Glanz moving magnet cartridges

Hi Again,

By way of quick clarification, I should also stress that I am not claiming that each of the noted grouped cartridges sound the same or are of the same quality. My division is based on taste and experience and will hopefully be read with some sensitivity to such short-hand.

In this light, my final MM selection might also include my Audio Technica ATML-170 OCC, which I will be sending off for a retip shortly. Its performance seems to sit along side my crisper sounding favourites just as I would also place my Music Maker 3 among the warmer sounding alternative options. I also think that my Astatic MF-100 is very similar to the 170 OCC but just slightly prefer the Audio Technica. If I could accommodate more than 3 cartridge/tonearm combinations at a time, I would not need to shorten my MM shortlist of the Technics, Glanz or ATML-170 OCC down to two. However, I still require space for my final MC alternative option.

Hope something here is helpful

Dear Dgob,
Sadly for me, I had never before heard of Glanz cartridges until you brought them into the discussion, and I have never seen one for sale since then. I take it these products were largely sold and used in Europe.

I am not sure I hear the same qualities in the Azden as you do. Compared to a clinical sounding MC, yes, it is a warmer fuller sound. But compared to other MM/MI cartridges that I have thus far auditioned, I would say the Azden is more about details. What sort of music do you favor?

Dear Dgob: I agree with Lewm on the Azden performance. Maybe needs a better tonearm/headshell match, maybe the cartridge is out of specs or maybe that coloration comes from the amplifier/speaker/roo combination, who knows.

+++ " should say a lot about my tastes " +++++

I don't think that all is about your tastes but how your system is performing with different cartridges, it is not only the Azden subject but with other of your cartridges where I disagree too.I think that we can be different but not so different and that's why I think there is/are some other things that are out of " target ". Of course that we could be totally different but this does not makes common sense to me.

I really can't say what happen because I don't hear/heard ( don't know. ) your system and cartridge different set up. So it could be useless what I'm posting and continue argue about.
Anyway good luck in your quest.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Raul,

Many thanks for your view and I do believe we have indeed heard many different things from similar equipment but such is life. I think hat the raising of the "fuller and warmer" issue above has not quite grasped my point nor the basis on which it is drawn.

"I should also stress that I am not claiming that each of the noted grouped cartridges sound the same or are of the same quality. My division is based on taste and experience and will hopefully be read with some sensitivity to such short-hand."

Hope this helps but am always open to further discussion: how else can we all learn and develop? Speaking of which, my quest is nearing its end, once I get the returned cartridges and assess my short list - in conversation and debate with friends whose hearing ability might exceed the Audiogon norms. Then again they might not but if not that wont harm anyone else.

Lewm,

I hope the above helps and if you read through this short thread you should see some of the answers to your questions/uncertainty.

All the best

Lewm,

Apologies but I was pressed for time and so did not fully respond. Well, my son no longer desires his chauffeur and so I'll try to clarify some of your points.

Glanz was a Japanese make ["Mitachi Onkyo Seisakusho (brand name "GLANZ")] that was distributed in Asia and Europe (and probably elsewhere - as one US retailer claims to have sold them in the past). I also had not heard of them before I bought one on trust following advice from an Asian friend. I have obviously been grateful for taking this leap of faith and this is the main reason that I introduced it to you and others on the MM v MC thread.

I would say that the differences between all of the named cartridges are "more about details". It could be different tonearms or Raul and my distinct views and perceptions on isolation systems - or a whole host of alternative reasons that effect out distinct perceptions on several pieces of hardware. I have previously told Raul that I appreciate our differences although I cannot fathom or explain all of them away as easily as I would probably like.

It is good to see that you are now getting better performance from your Azden. I also think it is a great cartridge although not in my top three moving magnets. Why? Maybe as simple as distinct tates based on familiar listening positions in our distinct auditoriums or acoustic distinctions in same!? As with many of those who share my perceptions, live performances rather than mastertape compliance seem to govern us. I'd therefore naturally expect your perceptions to be distinct in some ways and truly do applaud that.

The Glanz is difficult to get hold of but, I clearly believe, worth the effort and patience. I might send my spare (G5) to Raul for audition at some future point and maybe he will again share his perceptions with you. I do hope so but am certain that your collection of MM's offers sufficient options for you to get by without one.

Hope this helps and wish you continued and rewarding listening