Well, assuming your computer is making the files correctly and you're a big enough Shalamar fan to know what's going on then its a defective pressing. However, if this one is too fast that every single one made by that stamper and all stampers made from the master are exactly the same way so it would be a very well documented issue.

Records aren't an exact science, but they are an EXTREMELY simple one. If its fast and the TT is spinning the correct speed then the record is defective. It goes around. At 33-1/3. It hit the same spot in the song with the exact same frequency every time.

Of course this another situation where a "real" turntable would be helpful. Belt driven decks are, more or less, incapable of playing at the wrong pitch due to the way they are designed and most direct drive decks have strobes on them for minute adjustment/verification. An Ion USB deck...just kind of leaves you in the dark.

Again, how old is your stylus? If its Reagan-era and has 10,000 plays on it then jacking up the pressure is just going to shred records. If this is the one that came with the TT when it was made (30 years ago?) it might be time to change it. If its the pack in one then change it anyway. You can get much much better stuff for $60 or so, even with the p-mount. For a low cost cart that is really good (but not very loud, to be honest) check out http://www.needledoctor.com/Grado-Black ... gory=16684

Most stylus have a recommended operating pressure. For home use its usually somewhere between 1.5 and 2.5. More pressure will get you more volume, less pressure will reduce wear.

The point of my story about jacking up the pressure was that I was repairing a record. I literally machined a defect out of the groove. I knew there was blockage there because I could actually see it. Unless you are a battle DJ you don't want that kind of stylus pressure! It maxes out the suspension on the stylus and wrecks the records.

Heh, "wreckords".

It sounds the same speed whether played ripped to my computer or through my receiver.

Regardless of the deck being an Ion turntable, it's the only one that sounds fast out of all my LPs

Then either it's detective or you are imagining it. Have you tried sampling the same songs from another source, something free like YouTube or the previews in iTunes?

Yup. Which is why I can say it sounds faster.

Ok, looks like I've got part of the answer now. I played my copy on a friend's turntable and it played fine so it must be something up with my turntable and not a dodgy pressing. I'll be moving house at the beginning of May so I think once I've got my system set up I'll give the turntable a bit of a tune up which it will need anyway after a move.

In regards to the stylus it is about 10 years old but was practically unused for most of that and has only been used again regularly in the last three years, however as part of the tune up I'll be replacing it with a new one.

Thanks for all the advise and tips guys, I'll let you know how it goes once I'm in the new place.