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March 20, 2009 - 8:05pm
#1
WaHooooo - Finally I have clean, pop and click free records!!
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I recently got a used VPI and know exactly what you experienced.
Its now Spyro Gyra, Dave Grusin, Marshall Tucker day and I begin to wonder what I was/am missing without upgrading the cartridge now.
This Grado Blue is wonderful but with so many other choices I begin to question whether to upgrade or not. Or do I just go and sell it all (two tables) and get the new Pro-ject Expression III.
My world is just pulling me in all directions.
Don
Many congratulations!
Congrats- I don't think I ever quite believed how much they could do until I got one.
BTW- the Grado wood carts are excellent- maybe somehting to consider if it's in the budget.
The budget went right down the tubes this week as I ended up coming home today with a new Pro-ject Expression III and a used equipment stand to put it on.
Put the Grado Blue on it and its amazing.
Now I need to figure out where this needle is to land on the alignment gauge. It seems really forward.
Don
Did you try the original supplied cartridge on the table before putting on the Grado? The folks that mount the cartridges to the Project turntables do an excellent job. When I worked at a project dealer I put together literally hundreds of 'tables. Each time double checking the alignment from the factory just because my customer deserved the very best. It was dead on EVERY SINGLE time. They deserve a big thumbs up for that.
A Sumiko Blue Point #2 is KILLER on that table incidentally. KILLER!
This thread is useless without WAVs!
Seriously grats.
The mounted Oyster was perfect. How does a person hold on to the nut when installing a cartridge on this, I had one heck of a time using tweezers, needlenose pliers, and finally laying it flat on a scrrewdriver tip and holding it up against the cartridges bottom.
Thanks for the tip on the Sumiko.
Don
An earlier generation had three distinct skills that defined your manhood. Could you adjust the points and carburator on any automobile, could you properly install a phono cartridge and could you roll a good joint?
Time marches on. It's like we're loosing our need for opposable thumbs.
Wow, I'm in!!
Actually I was really having a hard time at getting the nut close enough to the cartridge for it to align with the screw after I had one installed. It was a challenge.
I wouldn't have had this problem if I took the tonearm off and installed it.
Don
.
It's preferrable to remove a tonearm - or headshell if that's the case - before mounting a cartridge. Otherwise, torquing the nuts on the cartridge could possibly damage the tonearm bearings.
Never would have thought of that. When I upgrade to a better cartridge I'll have to do that. Thanks.
Any other cartridge recommendations out there. I'm really interested in the Blue Point no. 2 now.
Don
So heres a list of some of the cartridges I can probably work up funding for. Anyone have experiences with any of these your input would be great appreciated. I figure any of these would be an upgrade from the Grado Blue I'm using right now.
Ortofon 2M / 2 M Blue
Benz MC20E2
Denon DL 103 MC
Rega Elys 2
Sumiko Blue Point No.2
Thanks, Don
Don't take off the tone arm of that turntable. That's creating a lot of extra for yourself. Just use a twist tie the amp to keep it in the arm holder. That will stop any damage to the bearing.
Thanks for the heads up.
I can see me pacing the room with a tonearm in one hand and some hair from my head in the other.
Don
Me? I'd take the tonearm off the table and take no chances. You can see what you're doing and you have a better chance of getting things right without damage to the stylus. It's the possible twisting of the arm when you torque the bolts that can do the most damage. Taking an arm off and replacing it in the same spot isn't difficult. If the arm doesn't have adjustable VTA, you might be adding spacers anyway.
But, it's your table, you get to decide which way you want to go. What does MF suggest? Anyone know?
I read through the owners manual and it doesn't go into this deep enough and stated to have your dealer install the new cartridge is your not comfortable with installing.
Its probably a good idea for me since my dealer has some extensive experience in much higher end stuff than this TT.
Don
On his set up DVD he doesn't mention taking tonearms off. Well, except with the VPI arm which balances on a single pivot point. When I set up VPI I did take the arm off, but that's because of the type are that it is.
Oh Happy Day! Just received my new Audio Quest Interconnects for the Pro-ject and right now I'm really enjoying the Grado Blue cartridge. Can't want for the cables to break in.
I guess its time to clean some LPs vinyl and enjoy an evening with some mojitos.
Don
I've been using various generations of Audioquest in my for about 9 years now. Do your Audioquest have the DBS bias system? If not they take FOREVER to break in (not a bad thing, just a fact of life) with big changes up to 150 hours and smaller changes all of the way out to 300 hours. The non-DBS units I'd recommend hooking them up to a CD player or FM tuner and putting music through them continuously for 300 hours. The amp doesn't need to be left on for this to be effective, though I usually leave the preamp on.
"Ortofon 2M / 2 M Blue
Benz MC20E2
Denon DL 103 MC
Rega Elys 2
Sumiko Blue Point No.2"
I can't compare them but I have the Sumiko Blue Point 2 and am very happy with it and seems to be very good for its price point. Had the Blue Point before it, I liked it, and the #2 is (for me) a slight improvement over the original.
Thanks for the input. Thats two so far recommending the Sumiko Blue Point No.2.
Don
Thanks, I have the wife disappearing for a few weeks so it should be a good time for me to do this.
Don
I'm still good for all three.
The best deal is still to wait for the RIGHT dead cartridge to show up on Audiogon (maybe $150)..and then send it to these guys:
http://www.sound-smith.com/retip/
Then you can have an awesome cartridge.. for very little money.
I've got a couple of Ortofons I've been meaning to send to these guys - An MC20 Super and and MC30 Super.
Here's a damn find cartridge that will walk all over the sumiko..and an amazing price.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1241793450&/Audio-Technica-at-oc9ml/ii-mc
as to the earlier point..here be exhibit A, and then send into soundsmith for a ruby line contact retip. This means you'd have the equivalent of a modernized Koetsu..for $350:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1241106760&/Supex-901-super
The key point about the Supex being:"designed by Sugano-san of Koetsu..."
And a personal favorite of mine..I'm a HUGE fan of low output MC's:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1240686623&/Goldring-Eroica-lx-low-output-mc