MartinT
27-06-2011, 18:41
I wasted no time in getting the Shelter 5000 into my Dynavector headshell and setting it up. This cartridge is heavy! It comes in at 11g and, together with the headshell, weighs in at 28g. I had to bring out the heaviest counterweight for the Dynavector's stub-arm for the first time.
First impressions (this is not really fair as it hasn't run in yet): I dropped the stylus onto one of my favourite test records, Steely Dan's Gaucho, and wondered if I had got the volume wrong. Turned it up and *yikes* turned it back down again! Surface noise is the lowest I've yet experienced. I'll have to set a new baseline in my head.
Back is the structural solidity of the Dynavector DV-20X2L, but not its darkness. The lush midrange of the Shelter 501-II is replaced with the most detailed, separated and dynamic space I've yet heard. Not at all lush. Energy keeps coming to mind - the 5000 has huge energy. Together with the Choir Audio SUT, it has simply knockout attack and clout.
At the high end is the extension of the AT-33PTG but with much finer detailing and texture. No splashy shoutiness now. The separation of instruments is incredible and I can hear into the music more than ever before. I can almost walk around the strands of music, focussing on each part as I wish.
That's all for now, I need to play many more records and there are only so many hours left in my life :)
http://www.mtc.me.uk/images/Shelter 5000_1.jpg
http://www.mtc.me.uk/images/Shelter 5000_2.jpg
First impressions (this is not really fair as it hasn't run in yet): I dropped the stylus onto one of my favourite test records, Steely Dan's Gaucho, and wondered if I had got the volume wrong. Turned it up and *yikes* turned it back down again! Surface noise is the lowest I've yet experienced. I'll have to set a new baseline in my head.
Back is the structural solidity of the Dynavector DV-20X2L, but not its darkness. The lush midrange of the Shelter 501-II is replaced with the most detailed, separated and dynamic space I've yet heard. Not at all lush. Energy keeps coming to mind - the 5000 has huge energy. Together with the Choir Audio SUT, it has simply knockout attack and clout.
At the high end is the extension of the AT-33PTG but with much finer detailing and texture. No splashy shoutiness now. The separation of instruments is incredible and I can hear into the music more than ever before. I can almost walk around the strands of music, focussing on each part as I wish.
That's all for now, I need to play many more records and there are only so many hours left in my life :)
http://www.mtc.me.uk/images/Shelter 5000_1.jpg
http://www.mtc.me.uk/images/Shelter 5000_2.jpg