Quiet days

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Latteman
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Quiet days

Unread post by Latteman »

Been a quiet day today so I end up browsing eBay. Although I started my hifi and turntable passion about 1989 I know very little about cartridges especially ‘older’ brands, for example Grace, Empire & ADC etc
(I have an ADC series iv but no stylus)
Can anyone recommend/ shed any light on the older cartridge, I have a desire to dabble
Analogue Source -
Denon DP47f- Ortofon mc20 supreme
Ifi Zen Phono
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Akai 4000DS mk2 R2R
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Amplification Nva 30vdc mono blocks
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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Quiet days

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

Try there are some gems I would never buy a new cart, my top MC fave is an Ortofon SPU Gold about 20 years old. I use a Grado from the 80's, a Shure from the 60's M3D and 70's M55e. I have two or three Empires, very underrated.

i have a collection of old carts, I see one on ebay at a good price I buy it.

Hannes-Gregor
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Re: Quiet days

Unread post by Hannes-Gregor »

With a light until middle weight tonearm the Yamaha MC-9, even if retipped, with a heavy one the Denon DL-103. (I recommend both because I have them here). Difference between both is that the Yamaha offers the music in a more singing way, the Denon gives more life and punch to the music.

_D_S_J_R_
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Re: Quiet days

Unread post by _D_S_J_R_ »

Old MM types usually have a treble suckout and it's heard more as beefy bass. I'd best shut up to go any deeper here... The ADC Phase IV is a nice sweet toned 'induced magnet' cartridge design though and I like mine a lot - it was the last, best and most stable of the XLM range and wasn't as fussy on old or worn pressings as the ZLM could be in my experience. No competition for a modern AT, top Ortofon MM or a half decent modern MC type though imo and I suspect an AT540 or AT-F7 MC would happily see it off today.

The best 'vintage design' MM currently available is possibly the Sumiko Pearl, which is directly descended I believe from the A&R E77, Rega R100 and Supex SM100E - same old body and plain elliptical tip with gentle bass-up/top-down balance by around 3db or so and no nasty hf peak to spoil the effect. Good 'solid' sound, stable tracking and 'quiet' highs, we sold loads of R100's back in the day. I set up a Pearl not long ago and it brought back many memories I have to say. Costs around a ton (£120 I think) and is pretty arm-agnostic I feel.
Last edited by _D_S_J_R_ on Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way...The time has gone, The song is over, Thought I'd something more to say...

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Latteman
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Re: Quiet days

Unread post by Latteman »

I have a Sumiko Pearl and agree it’s a good cartridge, would u recommend I get a stylus for the ADC
Analogue Source -
Denon DP47f- Ortofon mc20 supreme
Ifi Zen Phono
Doug Self balanced Pre amp
Akai 4000DS mk2 R2R
Digital Sources- IfI stream, Ifi Neo idsd Dac; Tidal / Radio Paradise
Amplification Nva 30vdc mono blocks
Speakers Lii Audio F-15 in Open Baffle; Ls6
Weiduka AC8.8- for digital sources
Mini BMU for analog sources

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Re: Quiet days

Unread post by _D_S_J_R_ »

If you can find a Phase IV stylus (it replaced the XLM III I remember and had tauter suspension and more finely machined stylus 'hinge'). No idea at all how the Jico styli are for ADC's, but the better SAS tip may upset the balance, giving sharp high frequencies with the slightly softer bass. I still use a ZLM which is possibly better at very high frequencies (your mileage will vary here), but neither would give an AT540 any headaches I think.
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way...The time has gone, The song is over, Thought I'd something more to say...

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guydarryl
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Re: Quiet days

Unread post by guydarryl »

I still have very fond memories of my ADC XLM mkII, only changed it because of hifi magazine reviews - big mistake
LP12, Ittok, DV10X5, Phono2(twin supply), P50SA , Art Audio Quintet, LS5, SSC, Rega Ela mk1
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