Very high compliance cartridge on SL1200?

[Bwaze]

Greetings!

I'm wondering if I understand the cartridge / tonearm matching thing correctly. Right now I'm using the Audio Technica AT95E cartridge on my Technics SL1210 MkII. I don't really notice any major problems, but I'm really interested in Digitrac 300SE cartridge (rebranded Ortofon, similar "nude super elliptical" stylus to Ortofon OM 30) which can be had for about 70 EUR, and is supposed to perform somewhere between OM 20 and OM 30...

http://wamataudio.pl/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/2509b5bf771267d06f9931cbc15af861/d/i/digitrack300se_5.jpg

(it's an ugly beast...:eyebrows:)

The only problem I see is the very high compliance - 35 cu - more than five times the compliance of AT95E, and realy more suitable for very light tonearms.

I ran some calculations on VinylEngines' Cartridge Resonance Evaluator (http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php), first for the test of existing setup:

Tonearm Effective Mass: 4.5g (stock Technics arm) + 12.8g (Sumiko HS-12 with finger lift)= 17,3g

Cartridge and mounting mass: 6,5g (AT95E) + 0,5g (screws)= 7g

Dynamic compliance: 6.5 cu

The resonance in the table comes out at 12 - 13 Hz. I have Hi-Fi News Test LP, and resonance test showed the horizontal resonance to be at 9Hz... So, I'm entering wrong numbers? Does the effective tonearm mass change since I have additional weight at the back of the tonearm?



Now for the Digitrac 300SE calculations:

Tonearm Effective Mass: 4.5g (stock Technics arm) + 12.8g (Sumiko HS-12 with finger lift)= 17,3g

Cartridge and mounting mass: 6g (Digitrac 300SE) + 2g (P-mount adapter) + 0,5g (screws)= 8,5g

Dynamic compliance: 35 cu

This results in resonance at 5 Hz, quite a bit lower than optimal 9 - 12 Hz. This would make the cartridge / tonearm combo very susceptible to outside vibrations, footfall, record warps and rumble, if true. Would KAB fluid damper help?


In a situation where a higher compliance cartridge is employed in a medium to high mass tonearm, the ill-effects of the match can be mitigated to some degree if the tonearm offers fluid damping. Here, a small paddle connected to the arm rests in a reservoir filled with viscous silicone fluid. This design feature restricts small, rapid motions of the arm (like the small undulations that would occur in a high-compliance cartridge), while providing unrestricted progress to the arm as it slowly traces across the record. This system also may improve the sound of some phono cartridges that offer little internal damping of their own.

Is there any other thing I should be aware of? Can the high compliance / heavy tonearm combo be too much of a strain for the cantilever suspension?

[gx502]

Wow I am impressed by your methodical approach !!!!

I am no expert, so by all means take what I say with a pinch of salt.

In your position I would say simply revert back to the stock technics headshell, and you'll probably be fine with the digitrac cartridges. It is a case of try it and see.

(Sometimes the on-paper mis-match does not play out in practice. For example I ran a Denon DL301-MKII with my Jelco SA-750D, now on paper the DL301 is too compliant for the arm. But when I put it all together it worked fantastically and no sub-sonic problems at all.)

If you can afford the kab damper, then that will definitely help prevent any sub-sonic nasties and wasted amplifier power on flapping woofers.

Also i found the kabusa damper does more than just provide greater cartridge compatibility. It really does a good job of damping tonearm resonances.

My experience was with the damper fitted, I got 1) much more tuneful bass and 2) far greater clarity all the way through the mid-band into the upper ranges.

I felt that the kabusa damper is fantastic, and consider it mandatory if you plan to stay with the stock arm. It really is a no-brainer outright wonder bargain for the performance delivered. It is also very nicely manufactured and finished in anodised aluminium, and looks good too.

[RobbieGong]

Wow I am impressed by your methodical approach !!!!

I am no expert, so by all means take what I say with a pinch of salt.

In your position I would say simply revert back to the stock technics headshell, and you'll probably be fine with the digitrac cartridges. It is a case of try it and see.

(Sometimes the on-paper mis-match does not play out in practice. For example I ran a Denon DL301-MKII with my Jelco SA-750D, now on paper the DL301 is too compliant for the arm. But when I put it all together it worked fantastically and no sub-sonic problems at all.)

If you can afford the kab damper, then that will definitely help prevent any sub-sonic nasties and wasted amplifier power on flapping woofers.

Also i found the kabusa damper does more than just provide greater cartridge compatibility. It really does a good job of damping tonearm resonances.

My experience was with the damper fitted, I got 1) much more tuneful bass and 2) far greater clarity all the way through the mid-band into the upper ranges.

I felt that the kabusa damper is fantastic, and consider it mandatory if you plan to stay with the stock arm. It really is a no-brainer outright wonder bargain for the performance delivered. It is also very nicely manufactured and finished in anodised aluminium, and looks good too.

Totally agree :thumbsup: - Absolute must if your using / sticking with the stock arm. Works such a treat and definately deals with the resonances associated with the very thin / light stock arm. Looks really good too and not silly money (£100 ish), wouldn't be without one :)

[Gromit]

If you can afford the kab damper, then that will definitely help prevent any sub-sonic nasties and wasted amplifier power on flapping woofers.


If only I'd read this (or knew this - didn't even think about it tbh!) before I got rid of my Jico SAS M75ED. Got pretty awful cone-flap with that cartridge in the std arm meaning that on some records I couldn't really turn the volume up very high at all. :(

[Dingdong]

If you are stuck I've got an M95ED with a fair bit of life left you can have a borrow of. It's a back up one and won't get used for a fair while.
No SAS tip though.

[Gromit]

If you are stuck I've got an M95ED with a fair bit of life left you can have a borrow of. It's a back up one and won't get used for a fair while.
No SAS tip though.

That's very kind of you Mark - if you're sure you won't be using it then I'd love to give it a go. :)

[Dingdong]

PM me your address and I'll stick it in the post.

[Gromit]

PM me your address and I'll stick it in the post.

Thanks Mark - PM on its way. :)

[Bwaze]

Thanks for the replies!

I ordered KAB fluid damper on January 11th. Unfortunately, no shipment tracking, but I suspect it's sitting on customs and some clerk is scratching his head about how to charge me as much as he can...

I decided to wait a bit with the cartridge swapping. Will have a good listen, buy some albums instead and educate myself. :) Since AT95E is playing so well I really don't want to make a sideways step - I'd rather spend a bit more and be sure that I upgraded.