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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
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?
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Johnnanais, I finally got the Jubilee mounted on the Schroeder. I have gone through two iterations of dialing in the cartridge and spend a long time of VTA. I think I am pretty close to having it right.

Several comments seem justified. The Jubilee like earlier Deccas is very immediate and dynamic with very well defined bass and very metal like symbols. And I have no mistracking problems; none. I have yet to decide whether the Jubilee has the finesse of my J. Allaeret, but it sure causes me fewer problems in getting enough gain.
johnnantais OP
621 posts
 
No mistracking from a Decca! That's the best news in decades! Is it because the new stylus profile and quality-control really works, or is it because of the Schroeder? I sense a door opening: I see a new Decca in my future..yes, the image is getting clearer..please let us know when you are ready to give us a full review vs the J. Allaert, myself, anyway, will be looking forward to this with bated breath. Thanks for the info.

Regards,
Jean
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Some further comments on the Jubilee. It is incredibly sensitive to VTA. You can easily cause the image to vanish. At this point I am not certain whether you can find a single best point that will work to all records, and the Schroeder does not allow for easy replication of VTA. Second the Jubilee is very sensitive to antiskating adjustment. Too much can easily result in mistracking on one side.

The recommendation is that the cartridge have no VTA nor any asmuth angle. I used a small bubble level to achieve this. I wish the Schroeder had the included bubble of the Decca International arm.
There is no question that no other cartridge can match the bass on this cartridge. And I should say nor can digital bass.
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