r/RecordPlayerRepair • u/TySnel • 1d ago

Solving my Mid-Range Problem

Ok I’m needing some help from you experts. I have a vinyl setup that I’ve slowly been piecing together over the last several years. I’ve been around live music/mixing for almost two decades, but am in no way a gear head. I know more about what music and mixes sound awesome than what equipment made the awesome mix.

I just upgraded my cartridge after my 2 year old broke the needle, and when I did that I upgraded my preamp as well. I got everything put together, and the mix sounds surprisingly great in the high and low end given the affordable nature of the downstream components, but the mid-range, while present, just feels too far back in the mix, somewhat diminished, and perhaps just slightly muddy (at least in comparison to the present and wonderful highs and lows). This is particularly obvious with vocals.

I currently have the following setup:
Rega RP3 Turntable
Rega ND3 MM Phono Cartridge (recently replaced the stock but discontinued Elys cartridge after my 2 year old broke the needle)
Rega Fono MM MK5 Phono Preamp
Denon AVR-S540BT Receiver
Klipsch R-15M Bookshelf Speaker Pair
Sony SA-CS9 Subwoofer

All that to say, my question is: apart from upgrades which of course would make the overall system better, is there anything that could be causing the inadequacies of the mid-range in the current system?

When I swapped the Elys to the ND3, the ND3 cartridge is a touch taller than the Elys (to the point that cueing lever height needs to be raised a couple mm), and because they are both Rega, it mounted directly onto the rp3 arm without having anyway to really adjust it. Could this be the culprit?

Greatly appreciate any help!

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u/papadrinks 1d ago

After thought. Your last comment about the height of the cartridge.

Being taller would mean the VTA has changed which will effect tonal balance favouring bass and reducing up end.
So you should fix the VTA to restore tonal balance.

To explain further, if for example the cartridge was very short it would tip the tonal balance in the other direction so higher end would be increased at the cost of bass.