More Advice Needed, Please

I think that i've asked something like this before but i'm struggling to find the thread, so i'm be a lazy so and so and ask again.

I've decided to spend yet more money on a new TT. I'm going to the Michell Gyrodec SE with Technoarm.

Could anyone please suggest a suitable cartridge, either MM or MC. I don't want a "skies the limit" cartridge, but i'm deliberately not putting a limit on the cart.

Would it be possible for you also to identify the reasons for your choice?

Thank you all in advance

Clint

 

Hi Clint,

You have a good choice.

Round the £100 to £150 mark you can look at

Nottingham Analogue Tracer 1 £115
Ortofon MC15 £150 (MC)
Denon 103 £100 (MC)
Goldring 1042 £150
Goldring Eroica £150 (MC)

You should be able to pick up most of these for less money.

I have used both the Goldrings in my time and found them quite enjoyable. Good even sound quality. I like the look of the Denon cartridge. This has many fans at the moment. I have a Denon 304 which is excellent value for money with a very good sense of detail and resolution. I have heard a system with a Tracer 1 on a Rega arm sounding very good. I have always been a fan of Ortofon cartridges and used many. I haven't owned a MC15 but have heard
one sounding very fine in a few systems.

These should good staters to go on.

SCIDB

 

I've just ordered a shure V15 for £140 from hong kong, these retail here at £300 and up!

 

Thanks SCIDB, I think that you're choices are very good. I won't get chance to listen to them before I buy, but they are considerably cheaper than the £380+ quoted to re-tip my Kontrapunkt B cartridge.

AK, i've been communicating with the eBay seller regarding this. But before I buy, I'd like some members to recommend the cartridge. I will then collate the most common (and respected) choice.

That way, I get the experience of the other members without having to buy each recommended cartridge (lazy bar-stead)

Thanks again

Clint

 

i second the denon 103 im about to try and get one myself. it was my dealers first recommendation.. and they are great very well experienced guys that specialis in vinyl.

He thinks its the best i can do for this side of £200

 

just to make sure - did you consider/audition Nottigham Spacedeck?
if not - you definitely should gie it a try.

 

Thanks Shrink for the 2nd vote, i'll be looking out for more suggestions before I come to a decision, but it's looking good for a Denon.

I will probably need to ask where would be the best places to purchase the cartridges once a decision has been reached.

Hi Croc, I'm afraid that you're a little too late. I've ordered the Michell already. Is the spacedeck the one that was reviewed in the December issue of Hifi Plush (or World or News or Place or Car or....)?

It seemed to get a glowing review. However, i've decided that the Michell should give me the lift that I need and I can do some upgrades to it should I desire. But thanks for pointing it out. How have you found yours?

Clint

 

Hi Chaps, I have another question that i'd like to ask. But rather than start a new thread, i'm going to "tack" it onto the end of this one. Please don't forget to answer the original question as well as you so desire.

I have a EAR 834P MM/MC phono stage. I bought it 2nd hand and I don't know the history of the unit. Does anyone think that it would be worth servicing? I've got a quote of around £70 - £100, but would it be make any difference?

Thanks again all

Clint

 

hmmm, it may benefit from some new valves.

You can do this yourself easily, just open the cover, pull the old valves out gently but firmly.

Note which one was were...I think they are ecc83, ecc82, ecc83 from memory.

Get some decent branded ones like JJ tesla, from any tube store online.

simply pop them in the right way...carefully look at the pins and then the socket.

Put cover on, plug and play. Remember to switch off first and leave at least 15 mins as there are 300 volts inside this.

Dead easy, can't go wrong. try for starters.

if you put in google

denon 103 germany,

I tried this fella against a kontra b, a rohmann, the rohmann I kept over the kontra b, but i liked em both, but the 103 did make the £1k rohmann a bit redundant, it was a bit better, but not £900 worth. Still liked them all.

you can get em there for £90 or so, perfect sellers. Bit different to the kontra b, laid back, ever so slight sibilance, but will beat most mm's at most prices. very listenable.

 

So another vote for the Denon 103. It looks as if this may be the cartridge. I'm going to let this thread run until next week (hopefully by then the Gyrodec will have arrived ) and get the most popular one.

Data, I will definately have a look into changing the valves. Is that that only servicable part inside the stage? Will new valves change the sound significantly?

Thanks all

Clint

 

I don't know, they may be fairly new, if so not really,but there is no way of really telling.
the rest of it shouldn' t really need anything doing. only thing is the psu caps. after 10 yrs, and I am not sure that would be done at a regular service, all I think they do is replace valves, a squirt , and a clean up really.
you can squirt the inside pcb/volume control if its dusty with either car start stuff or isopropyl alcohol, and really gently swab it away, definately switched off.
Not really anything else to do unless you know what you are doing.

 

Actually that doesn't sound too bad a deal to me. I've never heard it myself but I've never heard a bad thing said about the Kontrapunkt b, just glowing reviews. New they are about £700 or so.

I have a Tracer 1 on my new rig and a Shure V15VxMR on my old rig (Michell Focus One). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either of them, but can't really comment how they compare exactly as I haven't yet tried them both on the same rig and have only had the new setup a couple of weeks. Will be doing so as soon as my new stylus for the V15 comes back from Shure ($50 direct from Shure, £200 retail here - figure that one out ) at which point its going in the spacearm for a test. The only obvious point of difference I would say is that the Shure seemed better able to cope with less than pristine vinyl. Of course if you pay retail for it, its almost three times the price of the Tracer.

I'd also chuck in the suggestion of the Ortofon 530 II (MM) - about £100 or so.

 

Thanks Data, i'll call up EAR and see what they would consider doing. If it's only the Valves then i'll have a go myself. What about the sound, should I be surprised if the sound changes significantly different with new valves?

Thanks Uncle. the emporium (www.emporiumhifi.com) is selling the Kontrapunkt B for £500), so I have that figure in mind when I complained about the re-building price.

AK mentioned earlier about the Shure V15 for around £150 from ebay. I've spoken to the seller and he seems genuine. Any thoughts (baring in mind the lovely Denon 103 which I saw for around £85)?

Thanks all

Clint

 

Re the Kontrapunkt - just shows the importance of shopping around eh

For £150 the V15 is a bargain - could be a little laidback at the top for some tastes - but I reckon it just plays it as it is - other than its bulletproof.

Lots of nice things are said about the budget Denon - never tried it myself and haven't really been tempted as I'm not sure the conical tip would cope too well with some of the more distressed vinyl I own, which is why the V15 works so well for me. I'd also have to get an MC stage or a step up tranny and if I was going low output MC I'd probably up the budget a fair bit anyway.

 

Regarding the Kontrapunkt 'B'. Look up either '2juki' or 'vellbergaudio' on ebay.com - both sell Ortofons for considerably less than UK retail and both should be able to supply a Kontrapunkt to you, just email them if none are listed at present. I purchased mine through vellberg and I know of a number of others who have, too, as well as some who have purchased through 2juki. Brand new 'B' cart should come in at around UK£350.00 including shipping and cash transfer fees.

Hope that helps,

Chris.

 

Hi,

The Denon 103R is a wonderful sounding cartridge at it's price. I have one it probably punches 50% to 75% above it's price range.

But it is not a Kontrapunkt 'B'.

I guess that if you don't have the Kontrapunkt 'B' re tipped it is of relatively little value to you. (You could try to sell on e-bay as a p/ex starter). Therefore why don't you consider having the Kontrapunkt 'B' re-tipped by the Expert Stylus Company, at a cost of under £220.00 it should at least be considered.

(According to trade rumours you would be surprised how many manufacturers offer re tipping and send to Expert Stylus Co.)

Ken

 

Uncle, do you have a link for the $50 stylus from shure, I have a V15 coming from hon kong and with them being no longer made, I would like another stylus to put away.

 

Lordsummmit asked the same question by PM - here's what I wrote:

Take a look here:

http://www.shure.com/sales-service/...olicies_us.html

About two thirds of the way down you'll see replacements for VN series styli are $50 and there is an address. This is their US service policy, but they are happy to do this for UK customers too.

Send the stylus off to the address on this page with your credit card details and they will send you a new stylus for $50 +p&p (which won't be much on a stylus) - there is an outside chance customs might tap you as well, but on something this small, probably not. Beats paying 200 quid anyway.

Mine hasn't come back yet (I only sent it yesterday), but I know Goomer did this on a V15III and got it back with a brand new MR stylus.

Tony

 

Thanks for the link UA.

 

Hmm. But I just noticed you want this in addition to your good stylus - Its an exchange scheme so they need the old one, but I have heard that if you send them the cart without stylus and claim you haven't got a stylus they'll do it anyway (but that is a bit sneaky and dishonest - might be worth a go though :JPS:, probably best to email and ask - they get back pretty quick)