Removable headshells 101

I don't know how I missed this thread!....

Perhaps the fact that I was not (yet) focused on the headshell side of things.

My switch back to the Revox yesterday highlighted a resonance at 300Hz that I had assumed (wrongly) was a property of the test tracks....

I have a suspicion that the 300Hz resonance (bell curve centered around 250 to 300Hz extending roughly 1 octave each way to around 150Hz and 600Hz - center/peak and width varies a little with cartridge/headshell) is caused by the movement between arm/headshell.

Has anyone done any analysis/work on this?

The Revox 1 piece arm fitted with a p-mount adapter, shows the same effect but with around half the amplitude (1db as opposed to 2db on the JVC S-Arm).

Do any specific headshells reduce/control this better than others?

What about the two pin headshells? (one above, one below - like the Orsonic AV-1)

I also have a couple of AT headshells for which I need those very short screws.... anyone out there have some ideas as to where one might find some?

Although I have a wide variety of headshells now - primarily focused on lightweight models, as most of my cartridges are high compliance - I have normally chosen a headshell for a cartridge based on rigidity and mass considerations - without experimenting with differing headshells. It appears I may need to take my experimentation down the headshell path as well.

Bye for now

David

Hi David,
I would hesitate before jumping in on an Orsonic headshell.
Sure.....they look sexy but on complex demanding material, it was distorting a treat.
I swear I could actually see the shell convulsing whilst it struggled against the cartridge's demands.
And that wasn't even with low-compliance cantilevers!!
If you haven't tried some of the wood headshells out there, you may be in for an experience? :^)
Cheers
Henry

Regards, Dlaloum:
Company Name: Orsonic
Company Status: Dissolved
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Incorporation Date: 17/05/1996
Dissolution Date: 01/05/2007

Nearly five years after dissolution, supplys of the AV headshells seem to be holding out well.

Halcro "suggested" the Yamamoto ebony HS to me and I've been pleased with it. The Orto. LS-8000 (Japaneese Oak) is another I've thought to have a positive influence. YMMV. Thanks, Henry.

Peace,

Greetings Professor,
Glad that you find the Yamamoto Ebony satisfactory :^)
Do you think the hard-wired headshell leads limit your performance options?
If I did not know you better......I would say that I detect a slight cynicism in your comments on Orsonic?
Surely you do not mean to imply that there may be some Chinese copies being sold ex Hong Kong :^)
Cheers
Henry

Thanks guys,

I have been eyeing off some of the wooden HS's but have held off as they are a bit pricey....
I have some experiments to do with damping the headshell join.... -replacing the washer with a bit of plasticine - which will mold itself into the join and form a CLD layer.

The other thing I need to try is wrapping the tonearm.

I just cannot imagine that this particular anomaly would be affected by a wooden HS. - My gut feeling being that the Wood would be good for damping some of the higher frequency grunge.... (and I will stick with that until I can justify the expense of a wooden HS or two to myself...)

Also good to get some trusted feedback on the Orsonic headshells...

bye for now

David