Why do you not care about them?
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- 38 posts total
My former comrade Don become my ''brother Don'' so since some time now we consult each other about new purchases. He bought two display cases for each of us such that each cart in them has its own headshell pre-adjusted according to the Mint tractor and ready to be exchanged in 10 munutes time. We don't use the expresion ''best cart'' but ''first row'' cart. My first row consits of: Allaerts MC 2, Magic Diamond, Benz LPmr, Urushi Blue Sky, Ikeda 9 TT and Phoenix and the second row of the first display case : FR-7 fz, Ikeda 9 Ciii, Miyabi standard, ZYX airy 3 and Nakamichi 1000. (chakster my ZYX got a new cantilever/stylus combo + new suspension by Axel for about 500 euro). I don't know exactly how many MM carts I own but my ''darlings'' are ADC TRX 2 (beryllium) and JVC X-1, mk 2. I own two TT's and 5 tonearms. On my Kuzma Stabi Reference I use the Reed 3 P (12'') and Sumiko 800 (alias ''the arm''). On my second ,Technics SL 1000 (aka SP 10,mk2 + Obsidan plinth) I use two of my FR-64 s kinds (silver and cupper) and Ikeda 345 . |
Sort of... My phono pre is built in to my McIntosh C220 preamp, and it is MM only. I have toyed with the idea of a Step-up Transformer, but the expense of a good one is daunting. I run my modded Thorens TD-166MkII with 2 pickups, each on its own 'arm wand: A Denon DL-160 (which is a High Output MC, so technically not a MM), and an Ortofon OM-30 Super. I have an OM-40 stylus in waiting for when the OM-30 is finished. Yes, there are differences between the Ortofon and the Denon, but they are mostly subtle. I spin some vinyl, but I have to admit that I mostly digitize my vinyl for use on my server and in the car (an ongoing 10+ year process). For this purpose, my vinyl rig is more than adequate. I get many compliments on my needle drops from fellow audiophiles, so I guess I am doing something right, even with my not-so-high-end rig. |
@nandric This is no more a ZYX, because the original ZYX cantilever/stylus combo is way different from anything else on the market if you saw them under microscope. At the same time i saw Axel's cantilever/stylus combo and compared them. I have contacted various retippers when my 4D was broken to see what they can offer. I think it's critical for ZYX cartridges and that's why they are what they are (unique in it's own class). |
@inna Why do you not care about them? I think i already explained in another thread not so long ago. BTW the Cartridge Man is just reworked Grado ? I would advice to check Joseph Grado (signature model) XTZ before buyin' Cartridge Man. The XTZ was TOTL and the price in the 80s was $750. I am a tape man so naturally I want to come as close to the tape as possible. Then you should check this TAS article (from the golden age of analog) if you haven't seen it before. Those guys comparing digital master tape, analogue master tape, direct-to-disc lacquer and the "live" mike feed; the report consists of a long conversation among J. Boyk, Keith Johnson, Doug Sax, and J. Tammblyn Henderson. "What cartridge, what exotic audiophile wonder of disc playback, was producing these marvels? What cartridge could have the "lowest distortion of all," "uncanny" resolution, better than master tapes? The answer is (I wish I could put a page turn here): The Stanton 881 Mk II. The scene shifts. Kavi Alexander, auteur of the remarkable Water Lily Acoustics series of analogue vinyl discs, is monitoring disc production by comparing test pressings to the master tape. What cartridge is he using? Another moving magnet, this time the Technics EPC-100 mk4... Audio-Technica AT-ML170 is very similar, and very close to the actual sound of the tape. In this comparison, he says, virtually no moving coil does so well; most have seriously apparent colorations." Personally, i prefer the AT-ML170 (i have a spare) and AT-ML180. |
- 38 posts total