Angsty
Well-Known Member
Which alignment are you using with the VM95ML? Is it the Pioneer standard?
Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?
- Thread starter imajindat
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HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
Used a Geodisc, as I always do. Sitting I believe as far forward on the Jelco as it can, or very close to it.
theflattire
Active Member
resurrected
theflattire
Active Member
from someone's junk pile...
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Mounted the Hana ML on the second Traveler - a much more fair fight! Now, the ML sounds at least as good as the SL. I’m getting more detail from the ML than from the SL, depending on where I set VTF. The ML is indeed even more setup sensitive than the SL, in my opinion.
I need to run the ML for at least 50 hours before I can really compare. I can say the change of table (and alignment) has brought out more of the quality of the ML, without a doubt.
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
The SL is still one of my all time favorite carts, I've never owned the ML and most that I know have owned one or the other, so my interest lies in your opinion of if the ML is "worth" the extra scratch. I know the ML is "Better", but I think you get my question
Angsty
Well-Known Member
In my set-ups with my turntables, the answer is no. It's possible that with a higher-end turntable, or a "higher resolution" system, or with more precise set-up that the differences could be more dramatic. When I have to replace the ML, it's likely to be replaced with a SL.The SL is still one of my all time favorite carts, I've never owned the ML and most that I know have owned one or the other, so my interest lies in your opinion of if the ML is "worth" the extra scratch. I know the ML is "Better", but I think you get my question
I was originally looking for a second SL when the ML became available at a big discount, so I did not purchase the ML at MSRP.
As stupid as it sounds, the only reason I would jump at a Hana ML from my current SL bliss is the oh-so convenient handling of a threaded cartridge body. I know it's a common design that's not a specific to the SL, but those tiny nuts drive me nuts. Almost worth the extra scratch just to never handle them again.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
I am thinking the EL may be my next cart for the StudioDeck. Honestly a little more than I’d like to spend on a cart for my second system, but all accounts with that MoFi/Hana combo, think I have to give it a try.
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
I'm not running a Hana, but the SAE is apparently a pretty close relative, and I love it.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
I do have the E and had been saving it for the next cart on the VPI, but it’s a possibility!
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
Given that the only difference between the E and LT appears to be the stylus profile, I would consider getting it retipped with a line contact when the time comes.
I have the LT stored away for when my SL reaches its end. Looking forward to hearing what it can do!
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
PSA - Much like coming to the realization that the Technics "jig" is the best way to align a cartridge for this table, you may want to try the mirror set up with the SAE. For whatever reason, I was looking at the SAE paperwork and it mentioned the reflection method to achieve proper alignment. Having a small mirror I decided to give it a check and boy was it way off.
I usually use a small bubble level on the head shell to check alignment with the arm in the down position in the cradle.
Here is the SAE once aligned using the mirror -
Here's what the bubble level shows once it's aligned with the mirror method -
Not sure what's at play exactly, makes me question how it's effecting the sound on past carts. With the SAE aligned with the mirror there is an obvious difference in sound.
Here is the SAE blurb:
I usually use a small bubble level on the head shell to check alignment with the arm in the down position in the cradle.
Here is the SAE once aligned using the mirror -
Here's what the bubble level shows once it's aligned with the mirror method -
Not sure what's at play exactly, makes me question how it's effecting the sound on past carts. With the SAE aligned with the mirror there is an obvious difference in sound.
Here is the SAE blurb:
Weird. Mine has no inflection in the mirror when the headshell is level. Are your screws tightened evenly?
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
It is weird, but I did check the screws and everything else just to make sure something wasn't out of whack somewhere. You're checking the head shell while in the cradle in the same spot I am, if I remember correctly?
Yes. But remember when you lent me your Otello to check out? The azimuth was wacky with your headshell on my arm. I’ve always wondered why that was.
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Valid, I'll have to poke around and see if I can figure out what the issue is/was, but the mirror method at least gets the cart aligned properly while I try and figure it out, more out of curiosity at this point than anything else. If the mirror works, I'm not gonna sweat it.
Both the level and the mirror reflection of the line on the front of the cartridge body assume the same thing- that the diamond is mounted perpendicular in the cantilever and that the cantilever is mounted correctly to the suspension.
I can tell you that the SAE has superior channel separation to the Grado. I can hear it. It’s obvious. This tells me it’s constructed correctly. I also saw at SHF that my retip guy bought some of the SAEs and channel separation had his meter pegged to the right- so somewhere north of 40dB. You can’t match that for less than $2k in a currently produced cartridge that I am aware of.