View Full Version : Decca hum - any ideas?
I am delighted with the sound from my recently refurbished Decca Blue - with many thanks to Brian at Presence Audio for his expert professional help. The sound it produces is simply more musical and involving than any other cartridge I have owned :)
But, (there's always a but) ... try as I might I cannot get rid of a really annoying "humming" from both channels. It becomes noticeable through the speakers when the volume is turned to 3 or above. As the Decca has such a healthy output (5mV) I actually never have it turned up much more than this but clearly that's not the issue. :(
It sounds like an earth loop hum but could also be feedback I suppose. If I put my old cartridge back in then no hum all is perfectly quiet, if I put the Decca in my other system (Technics SL 1210/Quad 33/303) it's as quiet as a mouse so clearly (to my mind anyway) there's some interaction between the Decca and my Origin Live Aurora/Silver II - Croft 25R/Croft 4s).
Anyway I have done everything I can think of to cure it including:
Swapped cartridge tags - tried with 1 earth or both earth tags
Unplugged everything apart from preamp/poweramp and deck
Re-checked all earth points (actually a single earth point)
Tried additional earth points
Re-checked all cable routes
Swapped preamp valves
all to no avail :scratch:
I'm really at a loss to explain this now and was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this or even better had a solution.
Steve
Deccas are prone to hum. I know only too well having struggled to get rid of hum myself. It can be done!
You seem to have looked at most of the usual culprits. With my I had to do to more things.
1) add a ground wire to the wand/headshell to ensure this was directly coupled to ground.
2) use wire from the cartridge tags that is fully screened. I use the 4N screened silver wire Trans-Fi use.
IME slate plinths such as I have on both my decks (mostly with the 301) make hum worse with Deccas, heaven knows why but the 2 measures above give me silence. Persevere, you'll get there, it's well worth it!
Thanks for that Clive - I'm glad it's not just me.
I'll implement your suggestions.
Regards
Steve
The horizontal coil in Decca's isn't sheilded and hum is always a problem. I have a touch in my setup (TD125/Rega R200 with fancy headshell/Deccapodded Microscanner with four terminal block/Croft SMA4PP) but it's well down in level and well below surface noise.
For myself, I'd put the Techie in the main system and upgrade that to get the best out of the Decca. Replacing the Croft Series 4 bloat-box with a Series 7 (R version preferably) would open up the sound of the Epos and also make the super-tweeters redundant.
Sorry, the "audio consultant" in me took over for a few minutes - I still think I'm right though...;)
Make sure the preamp is well away from induced hum from adjacent transformers. Carefully moving it around may show you if this is adding to the effect as hum can be cummulative I found.. (Rega cartridges are very prone to induced hum and Rega told us that fully sheilding them reduces output at the least)
Replacing the Croft Series 4 bloat-box with a Series 7 (R version preferably) would open up the sound of the Epos and also make the super-tweeters redundant.
Thanks for the advice. I'd go along with most but not the above. I've heard the 7R and IMHO it's not in the same league as my 4s which is why although I bought the 25R (sounded better than my previous Vitale) I shunned the 7R
I'm interested in your thoughts about using the Techie in the main system - again I have no issue with this as I really really like it but was under the impression the the Decca would not be a good match for the Jelco SA 750D arm. As this is only has about 50 hours of use I am very reluctant to change it. However, if the received wisdom is that the Decca is OK in this arm then this afternoon will see some deck swapping :)
Steve
You should know by now just how much I admire Glenn's amps, but i do know the series 4S and have compared it to my Quads, as well as an excellent but supremely temperamental OTL Glenn made for a while (in the series 4 case), hence my tongue-in-cheek comment about the bloat-box sonics - it's DEFINITELY on the fullsome and soft side of neutral IMO, let me put it that way - a mate still has one with Pro-Ac Super-Towers.
My opinion of the series 7 is that it's clearer than previous transformer coupled Crofts and has a greater ability to work better in a wider variety of speaker setups, the better the speakers the better it sounds IMO and only Ant's Tube Distinctions models would really turn my head back to tranny-coupled speaker outputs I now think...
Back to the Techie/Decca, which is what this thread is all about (apologies for drifting). The SL1200 series is consistent and utterly durable and reliable and the upgrade path is now well trodden and catalogued on here and elsewhere. I just feel that as you have the techie and knowing how fundamentally neutral and honest it is, even in stock form to a degree, my money would be on this having the greatest potential for sonic excellence with the Decca and you can have some fun along the way. if the OL arm is anything like the one reviewed in HFW not long ago, it'll take off like a buzz-saw in the midband, in an attempt to make the midrange "livelier" with many cartridges, something the Decca in ANY form just doesn't need IMO.
Just my opinion and, even if you don't wish to go the whole Mike New + Hynes route, some sympathetic feet, a better mat and standard Timestep power supply (may be some good used ones available now) will make a beneficial difference, even to the stock arm I reckon, which could do with a Sumiko or similar headshell at the very least before considering a Jelco 750, which, with a touch of damping, should work a treat with Decca's I think.
Hope this helps :)
hifi_dave
13-03-2011, 15:25
In the majority of systems, Decca and London cartridges will 'hum' just a bit. With a well sorted system it is below record surface noise and therefore, not a problem but is there.
However, when I tried the new Albarry pre with built in phono stage the other week, the London which hums with every other amp/pre was totally silent. Not sure why but it was as quiet as any shielded MM cartridge...:scratch:
Hi Dave.
Well the sun was shining and the hospital is quiet (on-call this weekend) so took the plunge and swapped the decks out.
The Decca is now in my Technics (already has Timestep PSU/isonoe feet/achromat/new bearing with KAB support wax/Jelco SA 750D with custom arm collar and Timestep mount) and is sounding superb thank you very much.
There is still a bit of hum but I guess this is down to the amps but it sounds absolutely wonderful (I was pretty pleased with it in the OL to be honest).
I've put my NOS Nagaoka MP11 Boron into the OL - it tracks like on rails - even the 4th HfN test track!
Back to the Croft power amps. All in the ear of the beholder I guess - however for what it's worth I spent a load of dollar on valves various NOS GEC 6550's, Telefunken EL519's, NOS Brimar ECC83, NOS RCA long black plate BH7A's in the 4s- in the 25R NOS Phillips Miniwatt 12AX7's and a NOS Telefunken ECC801S in the phono stage) to "tune" it how I like it so maybe that's the difference.
Regards
Steve
The Series 4 power amp has proved its worth as a reliable amp of huge charm and that's all that matters at the end of the day isn't it? :)
Glad you like the Techie in its new home. I didn't realise you already had the Jelco - one for me to get for my Decca, as the Rega R200 can't be height adjusted easily.
I think some of you should look out for the new Albarry's. I suspect that they'll be REALLY good ss amps and if the preamp compares sonically with the Croft but without hums and hisses plus ONE volume control??????????????
I think some of you should look out for the new Albarry's. I suspect that they'll be REALLY good ss amps and if the preamp compares sonically with the Croft but without hums and hisses plus ONE volume control??????????????
Is HiFi_Dave stocking them? (I know he talked about them, having heard them at his place?) Would be interesting to hear the new Croft integrated too, wouldn't it? (HINT HINT!) ;)
I've never encountered any problems with hum with any of my Deccas. However despite being used with a number of different arms, they have always been used with a Thorens TD124/II turntable. I guess I have been lucky, as the design of the Decca does not make it immune to hum - most of the hum is due to picking up the stray field from the turntable motor.
You should have no problems running a Decca in a Jelco arm - but you must fit both earth leads (blue and white) to the centre pin on the cartridge. Marco has heard such an arrangement on his Technics/Jelco and went into raptures over its performance.
Not the most accurate of cartridges, the Decca does however do things that few others (if any) can emulate. I always have one available for use.
Regards
Barry, IN THE RIGHT TURNTABLE, the Decca with decent tip and build is probably the most accurate cartridge you'll ever hear - honest guv...
Removing the awful plastic mounting and getting the four-pin connector on the back, as mine now has, makes using it in a solid shell and lightly damped arm a doddle. I've added mass to the headshell (a Sumiko like Nagaoka) for the R200 and it's ok, but a proper solid arm and turntable will work wonders - a TD124 may just be a bit fey for it as the 125 is, I don't know...
The main thing with London series Decca's is the extreme treble behaviour. The Microscanner does seem well behaved up to 19KHz (according to tests) and even then, any anomalies are minimal. the silver Export and Maroon models used to go mad at 11Khz upwards and this could be a real problem with some phono stages not being able to handle it I think.
And what would the 'right' turntable be?
By describing the Decca as "not the most accurate of cartridges", I meant not tonally accurate: the harmonic structure of many notes is not correct. This is due to the treble problems that most Deccas have, even if they do have the flattest mid range I have ever seen.
I would also disagree over the absolute necessity to remove the "awful plastic mounting". This sort of thinking goes back to the bad old days of Linn, whereby cartridges had to be fitted into the pickup arm and the fixings tightened up to such an extent that the fixing lugs would be physically damaged! The Decca is of such a unique and singular design that the usual rules do not necessarily apply. Indeed it was recognised long ago by some users that the Decca is the only cartridge that can actually benefit by having some form of decoupling between it and the arm: the Cartridge Man markets a hugely overpriced 'cartridge decoupler' for such use.
I have used Deccas either mounted using the GB mounting block (now adopted by Presence Audio as the 'Deccapod'), or the plastic mounting hardware. In my experience (of four cartridges) the fit between the cartridge and contact block is sufficiently tight that the cartridge cannot rock, and can only be removed by using something like an Allen key as a lever. Some people have reported the need to push some 'Blu tack' between the top of the cartridge and the headshell. I cannot comment as I have never tried it, nor felt the need to do so.
Would agree that some damping is necessary (and in the case of unipivot arms, essential).
Despite our differences over installation, I think we would agree that a Decca 'on song' displays a life and sheer presence that gets to the heart and soul of the record. I believe this is due to the phenominal attack of the Decca: our ears are developed such that leading edge information, that is, how sounds start is of paramount importance. This the Decca does extremely well, with jaw-dropping acumen - it's how it deals with the remainder of the note that I would possibly question.
Having said that, I would also say that the Decca is a cartidge that remains permanently set up on one of my decks. It is not the only cartridge I use, nor would I want it to be so but a properly set up Decca gets some things right that others cannot.
Regards
All I can say is that now the Decca (and this is an original Blue overhauled by Brian at Presence Audio with a 4-pin plastic carrier and plastic screws) is setup in my Jelco SA 750D I have never heard my vinyl sound so musical and involving. It is just brilliant. I have a MINT tractor for the Techie/Jelco which IMHO allows for an accurate cartridge/stylus alignment - VTF is 2.5 g - it tracks very well (first 3 tracks of HfN record with ease and almost perfect on track 4 as well). There is still a little hum but I think this is likely some feedback from my valve amps as I'm very restricted where I can place them.
Steve
decca cartridges are the best...and in a favourable system, carefully set up....a decca will be unsurpassed by any other cartridges, even $15,000 coralstone encrusted bling. fact
to reduce hum I have my system encased in lead:stalks:.
I loved the Decca London Gold Barry loaned me. It was expertly set-up, and sang as sweetly as a loved-up canary on the end of the Jelco on the Techie.
It certainly entranced me enough to consider buying one (I also want an EMT), so I will likely do that once I've satisfied some other more pressing audio desires, such as a new Ortofon tonearm to replace the Jelco:
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/8646/rs212d309db.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/rs212d309db.jpg/)
The one shown on the left. I would also like one of the better SPUs (which is ultimately where my real cartridge passion lies), possibly a Meister Silver, and the top of the range A23 SUT:
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/925/auditorium23homage.jpg (http://img864.imageshack.us/i/auditorium23homage.jpg/)
Those are the toys I plan on buying during the course of this year :cool:
Marco.
hifi_dave
15-03-2011, 15:22
The 12 inch Ortofon sounds better than the 9 inch..:eyebrows:
Yesh, daddy, but it won't fit on my Techie! ;)
Marco.
Beobloke
15-03-2011, 16:24
It certainly entranced me enough to consider buying one (I also want an EMT), so I will likely do that once I've satisfied some other more pressing audio desires, such as a new Ortofon tonearm to replace the Jelco:
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/8646/rs212d309db.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/rs212d309db.jpg/)
The one shown on the left.
You'll probably have to go secondhand for that arm, Marco. Ortofon have now discontinued the 9 inch versions of the AS and RS series arms and the only nine incher they do now is the TA-110 which I can't quite place but looks very familiar somehow...
Details here - http://www.ortofon.com/products/tonearms
hifi_dave
15-03-2011, 16:56
Yesh, daddy, but it won't fit on my Techie! ;)
Marco.
Sonny boy, I realise that.
Time you got yourself a proper turntable...:eyebrows:
Why should the 12" sound better? These were only made to play 16" acetates and the theoretical improvement in tracking error is just that (when all the other distortions are taken into account) - theoretical... Obviously if you want one to complete the SPU setup, then fine, but I bet a 12" jelco is no worse than the profit laden Ortofon, which has distributor margins built in as well as the dealer and I bet this more than doubles the price over the Jelco - (knowing how much markup Ortofon used to have where packaging often cost more than the cartridge...).
Barry - I have compared my cartridge to masters and the sonics are so close it can be unreal. I'd forgotten this until I resurrected it once repaired and although it lacks the slam I remember from my best turntable (NAS Mentor), the shivers-down-the-spine are still there.
Right - a good turntable for the Decca. I'm obviously emotionally biased here, but the bigger NAS turntables and arms are a marriage made in heaven, the graphite top platter interacting superbly with the Decca's mechanics. It really does seem that the better the diamond profile, the less of a problem the extreme treble is and obviously arm damping and resonances aids this as well. You can always tell if a Decca is misbehaving as the nasal sounding "snap" as the stylus enters the groove is quite pronounced. Mine is the most "normal" I've so far tried, although a VDH tipped Export Silver sounded fantastic in an old NAS Omega point arm on a Bastin'd Garrard 301 - lovely :)
I've recently discovered that the Decca's aren't the only cartridges to do this, but the sense of utter realism from a sorted 'Podded one is breathtaking and makes most other cartridges sound slushy and indistinct. The phono stage has to have a huge overload margin though (75mV at the lowest IMO with no ringing on transient spikes) and I must admit the old ARC SP14 I had over twenty years ago was a great match, as the Crofts also seem to be.
Just my pragmatic views as always, but by now you lot should know my feelings about "general" vinyl reproduction and how soggy and ill-defined so many well received players actually sound..
Hi Adam,
You'll probably have to go secondhand for that arm, Marco. Ortofon have now discontinued the 9 inch versions of the AS and RS series arms and the only nine incher they do now is the TA-110 which I can't quite place but looks very familiar somehow...
Details here - http://www.ortofon.com/products/tonearms
Lookie here: http://www.hifix.co.uk/turntable-tone-arms/ortofon/as-212s.html
I believe they have stock :)
Another option apart from that I'm considering is a NOS (or very good condition) FR 64. There are a few for sale abroad that I've got my eye on, such as this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fidelity-Research-FR-64S-Tonearm-made-Japan-/370347863189
Or a Micro Seiki:
http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/8496/microseikima505.jpg (http://img863.imageshack.us/i/microseikima505.jpg/)
It's gotta be a high-mass S-type arm with a detachable headshell, to suit my SPU. I may even go for a vintage Ortofon arm, or a Thomas Schick... He does a 9" version of this, which I've always loved for its clean lines and simplicity:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1010/spua.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/spua.jpg/)
We shall see! :cool:
Marco.
The FR tonearm is a beautiful and VERY massive thing indeed, but obviously perfect for your requirements Marco. Not sure on the Schick, as I still think that some bias correction ought to be applied, especially at the 3g tracking weight the SPU uses (I think).
Good luck with whatever you decide on though :)
Hi Dave,
If when I'm ready to buy I can't get the Ortofon (or a similar modern brand new tonearm of its type), as I prefer to buy new so that I know the bearings are A-ok, then it'll be an FR64 I go for, or something of its ilk.
Good point about bias correction, and I agree, as even with tracking the SPU at the optimal (in my system) of 4.25g (the min is 4g with the spherical SPU, dude, not 3g, with an operating range of 4-5g), I can definitely hear an improvement when bias is applied, even though the Jelco's bias adjustment only goes up to 3.5 on the scale.
Therefore I'd probably like a tonearm with a bias adjustment up to 5 (or certainly 4 on the scale, at a minimum).
By the way, as an aside, I may have found another 'amazing new discovery', vintage cartridge-wise, along the lines of the M3D. I'm in the process of assessing things at the moment, and this one is cheap as chips, so watch this space! ;)
Marco.
Email me IMMEDIATELY - or I'll turn your pussy's on ya - ALL of 'em :D
Beobloke
15-03-2011, 20:27
I prefer to buy new so that I know the bearings are A-ok
Two words - Audio Origami!
Good choice on the FR64 - it's a lovely beast and should suit the SPU down to the ground.
As to your new cartridge discovery, is it the Shure V15, which I predicted you'd 'discover' about a year ago?! ;)
Email me IMMEDIATELY - or I'll turn your pussy's on ya - ALL of 'em :D
Lol - if it works out, you'll piss yourself laughing at what it is!! A truly 'forgotten and undervalued classic', if ever there was one.... :eyebrows:
I'm staying shtum, however, in the meantime until all tests have been carried out to my satisfaction.
Marco.
Two words - Audio Origami!
Does Johnnie sell fully serviced and guaranteed NOS FR64s then, Adam? Otherwise, I'll still have to take a risk buying one from Ebay, or wherever, only for him possibly to tell me that the bearings are shot! :eek:
That's what I mean about preferring to buy new, in the case of expensive tonearms, as it's risk-free ;)
Good choice on the FR64 - it's a lovely beast and should suit the SPU down to the ground.
I've always loved them. The closest I've got so far is an S/5 headshell! :eyebrows:
As to your new cartridge discovery, is it the Shure V15, which I predicted you'd 'discover' about a year ago?!
Nope, try again! :lol:
Marco.
Hi Dave,
Don't get me wrong, the Decca set up with care and given all the pampering it deserves is a wonderful cartridge: one of the best there is. I just don't think that overall it the best; it belongs to that rare coterie of transducers that to me get closest to the sound and experience I have when listening to live unamplified music.
The favourable comparison of pressings played with a particular cartridge with master tapes has been used may times in the past. John Gardener, writing for Practical Hi-Fi and Audio magazine, used the same comparision to support his claim that the Shure V15 III was the most accurate cartidge there was.
My experience with both the Decca Blue and Decca Gold (both comparatively ancient designs and subject to huge and indefensable unit to unit variation) is that they provide a huge amount of 'fun' (not very scientific I know) causing you to want to play LP after LP after LP. They present a wonderful and well focussed sound stage with stable placement of performers. They are a joy to listen to.
I just happen to think that other MCs (the Denon and EMT) do other things just as well, or better than the Decca. I wouldn't be without a Decca now, nor would I of the EMT.
Regards
Beobloke
16-03-2011, 09:25
Does Johnnie sell fully serviced and guaranteed NOS FR64s then, Adam? Otherwise, I'll still have to take a risk buying one from Ebay, or wherever, only for him possibly to tell me that the bearings are shot! :eek:.
Well, no of course he doesn't!
My point was that whatever you buy, you can send to him for a service guaranteed that it will be sent back on top form. If the bearings are indeed shot (as they were on my Alphason HR-100S that I sent him) then he sources and fits new ones, so I really don't think you need to worry too much.
The difference in sound from the HR-100S when it came back to me was quite astonishing.
As to the cartridge, not a V15 then. OK, then lets go with a couple of my oldie favourites - is it an Arcam P77 or a Decca Deram? :scratch:
Hi Marco
You might wanna do some research on this combo as I've read elsewhere that a SPU will cause ringing with this arm. For example, see here: http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/fr64s_e.html and I remember reading a post from Jonathan Carr (lyra) saying pretty much the same thing and having to use a damping wrap on his 64s.
That said, I think the FR64s is a great arm - I have mine paired with a FR cart and this combination is a considerably better tracker than my EMT 929/TSD-SFL combo.
Cheers
Adrian
hifi_dave
16-03-2011, 14:23
I've never noticed any 'ringing' with an SPU in the FR-64S, so I wouldn't worry about it.
The writer goes on to talk about the 'crap' original interconnect and the 'crap' original headshell, so I'm not gonna take too much notice of his comments...:scratch:
Hi Dave,
Don't get me wrong, the Decca set up with care and given all the pampering it deserves is a wonderful cartridge: one of the best there is. I just don't think that overall it the best; it belongs to that rare coterie of transducers that to me get closest to the sound and experience I have when listening to live unamplified music.
The favourable comparison of pressings played with a particular cartridge with master tapes has been used may times in the past. John Gardener, writing for Practical Hi-Fi and Audio magazine, used the same comparision to support his claim that the Shure V15 III was the most accurate cartidge there was.
My experience with both the Decca Blue and Decca Gold (both comparatively ancient designs and subject to huge and indefensable unit to unit variation) is that they provide a huge amount of 'fun' (not very scientific I know) causing you to want to play LP after LP after LP. They present a wonderful and well focussed sound stage with stable placement of performers. They are a joy to listen to.
I just happen to think that other MCs (the Denon and EMT) do other things just as well, or better than the Decca. I wouldn't be without a Decca now, nor would I of the EMT.
Regards
Jimmy H rated the EMT with VDH tip as his reference for years, although like the Shures, it lacks "charm" and "grace" which could be perceived as colourations.
The old standard Decca londons from the 70's and 80's were a bit "raw" and extremely unreliable from experience. Sending my Gold to Garrott bros when they were alive and having a full rebuild, followed by a decca service three years ago (after fifteen years sulking in its box) has turned this sample into a well behaved and utterly beguiling pickup with no false "excitement." Indeed, bad pressings can sound flat and squashed (Technical Extasy by the Sabs has fair to awfully produced tracks on it for instance), yet well pressed LP's and 12" singles can send tingles down one's spine...
You're quite right Barry in that there are now other cartridges able to do the business once set up properly, but my experience of modern and expensive ones is now sadly limited. I'd like to hear the Sumiko Blackbird, the new AT33PTG and the top two London's, as I suspecgt they'll refine the basics no end.
back to the V15. My Dual 701 was one of the only decks to make a V15 III behave and entertain, although my 701 with the Van Damme cables and a V15 III-LM as they supplied it as, sounded hard as nails into the Croft and BC2's. I don't have the superior HE stylus with which to compare and if I was going to spend £150 on a new stylus, I'd buy the SAS one for the V15V (MR) I have, which was better all round I thought, but again, an educative pickup rather than a charming, Koetsu type. Kessler did a comparison between the Shure Ultra 500 and a Koetsu and raved about the latter. He claimed to someone who visited him at the time that the Shure sounded too much like CD - I'd say "Great!!!" but understand that many others wouldn't share this view ;)
I wonder if Marco has "discovered" the Shure M75-6S? This can be a giant killer I believe as the frame mount resonates less than the plastic fittings yet the body is pure M75/91 etc.....
Hehehe... Try again ;)
Clue: it's not a Shure.
Marco.
It can't be a Goldring G800 surely????? I have some of these coming my way in various states of (dis)repair..
I've an Empire 2000E IV (a rare one this, but that's what's printed on the body) and the nail attached to the cantilever is so coal-like I wouldn't trust it as much as the ceramic types I have...
Can't be an ADC either, as they're too creamy or tizzy, depending on the model.
I had an AT110E until a week or three ago and that's not quite clear enough (although I'm told it sounds amazing in a Lenco)
Awfultone? OM20? VMS's were bland, OM5E has no bass, OM pro/GT? these are more like it but conical... M20e Super won't work right in the Jelco... Hmmmmm ;)
AT95E with rolled down treble??????
Cum on - SPILL :D
Oooooh, az sayin' nowt, but you were getting warmer.... :eyebrows: ;)
I'll reveal all in a week or so, promise!
Marco.
Can't be an ADC either, as they're too creamy or tizzy, depending on the model.
That's not how you described them when you flogged me one! :D
It can't be a Goldring G800 surely????? I have some of these coming my way in various states of (dis)repair..
I've an Empire 2000E IV (a rare one this, but that's what's printed on the body) and the nail attached to the cantilever is so coal-like I wouldn't trust it as much as the ceramic types I have...
Can't be an ADC either, as they're too creamy or tizzy, depending on the model.
I had an AT110E until a week or three ago and that's not quite clear enough (although I'm told it sounds amazing in a Lenco)
Awfultone? OM20? VMS's were bland, OM5E has no bass, OM pro/GT? these are more like it but conical... M20e Super won't work right in the Jelco... Hmmmmm ;)
AT95E with rolled down treble??????
Cum on - SPILL :D
I rather liked the ADC 10E Mk.IV and ADC 25 cartridges I had. Will have to dig them out again and have another listen.
Regards
I have a 25 with new stylus and two mint XLM's. They only track at 0.7g or so and even then, sssssibilance defeats them totally these days.
Alex, I no longer have a VLM II to use as you've now got it, but the slightly lower compliance gives it a bit more stability and "snap." The tizzy ones are the QLM series..... I still have some XLM's of various types, a Phase IV stylus and a cherished ZLM, but these days, thirty odd years on and after using a Decca Microscanner, the V15 III onwards is more like it for me at a modest price, together with the bouncy Ortofon GT I have in the Garrards. Next payday, I'll get an OM Pro stylus for my OMB body :)
topoxforddoc
16-03-2011, 21:14
Maybe Marco's got an old Grado FT+E from the early 80s - £14 if I remember correctly and a real steal - rated very highly in absolute sound in those days. It came in a small cardboard tube - bit like a mini loo roll!
Charlie
Good shout, Charlie... Could be... but Marco's keeping us in suspense I reckon... :)
decca cartridges are the best...and in a favourable system, carefully set up....a decca will be unsurpassed by any other cartridges, even $15,000 coralstone encrusted bling. fact
to reduce hum I have my system encased in lead:stalks:.
Not content with just enjoying my new found sonic pleasure I set about tinkering - to whit using a Sumiko head shell sans finger lift plus a 5g head shell weight courtesy of Brian at Presence Audio - instantly everything snapped into focus :stalks: (bit like when those dam buster bomb aiming lights merged into one spot :lol:) things like kick drums just got so solid - stereo imaging was improved and more 3D. Absolutely no loss of detail just another dose of realism.
I'm so happy :)
Steve
Maybe Marco's got an old Grado FT+E from the early 80s - £14 if I remember correctly and a real steal - rated very highly in absolute sound in those days. It came in a small cardboard tube - bit like a mini loo roll!
Charlie
I used to have one, or rather the Grado FTE+1. Think it's the same as yours (probably a typo) as it was the same price. Excellent value.
I loaned it to a friend, who after listening to it returned it with a red 'dot' fitted to the front since in his opinion it was as good as the Linn Asak! :lol:
Can't remember if I ever did that comparison myself. In fact to be frank I'm not sure what happened to it. I think I gave it to someone who could make use of it. Still have the Asak however.
hifi_dave
16-03-2011, 22:45
The London/Decca does appreciate a bit of mass to give of it's best.
Not content with just enjoying my new found sonic pleasure I set about tinkering - to whit using a Sumiko head shell sans finger lift plus a 5g head shell weight courtesy of Brian at Presence Audio - instantly everything snapped into focus :stalks: (bit like when those dam buster bomb aiming lights merged into one spot :lol:) things like kick drums just got so solid - stereo imaging was improved and more 3D. Absolutely no loss of detail just another dose of realism.
I'm so happy :)
Steve
topoxforddoc
16-03-2011, 23:50
I used to have one, or rather the Grado FTE+1. Think it's the same as yours (probably a typo) as it was the same price. Excellent value.
I loaned it to a friend, who after listening to it returned it with a red 'dot' fitted to the front since in his opinion it was as good as the Linn Asak! :lol:
Can't remember if I ever did that comparison myself. In fact to be frank I'm not sure what happened to it. I think I gave it to someone who could make use of it. Still have the Asak however.
Barry,
Yup, that's the one. I remember buying one for £14 in about 1981. looked really cheap and nasty (bit like a Decca!!!), but boy was it good. I understood why Harry at Absolute Sound loved it.
Best wishes,
Charlie
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