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Decca cartridge experiences

I really don't expect any response to this as the issue of Deccas, and all the controversies they stirred up is now passé, but does anyone out there own and use a Decca, and if so, did you find a tonearm which will accomodate it? I'd appreciate it if anyone shared their experiences with it, good or bad. I've found two tonearms in which it will work well: one a Mayware tonearm in which it works superbly, and one a Maplenoll air-bearing 'table with fluid damping trough, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting this combo to work again (I've only recently re-acquired the Maplenoll)...I'll have to fiddle with viscosity, amount of fluid and so on.

To all those who haven't had a chance to hear this cartridge, and who like to experiment and have fun (and tear their hair out), then a Decca still has the most slam of any cartridge, and retrieves an incredible amount of detail from the groove. Though these days it no longer sells for pocket change (the Super Gold goes for $850, but there are cheaper models), it's still not in the stratosphere like so many others. It is dificlt to find a tonearm which will accomodate it as well.

I'd appreciate as well any experiences with the new versions, as I hear the new stylus profile makes it less difficult. I think the responses will be "0", but any cartridge which stirred up this much controversy (at least a while ago) is Good News, like the Shelter (which is far more accomodating, however)...Thank you for your attention, if any attention there is...
johnnantais
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Ah, yes, extreme dynamics! I remember it well! I think I am just going to mount the Jubilee on the Schroeder as I already own it, and Frank Schroeder says he has close friends using Deccas on it. With the decline of the dollar, the Loricraft/Garrard 501 is over $20k!
johnnantais OP
621 posts
 
Holy Crap!
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Don't ask the cost of the Schroeder. Much of this is the low value of the dollar.
johnnantais OP
621 posts
 
I won't ask the cost of the Schroeder, but I am looking forward to your report on the sound of the Jubilee, which I assume will have less of the mistracking problems of the Deccas of yore. I once had a Super Gold which tracked everything perfectly in my damping-trough Maplenoll, which is why I am puzzled at this one's recalcitrance in the same Maplenoll. I might have better luck in the Decca International, as this one has adjustable azimuth via the micrometer wheel at the back, and I think this is the problem - a crookedly-glued diamond. It could also be viscosity of the fluid: so many parameters. I believe the sample to sample variations are wiped out in the new "London" brand, and especially in the Jubilee, the flagship product. Good Luck!
johnnantais OP
621 posts
 
Black Widow! I can't believe it, but I read a comment by someone on AA that the Decca tracked very well in the Black Widow, and I was surprised as that was the LAST tonearm I ever thoguht a Decca could track in, being ultra low-mass and having knife-edge bearings to boot. I mean, you'd think that it would rattle like a castanet in that, right? Well, having recently acquired one, I thought I'd give it a whirl to see what's what: do you know it tracked operatic Vivaldi, Mannheim Steamroller, and some very difficult pop recordings I have (Talk Talk) without mistracking once? Like a normal cartridge! And I have owned several Deccas and have to say that this particlar one has been the most difficult I've owned. And my Black Widow doesn't even have the fluid damping option! I mean, it was almost boring, it tracked so normally, sounding just like an average MC (I'll have to mount the Black Widow, given this, on one of my more serious 'tables)! Any other matches out there I should know about? And how's the Schroeder experience going? And others?
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