Glanz moving magnet cartridges

Apologies,

However, following off-line correspondence, I hasten to clarify that the Glanz is NOT of the quality of my Technics EPC 100Mk4. There again, nothing I have heard is.

What it is is a better performer than most well respected cartridges 'and' a (in my case) still unresolved challenge for perfect set up.

These points hopefully now clarified: I highly recommend it and its undoubted potential.

"Its undoubted potential" alludes to the fact that the Glanz might indeed outperform the Technics if the (still sought) ideal set up is achieved.

Any medium mass arm that places the stylus tip precisely 50mm from the collar of the arm wand where the cartridge meets arm will provide that potential!

Hi All,

They say the lucky man often benefits where the clever man can't. In this light, I must confess to a certain ignorance being shored up by complete luck.

Those who follow (and there appears to be many of you) this thread will know that I was amazed at the performance of the Glanz G5 in my Audio Craft AC-3300 LB tonearm. I noted that just setting its VTA and VTF seemed sufficient without concerns about overhang and effective length. Many will note the dispute that this suggestion created! Nevertheless, my own slightly refined hearing and that of a former friend (whose hearing was unsurpassed to my knowledge) kept telling me that I was approaching perfection with the performance of this intergrated moving magnet. I had even recently told others that the ideal position would place the tip of the stylus 50mm from the tonearm collar and suggested they experiment and seek such a tonearm. This is where my ignorance and luck come in!

On finally digging out the Users Manual for the AC-3300 last night, I was amazed to read that it has reference to the integrated Ortofon SPU cartridge and even suggests its ideal damping for such a cartridge. Then I noticed that the ideal position for stylus to tonearm edge for my Audio Craft was given as "50-51mm". This is exactly the position achieved by the Glanz and seems to support my suggestion that protractors and the like should not be your only means of assessing ideal set up of a cartridge: your own ears and experience being more important than generalised calculus.

This means that my faith (albeit challenged and uncertain at times) in what I am hearing with the Glanz G5 now makes complete sense. It also means that I can extend my recommendation with a little more surety.

The Glanz G5 cartridge in a tonearm such as the Audio Craft AC-3300 LB is simply stunning. It can keep company with the Technics EPC 100Mk4 and that says more than I can.

Very highly recommended

In light of the above,

I intend to turn my attention to my Glanz G7 to see where fine tuning and perseverance can take me with this proclaimed 'top of the line' Glanz.

My auditions of it so far have not been as focused as those of the G5 and I have always simply exchanged cartridges in the same set up. Not ideal and to be addressed!

I will comment on my findings around the G7 when (and 'if') I am certain and have something useful to say.

As always

Hi All,

I simply cannot optimize my G7 with my selection of tonearms. This is not to say that it cannot be optimized in other settings and I will wait until I do find just such a setting.

On the plus side of my latest meander, I have not discovered that the G7 line contact stylus adds something to the G5 cartridge (the stylus in the range are interchangeable). I have now settled for the G5 with G7 stylus as my ultimate Glanz.

Happy hunting to those who try.

As always...