Super Gold

[Tolstoi]

Hello,

last week my London Decca Super Gold arrived. Yes, I'm fascinated by the sound. Coming from an MC I instantly noticed how loud it is. I had to turn back the volume immediately. After the first two records you could be tempted to think that this cartridge can be too much - too vivid and overwhelming, but that impression gets settled soon and you just enjoy the performance.

The build quality is a little on the DIY side at least visually, but that's quite charming too nowadays, isn't it? The cartridge moves in the Decca Pod if you fiddle with the headshell wires. I expected the pod to be fastened tightly to the cartridge.

The sound is incredible. I've got it set up on a SL-110 with a 12" Jelco. Wide soundstage, details I've never heard before and bass, a lot of it. Double bass sounds fantastic, electric bass too. Drums, snares, high hats - all there. But you also get a smoothness in playback which is really pleasant. Leonard Cohens picking on the guitar is reproduced very detailed. Can't wait to get Nick Drakes Five Leaves Left on vinyl.

One thing I noticed is that I get a slight hum when the cartrige gets nearer to the center of the spindle, but I can live with that. Perhaps someone has a workaround if there is one.

Joerg

[Jimbo]

Hello,

last week my London Decca Super Gold arrived. Yes, I'm fascinated by the sound. Coming from an MC I instantly noticed how loud it is. I had to turn back the volume immediately. After the first two records you could be tempted to think that this cartridge can be too much - too vivid and overwhelming, but that impression gets settled soon and you just enjoy the performance.

The build quality is a little on the DIY side at least visually, but that's quite charming too nowadays, isn't it? The cartridge moves in the Decca Pod if you fiddle with the headshell wires. I expected the pod to be fastened tightly to the cartridge.

The sound is incredible. I've got it set up on a SL-110 with a 12" Jelco. Wide soundstage, details I've never heard before and bass, a lot of it. Double bass sounds fantastic, electric bass too. Drums, snares, high hats - all there. But you also get a smoothness in playback which is really pleasant. Leonard Cohens picking on the guitar is reproduced very detailed. Can't wait to get Nick Drakes Five Leaves Left on vinyl.

One thing I noticed is that I get a slight hum when the cartrige gets nearer to the center of the spindle, but I can live with that. Perhaps someone has a workaround if there is one.

Joerg

Deccas are susceptible to picking up motor hum.

[Tolstoi]

Yes, I've read about that. It didn't effect my listening experience, at least I didn't hear any hum during playback.