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Do I Have the Wrong Cartridge?

I recently got back into playing vinyl on my Linn Axis (fully serviced), but needed a new cart. Since 80% of my listening is on an ARC CD3 and not knowing how often I’ll use the TT, I set a budget of only $300 on a MM and went to my local HiFi shop. They recommended a Rega Elys II.

Now to my problem...I listen to classical music and it sounds awful with this cart; strings and brass are harsh and music sounds thin overall. All my LPs are top class, pressed in Germany and Holland.
To test my TT, I played some Rock albums and they all sounded excellent; great dynamics, wide soundstaging. Records played were a wide variety; Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orch, Kraftwerk.

So I ask you, can a middle of the road cartridge like this Rega only sound good on a particular style of music? I was told this Rega was a good all-around cart and BTW, it’s non-returnable.

Looking for any explanation and advice.
Many thanks.
128x128lowrider57
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Hi Lowrider,

What phono stage are you using? And how long is your phono cable? I'm wondering if load capacitance, which is affected by both of those things, could be a contributing factor. Rega doesn't seem to specify a load capacitance recommendation for the cartridge, but their own MM phono stage has a specified input capacitance of 100 pf, which can probably be assumed to be in the right ballpark in combination with typical phono cables and cable lengths.

Also, perhaps additional breakin is needed?

Best regards,
-- Al
manitunc
795 posts
 
Are your classical albums actually recorded in digital and then used to create an analog pressing. If so, and you are comparing to actual analog recorded rock albums, then you will be hearing the garbage digital creates. Most classical albums of the last 30 years were digitally recorded and mastered, so they should sound like crap.
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Manitunc, if you were familiar with Lowrider's posts you would realize that when he says "all my LPs are top class," presumably referring to those he has used in assessing the new cartridge, he knows whereof he speaks.

Also, there are many digitally mastered classical LPs that provide excellent sound quality. Many (although certainly not all) of the 1980's Telarcs, for instance, some of which I recall Lowrider mentioning that he owns.

Regards,
-- Al
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57 OP
5,417 posts
 
Al...The phono stage is a SS built-in to the Rogue Perseus Magnum (4 12AU7 RCA Blackplates). I think resistance is set to 47K ohm for MM. The only settings for capacitance are
150pF and 0 PF. MM has no PF setting.

Manitunc...good question. My Classical collection ranges from 1960 to 1980 Digital masters. The analogue mastered LPs do sound better, but still too lean and sibilant.
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Lowrider, I see what you are referring to, on page 6 of the manual for the Perseus. It makes no sense to me, though, that they would provide a 0/150 pf selection for moving coils, and no capacitance selection for moving magnets. So I'm not sure that the info shown in the manual is correct.

It might be worth your while to open up the preamp, and change the capacitance setting to the opposite of what it is at now. And while you're at it, make sure that resistance is in fact set to 47K, and that gain is set to 45 db and not 65 db.

Hmmm. Come to think of it, the 45 db MM phono stage gain + 15 db line stage gain of that preamp is pretty high for use with that cartridge, which has a specified output under the standard test conditions of "6.8-7.2 mv." Is the harshness and thinness particularly or mainly evident on high volume peaks?

Best regards,
-- Al
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