Ortofon Virtus - belly touching the record while playing

[Vinai1964]

I got a big problem with Ortofon Virtus Cartridge (recently bought from ebay.) I set up the cartridge according to spec (2.0gram weight) cartridge parallel to disk at static loading, alignment correct, azimuth correct. Even at static, the clearance between the record surface and the belly of the cartridge is just 0.5mm as shown in the photo.

I was told this cartridge is similar to MC20. So, I would like to ask the MC20 owner for opinion whether this looks right?

I played some records, using 2.0 gram, and I can hear the belly scraping the record surface. Things improved just tiny bit when I reduced the weight to 1.8 grams.

Comparing the actual Vs the brochure picture, there seems to be nothing wrong with the cartridge, however.

I mount this on Sony PS-X60 and arm mass is 25 g with its original headshell. I changed to a lighter headshell-weigh 4 grams less and that’s the best I think for this set up.

[billshurv]

That does look rather like a collapsed suspension or bent cantilever.

[Vinai1964]

Here is another view of the cartridge and cantilever. Any comment?

Billshurv,
That's what I thought but the music comes out alright though. I compared to Ortofon MC15 Super II and there is very little difference. (The MC15 Super II sounds a bit better, though.). So, I am thinking it is the suspension and not the cantilever.

[billshurv]

Did you manage to take a comparative shot of the other cart.

[Vinai1964]

Look like the construction is different. MC15 Super II has aluminum tube and flat tip. The Virtus has tapered aluminum tube and the stylus tip is placed in a hole drilled into that tube.

The VTA looks different though. From the document that I have, the VTA for the Virtus was not specified.

[billshurv]

VTA is 20 degrees according to the manual . Replicant stylus. Nice.

Not sure I can Help anymore though. Sorry.

[Vinai1964]

Billshurv, thank you for trying. I will just play this cartridge with new records with warpage <1mm and at 1.8g. That gives minimum “belly touching record.”

[andre]

Don't know this cart, guessing a few years old. Looks like collapsed suspension. Have just sold a MC15 super that was probably at least 10 or 12 years old. Still sounded great and suspension was fine.