Ortofon SPU Meister Silver or SPU Gold

[neskor]

I have a dilemma.
I have Ortofon SPU GME MKII and I would like to make little upgrade.
Which cartridge should I get, Ortofon SPU Meister Silver or Ortofon SPU Gold?
Tonearm is 12" Schick.

[Marco]

Hi Nebojsa,

I’m familiar with the SPUs you’ve mentioned, having owned the GM E, and heard the other two extensively in someone else’s system. What’s the rest of your system, particularly the phono stage and amps?

First of all, it depends on the type of sound you’re looking for. Experience tells me that, in general, the further you go up the current SPU range, the more ‘modern’ the sound gets (detailed and precise) at the expense of the original sonic signature of the SPU, and with it, the very traits (tone, texture, low-end authority, and ’soul’/boogie factor) that make it special and totally different from any other cartridge…

You tend to ‘admire’ the sound of the higher-end SPUs, more than you adore them. They tick all the ‘hi-fi boxes’, sometimes quite spectacularly in a sonic sense, but fail to ‘communicate’ or be as involving, musically, as those further down the range, or certainly the best of the vintage designs, such as the G/T I’m currently using, having recently moved from the Royal GM MKII. The former, although nowhere near as technically accomplished, is a rather more emotive and satisfying listen.

Therefore, aside from the two cartridges you mention, which I’ll get to in a moment, if you don’t mind going into the quality used market, I’d advise that you look at an SPU-G/T E, which is similar to what you’re using, although has Alnico (as opposed to the currently favoured by Ortofon) rare earth-type magnets, which IME have a different, more weighty and musical sound, and most significantly, built in high-quality SUTs, from JS. The latter, IME, produces a truly beguiling and magical sound that none of the other SPUs, without SUTs built into the headshell, successfully emulate.

If you want to be truly immersed in the music, like never before with any other SPU, and presented with ‘sonic fireworks’ (with appropriate music: large-scale classical and jazz, in particular, come to mind), with a level of visceral intensity/dynamic alacrity, which all other SPUs only hint at (even the current top models), then it has to be a vintage SPU-G/T or G/T E! :trust:

Of the two SPUs you mention, the Gold is very nice (solid and ‘chunky’ sounding), although it leans to the warm side of neutral, but not in a ‘cloying’ or euphonic way, but it’s not the first SPU I’d recommend to ‘stir the senses’ (the two vintage ones mentioned above are the ones for that, if you can find superlative examples of either), or….. The Silver Meister. The latter, IME, ’sound-per-pound’ is the pick of the current crop of SPUs, and marries the best of what the vintage SPUs do, musically, with the sonic talents of the modern varieties.

It unravels and presents recorded music in a most addictive way, majoring on detail retrieval and high-frequency ’sparkle’, but never sounds ’soulless’ or sterile; neither does it sound ‘romantic’ or euphonic, but simply treads an immaculately judged neutral ground between both, with that lovely airy/spacious, ‘valve-like midrange' musicality and ‘life', in order that instruments and voices sound as convincingly real as possible, which SPUs are renowned for. The SM truly is a lovely cartridge!

Therefore, in summary, my advice would be either to go vintage, or buy yourself a Silver Meister. Both approaches would work superbly well on your Schick. Hope this helps :cool:

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Marco, was that the G/T we heard at NEBO?

[Marco]

Hi Ali,

No, mate, it was the Denon DL-S1. Remember I said that I didn’t bring the SPU (at that time I had the Royal, not the G/T), as I thought that everyone had heard an SPU? You later told me that you hadn’t, and would’ve liked to have done…

Next time I’ll defo bring the ‘old fella’ with me, which truly astounded some friends visiting recently, as they just couldn’t believe that they were listening to a cartridge made in 1959! :eek:

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Ah yes, remember now. My memory is getting worse..

[Marco]

Lol… What is it they say: age doesn’t come itself? :eyebrows:

Marco.

[petrat]

If you're fishing at the top end of the SPU line-up, consider this ...

http://ortofon-shop.com/shop/hifi/hifi-cartridges/spu-gm-shell?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_lite_pdf.tpl&product_id=350&category_id=42

Still available at the Ortofon online shop at the moment ...
http://ortofon-shop.com/shop/hifi/hifi-cartridges/spu-gm-shell?page=shop.browse&category_id=42

[The Black Adder]

I was very... very impressed with Marco's SPU... bloody lovely.

[neskor]

Thanks Marco.
I'm just little worried that SPU Meister Silver will be maybe too bright in my system.
I read somewhere that it can sound "thin" compared to classic SPU cartridges.

[struth]

Scary prices those things.:mental: :lol:

[Marco]

Thanks Marco.
I'm just little worried that SPU Meister Silver will be maybe too bright in my system.
I read somewhere that it can sound "thin" compared to classic SPU cartridges.

No, not at all, *unless* there is something in the system making it sound bright (phono stage, amp, cables, etc). The SM does not intrinsically sound bright. If you’re buying a new one, it takes a while to run-in, though, and lose its initial ‘sheen’.

If your system is a little on the bright side, however, then go with a Gold (as it has a richer, more tonally lush sound, in comparison with the SM), or a vintage G/T or G/T E.

Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I own the silver Meister and it's my SPU of choice in my valve setup. It does not sound bright, midrange is sublime. I'd recommend one.

[Marco]

Andy, out of interest, how would you compare the presentation of the Silver Meister, with that of your Cadenza Black? :)

Marco.

[hifi_dave]

Chalk and cheese.

[Marco]

That’s why I’m asking the question, Dave, as I’m curious. “Chalk and cheese” in what way?

How would you describe the difference? :)

Marco.

[hifi_dave]

I find the Cadenza Black to be a bit flat and uninvolving. The SPUs are big. bold, solid and very entertaining. I have a couple of vintage SPUs and really like what they do - a bit Koetsu like but less expensive.

I will probably invest in an Ortofon arm so that I can demo and sell modern SPUs once again, as all my arms are fixed headshell.

[Marco]

That would be a great idea, Dave, as there is most certainly a market for them, and not just abroad, in the UK, too! :)

I would concur almost entirely with your above summary.

Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Marco,

i will ill comment later on the black and the spu.

andy

[Marco]

No worries, dude :)

Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Andy, out of interest, how would you compare the presentation of the Silver Meister, with that of your Cadenza Black? :)

Marco.

My thoughts on the cadenza black are well known. The original Silver Meister is like the Cadenza Black but more "valve" like in presentation. I hope this makes sense! It's extremely difficult for me to comment because my 301 has been out of comission whilst I've been waiting for my bearing to come back from Martin Bastin. The bearing has been modified so it may give a completely different presentation from how I originally remember it.


Chalk and cheese.

+1


I find the Cadenza Black to be a bit flat and uninvolving. .

NO! :nono: Completely the opposite altough I can see your point when comparing it to a SPU.

[hifi_dave]

I'm comparing it to other cartridges I have here, Zyx, Lyra, Koetsu, London/Decca and even the Cadenza Blue, which has more get up and go. Let's put it down to 'context'.

[ChrisKemp]

When we´re on it...how would a Silver Meister compare to my London Decca Super Gold?

[anubisgrau]

If you're fishing at the top end of the SPU line-up, consider this ...

http://ortofon-shop.com/shop/hifi/hifi-cartridges/spu-gm-shell?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_lite_pdf.tpl&product_id=350&category_id=42

Still available at the Ortofon online shop at the moment ...
http://ortofon-shop.com/shop/hifi/hifi-cartridges/spu-gm-shell?page=shop.browse&category_id=42

this is 20% cheaper in japan at the moment, 2000e sharp.

it seems japan has better prices for SPU than the rest of the planet. my SPU spirit was much less than what it was advertised in the UK, still not cheap.

[krugdoktor]

You could also look here:
http://www.athensproaudio.gr/en/ortofon.html?page=2

and here:
http://www.athensproaudio.gr/en/ortofon.html?page=3

I bought my SPU classic and classic e there.