2. analog
  3. 169346-72263

Cartridges with that musical coherence - having heard it, I need to learn more

Once you hear "better", you can't un-hear it. Oh, what a slippery slope it is to hear better gear. Ask me how I know.

Ok. First - I recently rolled new tubes into my phono stage. Vintage Amperex JAN 7308s. Also tried the white-label PQ 7308s. Holy smokes. Sounds like I've got a whole new phono stage. So that's what everybody's been talking about. Holy cow. I get it.

Enough. I'll get right to the point. I just borrowed (and soon expect to buy) a friends Shelter 901 cartridge. It's an original Mk I, so it's really old. But it's been sitting unused for many years. Initially I was very skeptical - wouldn't the suspension have dried out? Maybe it would collapse on the record surface when I played it. Wouldn't sound very good.

The 901 replaced my Dynavector 17D3 on my lowly Jelco 750L/Garrard 401. Holy... uh... where do I start? The Dynavector has been very good. But the Shelter makes sense of what's going on in the recording on a whole 'nother level. Finally, I can hear the musical sense of *why* the musicians are doing what they are doing. All of a sudden I *get* what reviewers and others have been talking about for years. Until I heard it I *thought* I understood it, but now I really get it. It's not "musicality" at the expense of detail. The fine detail is there. But it's revealed in a way that I've never heard before from *any* vinyl playback system.

And I suppose, like other characteristics, this coherence thing also exists on higher and higher levels with better and better cartridges. That should probably read "more and more expensive cartridges".

So my question is to those of you who've trod this path before me. Especially those of you who've used the Shelter 901. Given the unknown hours on the specimen I'm using I'm wanting to learn about other cartridges that possess this quality of coherence. In your experience, what other cartridges do this?
128x128markusthenaimnut
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Markus, this year I bought two NOS cartridges designed by Yasuo Ozawa (Shelter).

Yasuo Ozawa joined Fidelity Research (FR) in 1982 and started his career as a phono cartridge designer. He participated in designing MC phono cartridges like MCX-3 (my NOS sample), MCX-5 and other products during his work at Fidelity-Research. In 1986 Yasuo Ozawa established his own brand (Shelter), he’s still making high-end phono cartridges in Japan.

I was fascinated by Shelter and finally bought model 5000, here is mine.

So I have modern Shelter and the predecessor of Shelter made by Ozawa-San for Fidelity-Research when he was younger.

Excellent cartridges, as many amazing Japanese cartridges they are underrated in the USA in my opinion. Koetsu and Dynavector are more popular in America for some reason.

Glad you like Shelter, suspension collapse is often a myth spread by re-tippers, many vintage NOS cartridges are better than new. Of course you have to know what you’re buying and who is your source is important. I have less vintage MC than vintage MM, but suspension is fine on all my vintage LOMC (including models from the 80s).

Enjoy your Shelter!
markusthenaimnut's avatar
markusthenaimnut OP
354 posts
 
@chakster 
Thanks man. Appreciate the info.
edgewear
543 posts
 
Yes, Shelter certainly does the coherence thing. I owned the earliest 701 model which was a great performer and I’m sure current models are too.

What other cartridges do this you ask? In my opinion the Miyabi cartridges made by Takeda San reached the highest level of musical coherence and tonal beauty. Nothing comes close to that paragon. Sadly they are now part of audio history for over a decade, but every now and then previously owned samples are offered for sale. These would include cartridges by Mark Levinson, Cello, Red Rose and Krell, which were also made by Takeda San and are equal to the Miyabi branded models.

There’s also the Fuuga, which is a concious attempt to bring the Miyabi sound back to life. A very good system according to all the reviews (haven't heard it myself), but very costly at 9k as is the norm these days for top MC cartridges . I’d say the Shelters are a much better value.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
From personal experience, Benz and Koetsu. From what I gather, Soundsmith. I like the same qualities and have my eye on a Strain Gauge or maybe Hyperion.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I’m wanting to learn about other cartridges that possess this quality of coherence. In your experience, what other cartridges do this?

I have to mention FR-7f series, in my opinion they are very special cartridges, not necessary it should be FR-7fz which is the rarest and more expensive. The FR-7f is the best bang for the buck, stunning performer at decent price, Air Core Coil and sealed suspension (never fails). Heavy tonearm required! This is my working horse (two horses: "f" and "fz").



More to discover