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Thread: Philips GP390 Ceramic cartridge NOS 1970s

  1. #21
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

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    Yeah Jerry and I are playing with our Apart amps now - in synch - but at different venues.

  2. #22
    Join Date: Oct 2011

    Location: Nothamptonshire

    Posts: 164
    I'm Sharif.

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    Later today I'll try the unused GP390 I have in a Rega RB300 on a Thorens TD160 Super and I'll let you know how it sound.

    Then I'll try swapping them over between the Phonosophie and Thorens turntables, I should get some idea of the differences.

    Sharif.

  3. #23
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    That'll be interesting, Sharif. Look forward to reading your observations

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  4. #24
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: gone

    Posts: 11,519
    I'm gone.

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    Right.
    Immediate excitement over new amp is now over. Back to the ceramic Philips 390.

    Increased VTF to 2,5g from 1.7g. Couldn't hear a difference.
    Added headshell mass: 2p + blu-tac. Couldn't hear a difference.

    ah well. No matter - will continue letting it run in.

    I'm using my only spare headshell - a tatty, scrawny aged thing. Where have my spares gone? Baffling. Maybe in my mid-Wales ranchette?
    Anyway, hopefully a decent one I ordered 2 days ago will turn up today.
    Getting a fair bit of hum. Not LOUD, but still noticeable. That's with both my Marantz and Audiolab 'stages.

    Also needle talk is very loud!! Well loud for needle talk, not loud loud, if you know what I mean!
    Can't hear it while music is playing at sensible level but very noticeable if the sound is off.

    The sound quality?
    It really is very good. Still a fair bit bright, but excellent detail and image focus. Loads of in-room you-are-there presence. Waaaay beyond its £37.50 price point. Definitely in the multi-£100 league.
    Loads more listening as well as running in to do. I've focused so far on classical choons - but a couple of Yello LPs will get an airing today.
    .

  5. #25
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jandl100 View Post
    Right.
    Immediate excitement over new amp is now over. Back to the ceramic Philips 390.

    Increased VTF to 2,5g from 1.7g. Couldn't hear a difference.
    Added headshell mass: 2p + blu-tac. Couldn't hear a difference.
    Oh well, worth a try!

    Still, that is *most* unusual... Can you think of any other cartridge you've used, which you've done that to, and there hasn't been a difference? I can't.

    A 'tracking force and mass-agnostic' cartridge? Weird, man... Anyway, it sounds good and is a Billy Bargain, so all is well

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  6. #26
    Join Date: Oct 2011

    Location: Nothamptonshire

    Posts: 164
    I'm Sharif.

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    I now remember how I settled on 2.1g it was to track a hot cut drum & bass record.

    Last night I tried tracking at different VTF from 1.7 - 2.5g and the sound did not change.

    There is a small tilt in the bass of about -1.5db @ 50Hz above 500Hz the GP390 has a flat response up to the tip resonance of 15.5kHz it then rises to about +1db to 20kHz.

    Jerry I could send you a passive adaptor to correct the -1.5db bass loss this will bring a more balance sound, this is what I use to correct the bass drop.

    It plug’s in between your phonostage and your preamp as I don’t think you will be able to compensate for it using a tone control.

    Sharif.

  7. #27
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: gone

    Posts: 11,519
    I'm gone.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Audioflyer View Post
    I now remember how I settled on 2.1g it was to track a hot cut drum & bass record.

    Last night I tried tracking at different VTF from 1.7 - 2.5g and the sound did not change.

    There is a small tilt in the bass of about -1.5db @ 50Hz above 500Hz the GP390 has a flat response up to the tip resonance of 15.5kHz it then rises to about +1db to 20kHz.

    Jerry I could send you a passive adaptor to correct the -1.5db bass loss this will bring a more balance sound, this is what I use to correct the bass drop.

    It plug’s in between your phonostage and your preamp as I don’t think you will be able to compensate for it using a tone control.

    Sharif.
    Ah - so I am not going deaf, Sharif, you agree that the sound really does not change with VTF! Phew.

    Thank you for the offer of the bass loss adaptor - I shall PM you my address!
    .

  8. #28
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,669
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

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    Sharif, what is this adaptor please, do you have a link?
    “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”

    Hunter S Thompson

  9. #29
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jandl100 View Post
    Ah - so I am not going deaf, Sharif, you agree that the sound really does not change with VTF! Phew.

    Thank you for the offer of the bass loss adaptor - I shall PM you my address!
    I'm with Marco - 2p piece some blu tak and no change in sound? Baffles me.

    That sort of thing will quite radically alter resonance. Strange indeed.
    Last edited by User211; 24-03-2016 at 18:31. Reason: Duff post WRT quotes/typos etc

  10. #30
    Join Date: Oct 2011

    Location: Nothamptonshire

    Posts: 164
    I'm Sharif.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ali Tait View Post
    Sharif, what is this adaptor please, do you have a link?
    It's a home made adaptor the only penalty is a small insertion loss, I've attached the circuit here.



    Sharif.

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