Headshell merits (and ADC 'shell ID)

[anubisgrau]

An analog foo alert!

Not sure if there's a topic dedicated to the headshells.

Actually I don't know what to think. I find it overtly ridiculous to pay silly money for them, but that's what it is.

Apart from plastic crap and shells which are obviously a historical artifacts, like early SME or SPU types (hate them both but SME more), where there are other reasons apart from average sonics, have you heard the headshells that deserve their (highish) price tag? Does magnesium make an audible difference?

I'm not agnostic, I just don't know what to think.

Btw, can anyone identify the following ADC headshell? Worth 30 quid? I need more shells for FR64 and I can't bother paying 3-5x more for the original FRs.

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag410/Gordan_Paunovic/ADC%20headshell_zpsvktmvzit.jpg (http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/Gordan_Paunovic/media/ADC%20headshell_zpsvktmvzit.jpg.html)

[kcc123]

Despite I have seen it numerous times I still do not know the exact model of it in the ADC range. This is not the LMG-1 magnesium headshell but lighter, probably made of aluminium. Worth 30 quid? It all depends, however, I would not pay more than £25.

[belloire]

not seen that model of ADC before. i have a couple of LMG-1's (about £25-£30 each) and they do make a difference from the cheaper types. i'm assuming it's down to the rigidity of the headshell that is holding the cartridge solid. no idea of the science though......

is it aluminium?

i've also got a nagaoka magnesium, but haven't tried that yet. quite fancy an ebony or carbon fibre one next,but they're silly money :)

[take5]

I asked a similar question elsewhere recently.

I was proposing to use the older SME type headshells, but was was advised that the sound quality would be better with a Fidelity Research one that I also have. So the FR will be used.

Not sure why, possibly rigidity, as Darren says.

Darren , I have a few metal ones you can borrow when I see you, if you want to experiment.

[Yomanze]

I use a Reson Reca MM cart on a Pioneer PL-71, the arm is quite massy and with a 14G Sumiko headshell was too heavy. I changed to a Denon PCL-5, which is around 6.3g, magnesium, and such a huge improvement - obviously better synergy with the MM cart & minimising the mass on the arm. I recommended another forum member try a much lighter headshell with their MM, they switched to an ADC and are very happy. :)

http://coregar.c.blog.so-net.ne.jp/_images/blog/_a8b/coregar/m_pcl-5.jpg?c=a1

[belloire]

I asked a similar question elsewhere recently.

I was proposing to use the older SME type headshells, but was was advised that the sound quality would be better with a Fidelity Research one that I also have. So the FR will be used.

Not sure why, possibly rigidity, as Darren says.

Darren , I have a few metal ones you can borrow when I see you, if you want to experiment.

thanks Brian, i have a metal one that came with the Jelco, magnesium sounds better :)

i just want a fancy headshell is all ;)

[hifi_dave]

Back in the day, the ADC LMG-1 was an inexpensive headshell - a fiver as I recall. The one in the pic was even cheaper, as fitted to their budget turntables.

If you own a FR-64S, you should be using one of their superb headshells. It's a combination of the construction, materials, mass and most important, the headshell wires, which make them so very good.

[anubisgrau]

Back in the day, the ADC LMG-1 was an inexpensive headshell - a fiver as I recall. The one in the pic was even cheaper, as fitted to their budget turntables.

If you own a FR-64S, you should be using one of their superb headshells. It's a combination of the construction, materials, mass and most important, the headshell wires, which make them so very good.

Thanks. I do have one but I need more and they are a bit costly these days...

Cheers!

[hifi_dave]

I know..I've got a stash of them..:eyebrows:

[kcc123]

I know..I've got a stash of them..:eyebrows:

Lol! I have roughly 20 of them, not to mention the other makes of headshells.:lol:

[DSJR]

Chaps, please don't knock the SME shell without thinking of the cartridges it was designed to be used with. In the mid to late 60's, I think MC cartridges had all but died a death, on the main domestic audio market anyway and were regarded as a bit of an anachronism I think. Ortofon sold a handful of SL15 models and I'm sure Denon (DL103) and EMT were beavering away on the more exalted end of the Pro market, but that was it really. High compliance and tracking at a gramme or below was the in thing back then and saving tonearm mass was a given, hence the lightweight headshells with loads of holes stamped or drilled in them. Those cartridges just didn't 'excite' tonearms into resonance, so rigidity didn't matter either.

These days of course, we think differently and lower compliance and higher playing weight moving coil models are very popular and have been for nigh on forty years now. SME responded by firstly supplying the black-tac gunk to place between cartridge and headshell mounting 'dimples' - and very good it is too with these older shells of theirs. Later, they re-designed the shell to feature thicker metal, a flat top to fully mate with the cartridge and side-screwed on finger lift. Same styling but a distinct nod to modern necessity, if not the perfect match for a DL103 for example.

The ADC LMG1 was 'the' cheap headshell upgrade in the late 70's and early 80's. Grahams did a roaring trade in selling them to Rega clients as a nice little earner. not sure it sounded any better than Rega's own R200 headshell, but there we are.

I remain very fond of the Sumiko shell. Medium mass, rigid and with nice wiring, it's not silly money either!

[Barry]

Well written reply Dave. I agree with everything you say: the new SME S2-R works well with the Denon 103, as do the FR S/3 and S/4 headshells

I had several ADC LMG headshells, but they became surplus to requirement so were given away.

[RobbieGong]

Well written reply Dave. I agree with everything you say: the new SME S2-R works well with the Denon 103, as do the FR S/3 and S/4 headshells

I had several ADC LMG headshells, but they became surplus to requirement so were given away.

Certainly wont be giving mine away, love my ADC LMG 1 :)