mjw
(Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)
1
I have a copy of Have One On Me by Joanna Newsom, and since first purchasing in 2010, I was very disappointed with the pressing, so much so that I bought a digital copy and left the box set on the shelf.
Anyway, I’ve just put it through an ultrasonic cleaner … and it’s still not good. But the issue sounds familiar. Just like a misaligned cartridge or off-level deck.
So, I checked the spindle hole, and found it to be oversize with movement on my deck.
How can I fix this? Any ideas?
Edit
Noise on left channel, and is prominent on first track off each side. It repeats each revolution.
My Orbe has a screw down clamp, so if there any movement on the spindle, the record position can be set and held during playback.
There are a few tools available to make records centre on the platter, try ‘record centring tool’ as a search.
Also if you want to go wild there is the ’ DS Audio DS 001 Eccentricity Detection/Correction Device’, which sets the centring electronically.
I also had a pressing with the spindle hole not in the centre of the record - right size for a good fit but several millimetres off the center - sounded very wrong. Got some strange looks in the record shop, as I was returning it for a replacement because ‘the centre hole is not in the record centre’ - the assistant did not understand or have a clue of why this was an issue.
Also had issue with two labels on the record, with a second over the inner grooves making it unplayable.
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mjw
(Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)
3
I don’t have a clamp. Pro-Ject do a clamp that’ll fit my deck, so I guess I could give that a try.
I’d hoped to find a sleeve that would fit over the spindle. I’ll do a little more searching, and see what I come up with.
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AceRimmer
(Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!)
4
I’m not convinced you’ll hear $9,000 worth of improvement in sound quality, but go for it. If this is the advice you get for a record with center hole to large. My advice is buy another copy of the record, or two, or three, or 100’s to find the one that does fit and still save money.
3 Likes
AceRimmer
(Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!)
9
@mjw get a plastic drinking straw, usually 6mm diameter. Cut off 2 or 3 pieces about 6mm long. Run a sharp knife down them so they go over your TT spindle, usually 7.1mm.
Offset the splits so the record sits centrally and you can add as many as needed depending on the oversized hole.
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mjw
(Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)
12
Now that is a good idea. I tried tin foil, but it’s not made like it used to be.
Unfortunately, a certain fast food chain no longer uses plastic straws. I’ll look in the car glove box.
I would use this as more permanent solution… thermoplastic. You can warm up a piece in hot water , plug it into the spindle hole re-sizing the hole. let cool down, test the fitting after cool and it comes in different colors masking it’s use. Just a thought.
I think the standard spindle is 7mm or so. How much bigger is the centre hole in the record?
Anyways, i seriously doubt you’ll find remedy for the distorted noise you mention, by centering. Maybe other aspects, but not that…
mjw
(Here I am with a brain the size of a planet and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper. Call that job satisfaction? I don't.)
16
I suspect the hole is something like 0.2 mm oversized. I have checked a few albums, and quite a few are lose on the spindle albeit not so much as this Joanna Newsom box set.
I’m going to try @Mr.Flibble’s suggestion as this is most likely to centre on the spindle.
But, I suspect the issue is with the pressing, which only seems to affect the first track on each side. However, I may revisit cartridge alignment even though other records play just fine.
Check eBay; there are hundreds for around $30. And remember, turning parts isn’t rocket science. I bought my clamp for $25 from a Chinese seller—the wooden box was certainly worth more than the tool itself.
As a side note… what a fantastic artist! I’d never heard of her before and was curious to hear what kind of music she makes. After the initial shock of that incredible voice, I’m now on to her third album thanks to Tidal… Her style and voice are strongly reminiscent of early Kate Bush, but her virtuosity and complex compositions are similar to those of the Southern Italian Renaissance. Listen to the album “La Tarantella: Antidotum Tarantulae” by Christina Pluhar’s L’Arpeggiata and you’ll be hooked…
I’m not convinced you’ll hear $9,000 worth of improvement in sound quality, but go for it. If this is the advice you get for a record with center hole to large. My advice is buy another copy of the record, or two, or three, or 100’s to find the one that does fit and still save money. 
