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LONDON Decca, Tzar DST and similar cartridges

I have always been curious about these phono cartridges and the Stereophile review of the Tzar DST has heightened my interest. When I read about the peculiarities of these cartridges, I am put off from trying them. Can anyone offer persuasive reasons to try them and also provide real practical advice on how to make them work reliably?  Tonearm suggestions? Phono preamp suggestions? Damping recommendations? How badly do they grind out record grooves?  Any other words of advice? Thanks. 
kmccarty
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,249 posts
 
That's the cartridge I'm looking for myself, topoxforddoc. I already have a London Super Gold with Decapod and a Reference, but the Decca MkIV C4e has it's own, unique, qualities. Regarding the loading of the Reference, John Wright himself recommends running it at 15k ohms and with about 220 pF of capacitance. That's the only way I've heard it.
exlibris
438 posts
 
I’ve ordered the DB Systems DBP-6 MC Phono Resistor Loading Kit to run the Decca Reference at 15k ohms. And by adding a 130pF cap I can bring the capacitance up to 220pF.
I’m curious:
What sonic differences have others experience when running it at 47k and then at 15k?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,249 posts
 
The 15k impedance in combination with the added capacitance creates a damped electronic circuit. The Decca/London design suffers from an inherent high-frequency resonant peak, plus ringing in the time domain, which the damped circuit addresses. I was tutored in all things Decca by the Master, Harvey Rosenberg. 
exlibris
438 posts
 
"ringing in the time domain"

I'm not sure what this means.  Can you say more?
exlibris
438 posts
 
Never mind; just Googled it.
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