspected my tonearm is binding. I noticed it ever so slightly today while listening. What parts in particular am i looking for when i get the Dual apart?

[gg383]

The 1218 is a stacker and should have came with the adjustable carrier with s-single pointing up for single play or m-multiple pointing up for stacking. If you don't stack you can use a regular carrier. The adjustible carrier has problems with breakage now, old plastic and springs connected to tiny nubs, use the regular carriers and spin single! I think the adjustable is TK 27 I had one break on me and it ended up in the multiple position. Don't waste your time & money on them unless you insist on stacking, in the m setting they are still just a compromise. Glenn.

[josephazannieri]

Yo pcxt21:

Arm binding can be caused by cartridge wires hanging up under bottom of turntable, or by other things. Take off turntable and watch the trigger lever from the tonearm as arm moves across the record. Hold arm a little above where it would ride if there were a record on turntable and move it slowly across in the path it would follow if playing a record. Feel motion of arm and see if it drags all the way across or if it hangs up at some point. If you move arm slowly, with a very light touch, you should be able to feel whether it drags generally or hangs up. If it drags generally, you will need to check all arm pivot points and be sure they move freely, and you may have to loosen pivot points and lubricate them with a penetrating solvent, like Wd-40. If the arm hangs up, you should be able to see what is hanging it up. I think it might be the trip pawl that engages the cog wheel that drives the changer cam. You can usually free that up with penetrant and by cleaning it out. Trip pawl should move VERY easily. Take a look at 1218 service manual on this website for help identifying arm pivots and trip mechanisms.

And good luck from the easy old arm watcher,

Joe Z.

[pcxt21]

Well I know its been a while but I've managed to solve it. As it turns out it was bottom tonearm bearing was dirty and dry. I managed to clean it with a qtip and some 91% Isopropyl alcohol. Then I hit all 4 bearing points with a dropper full of 10W-30 Synthetic motor oil. Boom binding is gone. I shall mark this thread [SOLVED] for further pilgrims of the 1218. Many thanks for your assistance in diagnosing the problem!