Angsty
Well-Known Member
That’s promising. My Luxman did not come with a jig or protractor, so I’ve been using the GeoDisc. The results have been very good, but a custom protractor might be even better.
Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?
- Thread starter imajindat
- Start date
Jbraswell
Well-Known Member
They have several listed on their site. Pretty quick turn for international service.
JMaudiophile
New Member
My favourite and beloved for the last 6 months: AT-OC9XML.
The worst one: Grado F-1+
The worst one: Grado F-1+
Most definitely. A quality protractor will get you closer to geometrical “perfection”. The GeoDisc has always struck me as a stab at accuracy requiring a guess on the user’s part to determine where the exact center of the tonearm pivot point is. A good protractor eliminates that guess work. One less thing to worry about.
MongoLike
New Member
I recently switched from my AT-VM95SH to an Ortofon 2M Blue. I spent quite a bit of time dialing it in to ensure the alignment was spot-on and the results are very nice indeed. It's an excellent tracker with no noticeable IGD. Even though it's a nude elliptical, sometimes I think I'm getting more music retrieval than the Shibata stylus. I've also noticed that the 5.5mV output meshes better with my Darlington Labs MM5 phono stage versus the AT-VM95SH 3.5 mV output. Overall I think 2M Blue was a step up from the VM95SH.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
System synergy matters. Not every alleged “better” cartridge works best in every system.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Grados don’t work well in every system or on every turntable. You almost have to know you like Grados and design your setup around that. The good news is a system that can successfully run a Grado can successfully run other cartridges. It’s not necessarily true the other way around.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
100%. I didn't get Grados at all until I had a system that complimented them!
I had the Ortofon Quintet Black S collecting dust while I was racking up hours on my Grado Reference3. I figured I’d swap over to the Ortofon and give the Grado a break. I also realized I’d never tried the Ortofon since the Technics G arrived.
The Ortofon is a real winner. First, it’s dead quiet. No hum, hiss, hash or any other nasties. The Grado, as much as I like it can’t come close. And that’s even with more gain on the Ortofon- 58 dB gain for its .3 mV output vs 52 dB gain for the 1 mV Grado. Sound quality wise- the Ortofon is actually warm sounding, something I’d usually never say about an Ortofon. My Grado days may be over. I may actually buy an Ortofon Quintet Mono.
On a side note, I’ve had my 1210G for a year already. I still absolutely love it. The only thing that’s made me itchy is the thought of a Garrard 301 or 401 like the 401 that @Russ I recently got.
Maybe one day. Maybe not.
The Ortofon is a real winner. First, it’s dead quiet. No hum, hiss, hash or any other nasties. The Grado, as much as I like it can’t come close. And that’s even with more gain on the Ortofon- 58 dB gain for its .3 mV output vs 52 dB gain for the 1 mV Grado. Sound quality wise- the Ortofon is actually warm sounding, something I’d usually never say about an Ortofon. My Grado days may be over. I may actually buy an Ortofon Quintet Mono.
On a side note, I’ve had my 1210G for a year already. I still absolutely love it. The only thing that’s made me itchy is the thought of a Garrard 301 or 401 like the 401 that @Russ I recently got.
Maybe one day. Maybe not.
"My Grado days may be over."
OMG YOU GUYS WE HAVE A CODE RED, SOMEONE HAS KIDNAPPED HIFIGUY AND REPLACED HIM WITH AN IMPOSTER. IF YOU CAN SEE THIS HIFIGUY, JUST BANG ON SOME POTS AND PANS OR MAYBE LIKE MAKE LOUD BIRD NOISES OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW. YOU HANG IN THERE, WE WILL FIND YOU.
OMG YOU GUYS WE HAVE A CODE RED, SOMEONE HAS KIDNAPPED HIFIGUY AND REPLACED HIM WITH AN IMPOSTER. IF YOU CAN SEE THIS HIFIGUY, JUST BANG ON SOME POTS AND PANS OR MAYBE LIKE MAKE LOUD BIRD NOISES OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW. YOU HANG IN THERE, WE WILL FIND YOU.
What alignment tool are you using now? I read that you sold the Feickert jig.
Nice! Bet you’re glad you didn’t sell it to me now! Although I’m quietly kicking myself that I couldn’t afford it!
Angsty
Well-Known Member
If the case is anything like my Luxman, it’s the better turntable making all of the old cartridges sound better.
I had to seriously reevaluate my opinions of older carts which I formed previously with less capable tables.
I’ve got a loaner phono stage in house for a while, so all 3 cartridges I have on hand will get used with it.
I’m revisiting my retipped/upgraded Grado Gold3. I’ve upped the tracking force to 1.75 grams for better tracking. I have to say- it’s impressive. Are the others here better? Yes, but my upgraded Grado comes in around $560 (figuring wearing out the factory stylus- so I’m deducting the cost of that from the original cost of the cartridge.) The others are $1095 and $1500.
You’d think I’d feel like I am taking a hit performance wise. I don’t. I am enjoying the hotrodded Gold3 on its own merits, without concern for the other 2. It sounds quite good.
I’m revisiting my retipped/upgraded Grado Gold3. I’ve upped the tracking force to 1.75 grams for better tracking. I have to say- it’s impressive. Are the others here better? Yes, but my upgraded Grado comes in around $560 (figuring wearing out the factory stylus- so I’m deducting the cost of that from the original cost of the cartridge.) The others are $1095 and $1500.
You’d think I’d feel like I am taking a hit performance wise. I don’t. I am enjoying the hotrodded Gold3 on its own merits, without concern for the other 2. It sounds quite good.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Something potentially better than the Sutherland Duo? Do tell!
Don’t know yet. I have a loaner Darlington Labs MP-7 here and a SU-7 step up amplifier for low output cartridges inbound.
I was impressed with the MM-6- and I wanted to see what their top offerings can do.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Got it. I’m betting on the Duo for this cage match.
Lee Newman
Frothy
If I go from Grado to Ort, you may have something there.