Sansui SR222 MK 2 turntable arm compatibilty with Goldring IGC900 cartridge?

[Londonman]

I've just joined this forum and I was hoping someone here could help me given I'm rediscovering the joy of playing records again. My Sansui SR 222 Mk 2 was bought from new (78?)) and has all but outlived me And to my delight it still works like a charm (new belt and a bit of oil!) with its matching Sansui AU317 amp and equally aged Tangent RS2 speakers. They say if you're happy with the sound then it's all good and that's the case up until the stylus/cartridge issue.
I have the turntable's original Ortofon ff15mk2 cartridge but the stylus is knackered and of course long unavailable. So a friend has given me his equally aged 80's Goldring IGC 900 cartridge but it too will need a stylus. From what I read this is an amazing cartridge but I'm reluctant to fork out for a shibata (which I understand is closest to its original, long gone IGC stylus) if the compliance issue (low which I'm lead to understand means the stylus mount is not very springy) means it simply won't work well on my turntable arm which is the original that came with the deck way back when?
Maybe I'm reading too much but as an old fart rediscovering this joy, I'm learning as much as I can! So maybe someone on this forum can help with this query?
Many thanks and a happy new year! Joss

 

[Sergeauckland]

The Shibata (or any modern line-contact) stylus will give you a better sound than a cheaper alternative, so if you can still get a Shibata stylus for the G900, that's what I would do. As to compliance, it's unlikely to be a serious problem. Your SR222 has a low-medium mass arm, assuming you have the original headshell. This means that if the arm mass is too low, it's easy to add a bit of extra mass in the form of a small weight, or a change of headshell for a heavier one. You'll need a test LP with a set of resonance tracks, and check that the arm/cartridge resonance is somewhere between 8 and 14Hz, ideally 11Hz. If the resonant frequency is above that, add a small amount of bluetack to the headshell and rebalance the arm, and test again. In the unlikely event that the resonant frequency is too low, that indicates excessive mass, which is a lot harder to deal with, but I can't see that being the case.
The only proviso I can think of is that adding mass to the headshell will require the arm counterweight to go further back, and you could possibly run out of adjustment. Unlikely, but possible. The answer to this is again bluetack on the counterweight to make that a bit heavier. Once you have the arm resonance correct, you can replace the bits of bluetack with something more permanent, perhaps a small shim of brass or lead.

None of this is critical, just get the arm resonance at 11Hz +- 3 Hz, and you'll be fine.

Hope this helps

S

 

[Londonman]

Oh thank you so much. That's wonderful and so readily and comprehensively explained. Good to know that this beautiful cartridge may well work out. I do have the original Sansui (which seems very light) and a heavier, titanium headshell somewhere should the need arise and a friend who's a record dealer from whom I can blag a test record so that's all good. Now to go shopping for that Shibata stylus. Many thanks again and all best wishes from London. Joss

 

[Gryphon]

It is hard to find the data BUT .......One of the later SR222 variants is listed as 15 grams effective mass on the Tonearm database. Now that puts you in the medium compliance area.... Ortofon FF15 is Dynamic Compliance: x 10-6cm/Dyne....this is suited to a higher mass arm than yours .The Goldring is hard to find but the static is listed and approx conversion to dynamic gives between 25 to 30 which is high. That too is outside the best for your arm which would work best with a cartridge of around 20cu.

 

[sktn77a]

You can certainly get a replacement stylus for the Goldring, which should work fine in your SR222. Or for less money, you can get a replacement Ortofon stylus for the original cartridge. I think people put too much emphasis on arm/cartridge matching/resonant frequency. I used a Denon 103D in an SME 3009 arm for many years and currently use an AT 760SLC cartridge in a Linn Ekos arm, neither of which would be described as an ideal match but both of which have performed admirably with no issues.