Best MM?

Are we to go by objective specifications, or a subjective judges recommendations? You be the judge?

While it's for certain we can not personally review all the cartridges we would like to, I have discovered something that works for me; I place a lot of validity in the reviewers judgment who uses music that I like; which is jazz, with emphasis on the vocals.

If the reviewer uses music that you couldn't pay me to listen to, he has less credibility.

The bottom line is; I'm in this game to satisfy one person, and one person only.

Here are objective specifications you can compare. I have no idea how they compare in regard to rank with each other; you and others can be the judge of that.

The TRX-2 cantilever is a precision-made sapphire tube. Due to its excellent hardness and rigidity resonance is reduced to practically zero. The stylus tip is a nude diamond, featuring low mass and large contact area (ADC Vital III type PH LineContact 0.32 x 1.57 mil) for lower record wear. This is a wire suspension system to define the fulcrum and provide extended frequency response and low distortion at low tracking force.


Specification of the ADC TRX-2 IM cartridge:
Stylus type: nude PH line contact (vital III)
Cantilever: sapphire tube
Output voltage: 3mV
Channel balance: within 0.5dB
Channel separation (1kHz): more than 30dB
Frequency response (+/-1.5dB): 20 to 30,000Hz
Compliance: 40cu
Impedance (1kHz): 3.0 kOhm
DC Resistance: 960 Ohm
Tracking force: 1.2g (+/- 0.2g)
Load resistance: 47K ohms (Capacitance 275pF)
Weight: 6.5g






The ADC 26 is one of the finest in a renowned line of cartridges, designed and built by the world's foremost quality pickup manufacturer.

Using the unique induced magnet principle, it combines minute stylus tip mass and high compliance, resulting in unparalleled performance.

Specifications
Output: 4mv at 55 cms/sec recorded velocity

Tracking force: 0.7g

Frequency response: 10Hz to 24kHz +- 2dB

Stylus: Elliptical contact

Vertical tracking angle: 15 degrees

Recommended load impedance: 47,000 ohms nominal




The Master2 and Reference2 models use a five piece OTL cantilever technology achieving an additional 5% tip mass reduction over the Platinum2 and Sonata2 models. The coils are wound with ultra-high purity long crystal (UHPLC) oxygen free copper wire. The Master2 model is mounted with Grado's specially designed nude elliptical diamond, and the Reference1 model uses Grado's true ellipsoid design diamond. These cartridges are individually calibrated.

Reference V2
OUTPUT: 4.8mV @ 5 CMV (45)
CONTROLLED FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 10-60 KHZ
CHANNEL SEPARATION:
AVERAGE 40 DB - 10-30 KHZ
LOAD: 47,000 OHMS
INDUCTANCE: 40 mh
RESISTANCE: 600 OHMS
NON SENSITIVE TO CAPACITIVE LOAD
CHASSIS MASS: 10 GRAMS
TRACKING FORCE: 1.5 - 1.9 GRAMS

If you want to compare specs then look at Victor X-1II 

JVC/Victor has established a new and dynamic relationship between the cartridge design and quality by investing the Pulse-Trian Analytical Method. The X-1 was the first product designed with new method, the X1-II is an improved version featured a wide range, clear definition and transparent tone quality. The X1-II faithfully reproduce silence, however transient, between notes and add tremendous presence to the reproduction of music. Because of the low-mass moving structure, the response is extended to 60kHz.  


0.15mm Square Shibata Stylus:

Shibata stylus shape of the JVC Victor X-1II cartridge distinguishes itself by having the necessary small contact surface at the horizontal level for playback of the ultra-high frequencies found on CD-4 quadraphonic records. At the vertical level, the special shape of the stylus gives a wider contact surface than is the case with either spherical or elliptical styli. Various cartridge manufacturers have been inspired by the Shibata shape and now produce very expensive cartridges with stylus shapes that give the same advantages as the Shibata. These have names such as bi-elliptical, pramanic, quadrahedral, hyperbolic, pathemax, and Fine Line. Although CD-4 and other quadraphonic systems never really caught on with consumers, they have helped to speed up the development of stylus types that improve playback of stereo records in the form of a more precise treble reproduction, lower distortion, and less record wear.

Beryllium Cantilever:  

The cantilever is made of beryllium, a metal that is far lighter and stronger than widely-used aluminium or titanium. It has greater velocity of sound propagation, and it’s flat response extends into the super high frequency range.


Density (gr/cm): 1.84 Beryllium / 2.69 Aluminum / 4.54 Titanium

Young Modulus (kg/mm): 28,000 Beryllium / 7,400 Aluminum / 11,000 Titanium

Velocity Of Sound Propagation (m/sec): 12,600 Beryllium / 6,420 Aluminum / 5,990 Titanium


One Point Suspension:

A very thin wire, mounted to the center-hold bushing, suspends the moving structure. Since this design clearly defines the fulcrum of the moving structure, intermodulation distortion is reduced.


Samarium Cobalt Magnet:

JVC Victor has used samarium cobalt for the magnet piece, a material that has low specific gravity and high energy product. Thanks to this new alloy formation, the moving structure is lightweight, and offers improving tracking ability and stable output.


Laminated Core Pole Pieces:

Pole pieces are made of laminated core permalloy. This superior construction leads to improved frequency response. Loss of information in the super high frequencies, often experienced with high-impedance MM-type cartridges, is AVOIDED!


Pulse-Train Analytical Method:

A JVC-developed method used for measuring and analyzing the hitherto unmeasurable group-delay and phase characteristics of a transducer (speaker, cartridge, etc.) with the assistance of a specially-cut record containing pulsive signals, coupled with a computer data processing system. This new analytical method is largely responsible for the exceptional tonal performance of the X1II as it has helped JVC find ways to cope with transient distortion and group delay distortion. It showed that a cartridge should be lightweight, which in turn has led to the use of a shortened cantilever made of superlight beryllium and a one point suspension in the X1II.


Specifications Victor X1II:

Type: moving magnet
Stylus: (DT-X2) 0.15mm Shibata diamond tip.
Frequency response: 10 to 60,000Hz
Tracking Force: 1,5g (+/- 0,2g)
Dynamic Compliance (@100Hz): 12cu
Output: more 3.0mV (1kHz, 5cm/sec)
Channel balance: less than 1.0dB
Channel separation: more than 25dB
Impedance: 2.2 kOhms (1kHz)
Load: 47 to 100 kohms
Weight: 7.5g
 

Where does one get a replacement stylus for a Victor X1II?

Dear @dhcod : I own the JVC X-1 MK2, as fact was me whom put in the " audio stage ". It's a good performer but as @orpheus10 pointed out no one can touch not even near the ADC 26/27 quality performance level, this ones belongs to a very different " quality league ".

R.

Thanks but I was just curious. For that matter where do you get an ADC stylus?