That was the question I asked myself after auditioning the high-compliance, moving-magnet Audio-Technica AT-ML 150/OCC and Shure V15-VMR phono cartridges in two different settings. Why two? Well, the sound I got from each was so different in the Rega 9 'table—review to appear next month—I figured I'd better give them both another shot someplace else. So I mounted them in a couple of Graham…
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How can two meticulously built, high-technology, high-performance, premium-quality moving-magnet cartridges that measure so well (according to their manufacturer-supplied specs) sound so different?
Sidebar: Specifications
Description: Moving-magnet cartridge with Vector-Aligned dual magnets, PCOCC "Paratoroidal" Coils, 0.3mm-diameter gold-plated beryllium cantilever, MicroLine stylus, ceramic mounting base. Source resistance: n/a. Source inductance: n/a. Recommended stylus downforce: 1.25gm, ±0.3gm. Channel separation: 31dB at 1kHz; 21dB at 10kHz. Frequency range: 10Hz–30kHz. Output: 4mV RMS (5cm/s, 1kHz). Recommended load: 47k ohms in parallel with 100–200pF. Vertical tracking angle: 20°.
Weight: Not stated
Serial number of unit reviewed: Not noted.
Price: $400 (1999…
The Talisman S represented, ca 1983, the top of Sumiko's moving-coil cartridge line and shared its design philosophy and external appearance with the Talisman A and B, the remaining two cartridges in the Talisman family before the introduction of the Virtuoso line. The three differed only in cantilever material and stylus shape. The A, the least expensive, had an aluminum alloy cantilever and an elliptical diamond stylus. The B, which retailed for $50 less than the S, had a boron tube cantilever at the tip of which was attached a grain-oriented line-contact diamond stylus. (The current…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Low-output moving-coil cartridge. Output: 0.25mV (1kHz–5cm/s). Optimum load impedance: 40–100 ohms. Channel separation: 30dB at 1kHz. Channel balance: 0.5dB at 1kHz. Frequency response: 10Hz–60kHz, +2, –1dB. Tracking ability: 80cm/s at 315Hz. Lateral and vertical dynamic compliance: 15cu. Recommended tracking force: 2gm. Stylus type: line contact. Tip radii: 2×120µmm. Cantilever: Sapphire tube. Cartridge weight: 6.3gm.
Price: $395, with van den Hul stylus (1989); no longer available (2020). Approximate number of US dealers: 400.
US…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
The system I use for audition of components is one which has given me much listening pleasure over the years and has not stressed my rather limited budget. The front end consists of the Systemdek IIX turntable to which is attached a vintage Infinity Black Widow II tonearm. This unit sits on Tiptoes, which, in turn, rest upon a solid birch shelf. The preamplifier is the much admired PS Audio Model 4.5, used in its Straightwire mode with the MM/MC switch set to MC. This configuration gave me more than enough gain to listen at realistic volume levels, even…
This is the fourth year Stereophile has named a select few components as "Products of the Year." By doing so, we intend to give recognition to those components that have proved capable of giving pleasure beyond the formal review period.
There are six individual categories: Loudspeakers (including subwoofers); Amplification Components (preamplifiers, power amplifiers, etc.); Digital Sources (CD players, transports, processors); Analog Sources (phono cartridges, turntables, tonearms, FM tuners, etc.); Home Theater Components (other than video); and Accessories (everything else).
…
Loudspeaker of 1995
Wilson Audio Specialties X-1/Grand SLAMM ($67,500/pair; reviewed by Martin Colloms, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audio Physic Virgo ($4995/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995 Review)
Cello Stradivari Master ($30,000/pair; reviewed by Lewis Lipnick, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995)
Energy Veritas v2.8 ($6000/pair; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 Nos.6 & 10, June & October 1995 Review)
Infinity Composition Prelude P-FR ($3000/pair; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.9, and…
Amplification Component of 1995
Pass Labs Aleph 0 monoblock power amplifier ($7000/pair; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Cary Audio Design CAD-300SEI integrated amplifier ($3395; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995 Review)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eight monoblock power amplifier ($15,990/pair; reviewed by Jack English, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven A power amplifier ($3495; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.8, August 1995; and John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995…
Digital Source of 1995
Spectral SDR-2000 Professional HDCD D/A processor ($8895; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995; and Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.11, November 1995 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audio Alchemy DTIPro ($1295, since replaced by the Audio Alchemy DTIPro 32; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.17 No.11, November 1994, and Vol.18 No.3, March 1995 Review)
Krell KPS-20iL CD player/digital control center ($11,000; reviewed by Martin Colloms, Vol.18 No.10, October 1995 Review)
Mark Levinson No.30.5 HDCD D/A processor ($15,950; reviewed…
Analog Source of 1995
Graham 1.5-T/C tonearm ($2900; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.14 No.3, March 1991; Thomas J. Norton, Vol.14 No.8, 1991; and Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.6, June 1995 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Stabi turntable and Stogi tonearm ($3150; reviewed by Guy Lemcoe, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995 Review)
Symphonic Line RG-8 Gold phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.2, February 1993; and Jack English and Jonathan Scull, Vol.18 No.2, February 1995)
van den Hul Grasshopper IV phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Jonathan Scull,…