I have a Project Essential. It was fine at first (a few months back), then it started getting distorted. Found through the internet the cartridge wasn't aligned properly. Fiddled with the screws a bit on the top of the catridge and then it was fine again magically. Now it's being a dick and distorting on even new LP's (like most of smog's knock knock, especially in the middle tracks, vocals are TCH-ey). Tried tightening the screws again but I just seem to be making it either better/worse at varying parts of the record (I understand I'm probably just fucking it up).

Tempted to take it to an audio specialist and ask them to do it for me, any advice on an easy way of approaching this?