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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
 
Andrewg, I had written a response, but it seems to have gotten lost.

The Jubilee works very well on the Schroeder. The most critical adjustment is the gap between the magnets, where a slight increase can make the Decca mistrack. Anti-skating is also critical. In short even the Jubilee is hard to get to perform properly, but the well adjusted performance is outstanding.

I don't know whether you have had prior experience with Deccas. They can be frustrating as well as outstanding.
andrewg's avatar
andrewg
5 posts
 
Tbg,
Many thanks for your immediate response.
I am game to try. I guess it's better than spending infinite amount of money on MC phono stages.
Cheers
Andrew

PS Topoxforddoc, I am quite fortunate to know a friend of the Garrott Brothers business partner. We might be lucky, but I do not hold big hopes.
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Andrewg,

thanks. I'm lucky to have Garrott Brothers rebuild from the 1980s. However, I also have an old Maroon, which could do with a rebuild at some point. Ideally a Garrott Brothers rebuild would have been great, but I gather that they are not particularly keen on rebuild or retips of any carts now, preferring to sell their new carts instead.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
The Garrott Brothers are dead. Perhaps their company lacks the expertise to re-tip cartridges.
johnnantais OP
621 posts
 
"London" still offers a re-build/restore service, and apparently their new stylus profiles are more user-friendly. One of these days, I'm going to send in my bitchin' Super Gold for one of these new tips, as that van den Hul stylus is a tracking nightmare on a Decca! I got an NOS 3-pin Decca FFss cartridge (spherical tip, blue body) and breifly listened to it, and it sounded every bit as detailed as my Super Gold on a brief test, and with NO tracking problems! I'm waiting to have time to re-do one of my tonearms for 3-pin hook-up to install it permanently, if I don't decide to sell it. Perhaps tomorrow! I'm actually becoming a convert to spherical tips, as the one on the Denon DL103 anyway sounds superbly detailed and tracks beautifully without problem, and of course the FFss as well on a very short audition. Anyway, I asked the question at the beginning of this thread: if anyone has one of the new London/Decca tips, does it truly track better than the older ones?
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