Moving from mm to mc


In prior threads I did a poor job of communicating. Let me state quickly where I am and where I want to go. In the days before children I ate, drank and slept vinyl. Since they are grown and gone, I have pulled the vinyl out and picked up a Garrard 401 with a SME 3009 Series II improved tone arm and a Shure V15 Type III cartridge. I drove 100 miles from Charlotte, NC to Raleigh, NC to have the tone arm rewired and the 401 checked out. All was well until I recently listened to a Benz Micro Glider through a tube amp and was blown away. That is where I want to go … to a system using a mc. However, getting from a 7.1 home theatre system to a viable mc system is proving to be a major undertaking, because the quality and technology has changed so much. So I will use my existing system until I figure this out. I did pick up an EAR 88pb at an outrageously low price, because I read enough to know that I would need a decent phono preamp to support mid to low output mc’s.

I have read about matching the tone arm to the specs of the mc you want to use, and selecting a good turntable. Please indulge a few questions: 1) Can I realistically incorporate my 401, or should I move on to something else? 2) Can I use my SME? As I understand it, the SME is not designed to work with mid to low output mc’s. 3) Finally, should I change out the power cord on the EAR, and what cabling would you recommend? Realistically, I know this will take a while to figure this out. In the event I have to replace all, I am estimating $4,000 - $6,000 for a tt, arm and cart, depending on new or used. I would like to think I can incorporate my Yamaha RX-V3900 in the loop. At this point, I could use some sound advice. It is tough when you live in a city without a good stereo shop. Thank you.
bgmyers
I also own the EAR 88PB phono preamp, and believe the stock power cord that comes with it is a very good one, though for quite some time I've been running the Wegrzyn Copper Slam with it. In my system, the Wegrzyn helps impart a spacious,slightly warm,slightly laid back and very musical sound. Once you get your system together, and before you decide to buy a different cord, do give the stock EAR cord a fair listen. You may feel it deserves to stay exactly where it is. Best of luck. Incidentally, you've got a very fine sounding phono preamp there!
I do not know what stuck you on Glider, but I had this cart for like two years, and after switching couple month ago to Denon DL103 I feel very sorry for it. Other than crystal clear highs Glider is lifeless compared to Denon. I could listen to my top 10 percent of LPs with it, while Denon opened up gates to almost all %100. I am pretty sure now if LP does not sound good with Denon, its pretty much worthless. Oh and for the price of Glider you can buy Denon + phono stage or SUT.

ps.: my vinyl rig consist of Rega P25/RB600 and decent tube MM phonostage. Since selling glider opened up some funds, I could buy a denon dl103 and a graham Slee AMP3 MC phonostage.



>All was well until I recently listened to a Benz Micro >Glider through a tube amp and was blown away.
Thank you. I get a lot of positive fedback on the DL-103. Is the DL-103R an updated 103?
Glider is mostly considered as one of the best carts up to $1000, and if you go trough discusions, you will find many happy owners. So it might be very dependable on WHOLE sound system in use, not only raw-compatibility with table/arm/phonostage... And you first meeting with glider (was it at dealer, or someones personal system?) as pointed out was very positive, do not forget that.

To be specific, lets take Alison Krauss and R. Plant album - Raising Sand, with Glider I could not listen to it, the music was sort of compressed, uninvolving, and my verdict was poor mastering/release. I even brought this LP to dealer, and played with Benz Micro ACE. Feeling were similar - in totally different system. But with Denon DL103 - I CAN PLAY, listen, and enjoy this album.

I went with a basic version of Denon DL-103, "R" is 6N pure copper wire used in coils. There is a good thread here in audiogon about differences between R and basic versions. I like how mine sounds right now, I do not feel the need of upgrading the cart itself, just heavily buying used and new vinyl, and enjoying the music. Maybe thinking buying a SUT.

Good luck.

You could always try a better MM cartridge and save some money.Plenty of models mentioned in the big thread about MM cartridges,lots of vintage models you could try might blow you away.But you have to spend a little time to find one via ebay or audiogon.