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High Compliance Cart on Heavier Arm

Hi. To improve my Denon DL-103 cartridge on a standard removable headshell tonearm, I have added weight to the headshell (shell + cart + weights are about 22 grams or so), VTF about 2.4 grams.

I also have a Denon DL-301 higher compliance cart also on a weighted headshell to make an exchange easy between the two. VTF adjusted for the DL-301 (about 1.8 grams).

My question is: Is there any compelling reason why I shouldn't be running the DL-301 on a weighted arm? I know not to run the DL-103 on a high compliance arm but is there a penalty for the other way around with the DL-301 on a heavier arm (headshell) than required by Denon? For the record, it sounds great and seems to track well and I don't have to adjust the counterweight every time I switch. Thanks in advance, Andy.

andy8400
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,766 posts
 
I have a rule. If it sounds great and tracks well, it is fine.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
You can buy Hi-Fi News TEST LP to measure tonearm/cartridge resonance, you will see if the resonance is out of recommended range. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Chakster's test record will definitively let you know where you are with any cartridge. 

If the cartridge is too stiff (low compliance) for the arm you are at risk for acoustic feedback which sounds like a howl. Many systems do not go that low so they will not notice a problem until they add a sub.

If the cartridge is too soft (high compliance) for the arm when the arm gets to the right warp it will go airborne. Same if there is low frequency rumble on the record. If you watch the cartridge during play it will be bouncing all over the place. You might even hear a warble.

Condition #1 is easy. You just add a little weight to the headshell until the feedback goes away. Condition #2 is worse. It is more difficult to remove mass and all that cantilever dancing routine increases distortion and wear. You can perhaps find a lower mass headshell.  This is why I do not like boat anchor tonearms. They limit your choice of cartridges. With an intermediate mass arm you can use all but the most compliant cartridges (over 20 X 10-6 cm/dyne).  If all you run are Koetsus and Air Tights these arms are wonderful. A Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum on a Kuzma 4 Point 14 is a very special experience. 


 
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