Opinions: Oracle/SME IV/ Monster Alpha2

Thanks, guys. I did the deal yesterday. I'm on a tight cartridge budget for now. Too bad about the Benz Glider, as it was on my short list. The other budget cartridge I was considering, Grado Reference Sonata, is probably a no-go, too. A friend has a Reference Silver on his Alexandria and it hums like crazy. The Dynavector 20XL is also in my price range. Any others that come to mind?

P.S. Turns out that this is a MkIII with very low hours on it. In fact, unused for a long time since the stylis went South. Aside from a new belt, (just on general principle), is there anything else that should be done. Suspension and motor appear to work perefctly. Any mods or upgrades that are commonly recommended? Thanks again.

Brooks Berdan is considered one of the masters when it comes to oracles. you might want to ask him for some free advice. he's got his own mod which runs around $300 (i think) and consists of adding a weight to the bottom of the platter to increase its mass. he's in the los angeles area 626-359-9131.

i'd recommend oracle's mods - the sub-chassis weight, the bearing, the platter mat, & the delrin suspension upgrade. except for the motor, yule now have a mk-v. for a motor upgrade, go for the origin-live motor/power-supply upgrade - much less $$$ than the oracle motor upgrade. for a nice inexpensive cartridge, try the ortofon mc25-fl, a lo-output mc for $225 from the needle dr.

the above, w/an o-l modified rega rb250, is my current set-up, & it's great! :>) i have a lyra clavis, freshly re-tipped by symphonic line w/a vdh stylus, but the current set-up is so nice that i haven't gotten 'round to changing the cartridge...

good luck, even if ya don't do *anything* to that 'table, yule love it! ;~) doug s.

Doug...Just getting back to normal after Le Mans. Yeah, I did the whole 24 hours on Speedvision. Then, the movie afterwards. Crashed real good after that.

I'm following you at every turn. Hope you're taking a good line ;- First my Shankelized GTWee6 project. Now an Oracle. Scary, man. "Il Mostro" is kicking much "coolo" as a modified 2.5, can't wait to get to 3.0 164S specs for the street later this year (my Christmas present?) and maybe Columbo Corsa cams in between smog checks.

Back to audio...I'm on the cheap for a cartridge. Any thoughts? Thought about a Grado Reference Sonata -- but my buddy with an Alexandria had hum up the you-know-what. I'd like to stay at $500-$700 "retail". My table has a Monster Alpha Genisis 2 which needs to be re-tipped. Everyone I've spoken to says it's not worth it. My budget standby, Blue Point Special, seems like it doesn't live up to my upgrade in tables. What to do?

Thanks, Jim.