Cartridge Question

Mofimadness - I had it professionally set-up by the shop's owner, so I am going to make the assumption that it was done correctly. (hopefully anyway). He alluded to the difference in sound quality when I picked it up, without being overly specific, as he really wanted me to draw my own conclusions.

I tried to isolate it with some brass (Miles Davis), and sax (Coleman Hawkins). However, it really came out when I switched to an original copy of Stevie Ray Vaughn lp, playing the track "Lenny." The guitar's high notes instantly revealed the distortion point. Before then, I had never heard this on my Thiels.

Although the tube amp was warmed up for 30 minutes prior, things never changed for the next couple of hours. I never realized that cartridges needed a break-in time, so thanks for the heads up. I was beginning to wonder if I should have just gone with a pre-amp first.

Jaybo- You are 100% correct. The Goldring is much warmer, but the output was lacking to the point that I had to turn the volume to a minimum of 50 percent, just to "really hear" the music.

Thanks to both of you for your thoughts.

The Ortofon 2M Blue is a wonderful cartridge and sounds fuller and richer than the Black or Bronze which are both more detailed.

I agree with Viridian and would add that if the same guy who told you that you needed a different cartridge because of the output level being too low on the Goldring, has done the setup;I would recheck it.
Get a decent protractor and a digital scale(this can be bought online for less than $30.00[not made for audiophile use])and check it yourself.
This is the level of the hobby that requires your participation and is some of the most interesting parts.
I would also use a vernier caliper (cheap at harbour freight)and make changes to the VTA until you like what you hear. Make very small changes and record your caliper readings.
This is assuming that you can make VTA adjustments with your arm.
Keep rechecking the overhang after each VTA adjustment.

By engaging yourself and learning to set up the cartridge,you will have a much better understanding and will become a better listener.

You will find yourself going to other audiophile homes and wondering if their VTA is too high or too low as you listen.

Personally I like line contact/shibata styli.They are always more detailed and revealing.What Transnova is saying about the Blue having more body and sounding richer is probably due to hearing the Black with incorrect VTA. They are definitely more sensitive.
Sounds like you have a nice system,enjoy it.

Dear Brent: All the posts has very wise and mature advise on your thread subject, I only want to add some thoughts about:

first the Ortofon is a MM/MI cartridge that needs not only the right load impedance but the total capacitance value ( that the Eroica does not needs. ) too, changing these values help to tame the cartridge quality performance.

second, the Ortofon has almost the double output level and maybe the Rogue can't handle ( has no overload range ) the cartridge characteristics, this is very specific in transientes especialy on high frequencies and you heard/hear the overload of a phono stage like a distortion similar of what you have.

third, maybe the Eroica is a better match for your tonearm than the Ortofon but in this regard I really can't be sure, there is a posibility of that fact.

fourt, at 50% of the volume for your Eroica in the Rogue means that everything is ok. I agree that you re-check the Ortofon set up because that dealer/person seems to me is a little un-experienced.

All these thoughts does not mean that the Eroica is better than the Ortofon but that there are some problems with.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.