Yep, that’s the thing with Grados. They are highly sensitive to fine adjustments of bias, tracking weight and alignment. This is probably down to the undamped cantilever suspension. Get them right and there are few cartridges that can equal them. Get one wrong and you’ll wonder what drugs the Grado fanboys are on and can you have some?
They can sound awful in the wrong circumstances.
However, I love them.
Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
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Re: Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
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- Fretless (Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:18 am)
Somebody’s telling me the latest scandals.
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
- Fretless
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Re: Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
Spotted the problem. The arm was touching the arm-raise bar at a certain point and that caused it to stick.
Bent the bar down a bit. Now it won't raise from the end of the side.
Time to ponder.
Bent the bar down a bit. Now it won't raise from the end of the side.
Time to ponder.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- Fretless
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Re: Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
Thanks for the moral support, Steve.SteveTheShadow wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 9:51 am Yep, that’s the thing with Grados. They are highly sensitive to fine adjustments of bias, tracking weight and alignment. This is probably down to the undamped cantilever suspension. Get them right and there are few cartridges that can equal them. Get one wrong and you’ll wonder what drugs the Grado fanboys are on and can you have some?
They can sound awful in the wrong circumstances.
However, I love them.
When the Grado's are right they sing like angels!
It's a learning process ....
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- Fretless
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Re: Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
Er .....
No.
Knowing the cyclical nature of my obsessive focus, I'll be back on the digits by the end of the year.
And the Denafrips Ares II has undergone a price-rise (just heard that from Vinshine).
There will be other DAC's heading out the door before that one.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
There should be a setscrew on the side of the outrigger that holds the arm lifter in place, this can be losened off to allow you to position the lifter at the correct height.
Id bend the bar back where it was then lower the lifter slightly. The cart is probably slightly shorter top to bottom than the earlier one, causing the arm to ride slightly lower over the lifter than it did before. so the vta will have changed slightly too.
Just a little setup tweak will sort it
Analogue: oracle delphi sme 309, jbe series 3 cx unipivot dv20x2l, roksan xerxes tabriz vm750, jvc ql-y5f rigb at440, jvc ql-y3f vm750, lenco 75, technics sl150
Phono stages: cole lcr, benedict audio hothead
Digital: cyrus cd7, wiim mini x2, topping e30, jds labs el dac 2+
Amplification: nelson pass b1, nelson pass f5
Speakers: 15" fane aperiodic wardrobes
Cans: myryad z40, hifiman sundara + deva, fostex t50rp, sennheiser momentum on ear +over ear, b&w p5 and p7
Phono stages: cole lcr, benedict audio hothead
Digital: cyrus cd7, wiim mini x2, topping e30, jds labs el dac 2+
Amplification: nelson pass b1, nelson pass f5
Speakers: 15" fane aperiodic wardrobes
Cans: myryad z40, hifiman sundara + deva, fostex t50rp, sennheiser momentum on ear +over ear, b&w p5 and p7
- Fretless
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Re: Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
The arm-lift on the LE1 seems to be a weakness. On the web there are several to be seen with the bar broken off.
On a more positive note, I have just fitted the MCZ stylus. Immediately hearing a fuller, fatter bass (Mick Karn on 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids') and overall more grip, authority and solidity to the soundstage.
Stunning.
On a more positive note, I have just fitted the MCZ stylus. Immediately hearing a fuller, fatter bass (Mick Karn on 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids') and overall more grip, authority and solidity to the soundstage.
Stunning.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- Fretless
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Re: Grado Prestige Green - first impressions
Further thoughts on the Grado's seeing as I have been intensely busy with them for the last 2 months (only 2 months? Feels like years.).
Grado Prestige Green 3: this is a superb budget cartridge which proved an excellent match in both the Project Debut and Syrinx arm. An excellent performer and thoroughly enjoyable.
8MZ stylus in Prestige Green body: takes the sound towards High-End territory with greatly increased imaging and detail.
8MZ stylus in MCZ Signature body: again a marked step up in soundstage and overall musicality. Here was a noticeable drop in output and the 8MZ sounded detailed but 'polite'.
MCZ Signature cartridge: audibly a better match with the MCZ stylus than the 8MZ. Sparkling dynamics and detail. A marvelous sense of involvement and immersion in the music.
Now I'll have to save my pennies for one of the 'woodies', I suppose.
The only way is up!
Grado Prestige Green 3: this is a superb budget cartridge which proved an excellent match in both the Project Debut and Syrinx arm. An excellent performer and thoroughly enjoyable.
8MZ stylus in Prestige Green body: takes the sound towards High-End territory with greatly increased imaging and detail.
8MZ stylus in MCZ Signature body: again a marked step up in soundstage and overall musicality. Here was a noticeable drop in output and the 8MZ sounded detailed but 'polite'.
MCZ Signature cartridge: audibly a better match with the MCZ stylus than the 8MZ. Sparkling dynamics and detail. A marvelous sense of involvement and immersion in the music.
Now I'll have to save my pennies for one of the 'woodies', I suppose.
The only way is up!
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450