could be your turntable overloading your amp... what is your beogram 1800 connected to? 

Andrew

I don't think that's the problem, but maybe I'm wrong. The Beogram 1800 is connected to a Musical Fidelity V-LPS phono stage, which in turn is connected to an Anthem TLP-1 preamp and a B&K ST-140 power amp.

Thoughts:

Is the tracking weight OK?

Is the loading on your pre-amp correct? Should be 47Kohm (I seem to remember!) and the capacitance is also important - I'll have to look that up at home!)

I'll check the loading and capacitance on the pre-amp. Not sure if the tracking weight is ok. After having the MM5 rebuilt by Alex, it's now something of a different animal than a regular MM5. I'll check the weight I have it set at and report back.

Still having this problem: distortion at the loudest parts of (mostly) female vocals. The tracking is set correctly for a MMC5 at 1.5g. As for the loading and capacitance of the phono-stage, here are the specs:

• Input impedance: MM 47K ohm; MC 100 ohm
• Input sensitivity: MM 3.5 mV; MC 450 uV for 300 mV out
• Total harmonic distortion: MM 0.01%; MC 0.01% @1kHz, 300 mV out
• Signal / noise ratio: MM >80 dB; MC >70dB "A" weighted
• Input overload margin: MM 15 dB; MC 22 dB

Anyone have any more thoughts on the above?

Peter -- Do you have any suggestions for what I might try to correct this?

Not sure how/why this would be an intermittent problem, but once again I have distortion on the loudest parts of vocals. Only difference between the last time I posted about this and now is that it also happens with a rebuilt MMC2! Help?

The usual problem is going to be wear. Obviously not the case with your new MMC2. Axel suggests his cartridges track at a slightly heavier weight - my MMC5000s track best at about 1.3g. In the first event, I would increase the weight. Have you checked that the scale on the tone arm is accurate?