wanted m/c cartridge

[ftomivec]

hi everyone.just wandering if anyone has a secondhand m/c cartridge forsale.don't want to spend silly money as I am new to this.and can someone recommend what sort of cartridge needs to be put on my michell transcriptor.thank you steve.http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy341/fto1996mivec/IMG_1046.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/fto1996mivec/media/IMG_1046.jpg.html)

[Marco]

Hi Steve,

Lovely T/T :respect:

One of our regulars, Andre, will be all over this like a rash! I'll leave you in his capable hands.

Marco.

[orbscure]

Hi Steve... if it suits your set-up (amp with MC phono stage or phono pre-amp with MC input) I have a low output Ortofon MC Samba cart available, albeit its currently sat on a technicians work bench in East Grinstread after being replaced it with a Denon DL-110 high output MC cart as part of my LP12 service. More details on its spec can be seen here (http://ortofon.com/hifi/products/historical-products/dance-series-intro/mc-samba). I could ask for it to be posted to me, but I plan to pick it up from them on April 18th...

Does anybody know what a good example should set us back value wise?

[walpurgis]

The Transcriptors arm is a low mass design, so a highish compliance cartridge could be the way to go. To be in keeping with the period of the TT, maybe a good example of a seventies MM would suit. Something from Empire or ADC perhaps.

[ftomivec]

I did think of changing arm but I think it would ruin the turntable.shame to do it because its so clean and original.when I bought it a few weeks ago it even come in its original box.i have been told m/c cartridge is the way to go.plus I want to use the step up transformer which goes nice with turntable.bye the way if anyone knows who made the step up transformer let me no.thanks steve

[walpurgis]

Definitely keep the Transcriptors original. It would be a dreadful shame to alter it and that would destroy its considerable value. As you say, it looks superb.

Who told you MC is the way to go? It's certainly not the only way to go.

Moving coil cartridges can be very nice, but so can non MC types. Unfortunately there are very few higher compliance MCs. You could try any cartridge in the arm, but the results would be unpredictable if you choose a low compliance model due to the low arm mass.

The arm is designed so that fluid damping can be used and that may assist with using lower compliance carts. Unfortunately, MCs tend to generate a fair bit of mechanical energy as they track and the arm is not the best design to deal with this.

[struth]

yes an adc or maybe an ortofon om40.

[ftomivec]

thanks for info very helpful.what I will do is sell my sut and buy a high end m/m.anyone any idea what to sell the sut for.thanks steve.http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy341/fto1996mivec/IMG_1028.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/fto1996mivec/media/IMG_1028.jpg.html)http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy341/fto1996mivec/IMG_1029%201.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/fto1996mivec/media/IMG_1029%201.jpg.html)http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy341/fto1996mivec/IMG_1029%201.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/fto1996mivec/media/IMG_1029%201.jpg.html)

[struth]

Hard to say. with no name it could be great or it could be crap and valued likewise. some sut cost thousands some hundreds some very little. is there no names or markings on the 2 transformers under the cans.

[ftomivec]

there is a number a6027/1.

[Clive197]

I would strongly advise a high compliance MM cartridge. The Shure V15MkIII would be ideal if you could get hold of one. The Transcriptors arm was not designed to be used with an MC which are usually low to medium complience.
ADC IME were never great tracking cartridges but did have a very musical SQ. Ortofon would also work well with one of the VMS models perhaps.

[ftomivec]

found out what it is.audio note nova mc transformer.

[hifi_dave]

Your Transcriptor is a thing of beauty. I have several here and would hate to be without them.

Personally, I would use it as is with the Transcriptor arm as it was designed to be used. You do need a suitable cartridge and that will be a medium to high compliance MM of some sort. MCs generally are far to low in compliance and are much heavier than the arm was designed for. I would suggest a modern Ortofon 2M or Shure or a vintage ADC, AKG, Pickering etc.

[orbscure]

found out what it is.audio note nova mc transformer.

Have a search about Steve and see if the Audio Note SUT is worth holding onto or if your going to sell, that you get a decent return on its worth...

[ftomivec]

thanks for that pete.if I sell it it would buy a realy good m/m cheers

[struth]

never heard of the nova so cant help

[walpurgis]

My suggestion would be to hang onto the SUT, especially if it's an Audio Note. It's likely to be pretty decent. If you sell it, you may kick yourself in the future if you decide to change turntables and go for an MC cartridge. Proper sounding SUTs are either rare or expensive.

As a period matching and suitable MM cartridge, I'd suggest a classic vintage ADC myself. I have a collection of these and they just sound great. Better than many MCs I've used and certainly better than any Ortofon, Empire and Shure carts of the same era that I've had.

[paskinn]

I have the Hydraulic Reference with the original fluid arm. It goes very nicely with the £70 Shure 97xe, so that's what I use.
It's a wonderful design of historic importance. And still serviced. But I have to be honest, I don't find it a very good sounding deck, but I don't care....it's simply not worth spending a lot on a cartridge, the fluid arm won't handle anything challenging. I think of it like a fine classic car; great to look at and enjoy, not ideal for long trips.
Worth enjoying for what it is....

[Firebottle]

Hi Steve,

For not a lot of dosh you won't go wrong with one of these Acutex:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNTINA-ACUTEX-412-STR-PER-GIRADISCHI-INTROVABILE-STYLUS-FOR-TURNTABLE-NUOVA-/261817696142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_101&hash=item3cf58cff8e

I've got the 312 and it's very good. I'm going to get the 412 shortly.

:) Alan

[struth]

Hi Steve,

For not a lot of dosh you won't go wrong with one of these Acutex:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNTINA-ACUTEX-412-STR-PER-GIRADISCHI-INTROVABILE-STYLUS-FOR-TURNTABLE-NUOVA-/261817696142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_101&hash=item3cf58cff8e

I've got the 312 and it's very good. I'm going to get the 412 shortly.

:) Alan

I have a 410; but never been out of its box......good carts

[Bluebeat13]

I have an Ortofon VMS30 mkII available. Just been to J7 at Audio Origami for a clean and check and it's in excellent nick. PM if you're interested, I have microscope photos too.

[anubisgrau]

FWIW ortofon used to have a highish compliance MC cartridge back in the days, i'll try to recall what was the name.

edit - of course, my soft suspended old SL15 - 25cu. also a number of models with 20cu, like MC2000....

[walpurgis]

My ADC 26 is 60cu. Even the Fluid Arm might balk at that.

[DSJR]

I have the Hydraulic Reference with the original fluid arm. It goes very nicely with the £70 Shure 97xe, so that's what I use.
It's a wonderful design of historic importance. And still serviced. But I have to be honest, I don't find it a very good sounding deck, but I don't care....it's simply not worth spending a lot on a cartridge, the fluid arm won't handle anything challenging. I think of it like a fine classic car; great to look at and enjoy, not ideal for long trips.
Worth enjoying for what it is....

Most Shures are capacitance sensitive and with standard loading, a 97XE will sound a bit full of itself and maybe a little dull too. Loading it to around 400pF total should get the response flat to 10k IIRC.

I remember selling the Electronic Reference and if you phone Michell, they may still have options to place a thin flat platter on the existing brass weights (you may need to remove the rubber pads though). Years since I remember the first tuning updates on the reference, but Michell may still have some options/solutions that won't break the bank or deface the classic it is.

One other cartridge choice that should be excellent on the Fluid arm (old ADC 10E IV, 25/26, XLM, ZLM's notwithstanding) just must be the AT120E or 440MLa. Both of these love a very low mass arm and I have a sneaky suspicion that as long as the tonearm wiring to the amp is still ok, an OC9 would work as well...

P.S. TONEARM WIRING!!!!! The internal wires might still be ok (AO or Michell should be qualified to strip out the arm and re-wire), but I wouldn't be surprised if the external cables to amp may be tired and oxidising. I remember thinking the external wires of an old Technics SL1500 were ok, as the cable was a good design, but replacing this with Van Damme Pro-Patch mic cables made an unbelievable difference I thought. maybe it's things like this that might just be holding the old Hydraulic Reference back a bit, not just the basic design (Transfi are popularising the multi-point record support ideal again).

[The Barbarian]

Hi Steve
As Geoff said the arm is no use with a MC cart.You have to use an High Compliance carts of which MC's are not..This is because is an extremely Low mass arm.. As mentioned one of the old Block ADC's are good match..The AKG 'P8 Super Nova' sounds good in the arm too. If i were to use any other arm with the deck i would fit a SME '3009'SII.. Fitting a modern arm is just criminal imho..Arm boards can be had for the SME.

[The Barbarian]

I remember selling the Electronic Reference and if you phone Michell, they may still have options to place a thin flat platter on the existing brass weights (you may need to remove the rubber pads though). Years since I remember the first tuning updates on the reference, but Michell may still have some options/solutions that won't break the bank or deface the classic it is.



You need a centre retaining nut with a longer Record spindle if your using the original Glass matt that you could buy to sit on top of the weights.

http://www.transcriptors.eu/

[ftomivec]

thanks to all on this thread its been very intresting and I have learnt a lot.great info I didn't realize its so involved.i will get arm rewired and then try to work out what cartridge to put on.i do want to build a separate system to get away from the av amp and bose speakers.as my dad years ago he had a pair of celestion ditton 66s wish I could find some.anyway when I got time I will put on a bit more about me and what gear I am running etc.thanks again to everyone.cheers

[ftomivec]

hi to everyone.i have now put a sme series iii arm on my deck now.any feelings what moving coil cartridge should I look out for now.thanks steve

[walpurgis]

hi to everyone.i have now put a sme series iii arm on my deck now.any feelings what moving coil cartridge should I look out for now.thanks steve

Hmm. The SME Series III is a bit of a sideways step. That too is of lowish mass, although not as radically so as the Fluid Arm. Some MCs have higher than average compliance, so those are what you should look for. Aim for a lateral compliance value of 20cu or higher I'd say, if the bass seems a bit thin, add some mass at the headshell. Weights are available for this purpose.

[paskinn]

Weird how this thread keeps touching my own interests. I have an SME 111, imo a great and neglected arm, although prices are now rising quite fast.
It is indeed a very lightweight arm, designed mainly with high compliance cartridges in mind. But SME always insisted that it was also made for low compliance cartridges and would work well. I've used one with a Koetsu Urushi and it sounded rather good. Gentle and fluid. However, why the fascination with MC cartridges? Stick on something like a Nagoaka 500 or a wooden bodied Grado and enjoy yourself. MM and Moving iron can be fully the equal of MCs to my ears. SME 111 on a Michell is a nice combination, and unusual too. I think you have some interesting stuff there.

[Marco]

Hi Peter,

You have a PM that I'd appreciate a response to at your earliest convenience. Ta! :)

Marco.

[walpurgis]

It should have occurred to me. Does your SME III have the fluid damper fitted? Many do and that makes them far more amenable to MC use. The damper can be retro-fitted if you don't have one, they come up for sale on eBay periodically. Worth having anyway, even some MMs benefit from damping and if you chose to try a Decca cartridge it would earn its keep.

[paskinn]

Marco, I've just replied. For the benefit of anyone interested, I'm not in the audio trade, never have been, never will be. It's a hobby, my job has been as an editor at the BBC. Over 40 years in this hobby I've never made a single penny. But I've spent quite a bit (to put it mildly). While on this subject, I say what I think, and what I have learnt over the years; I don't have 'agendas' and I try always to speak honestly, as I see it.
My actual name is Peter Skinner...hence ''paskinn''. I never appear on forums under any other name. The two forums I use are PFM and AOS. The last thing I sold was about six months ago, when I sold my phonostage at half the price I paid for it. The last thing I bought was a basic Croft riaa phonostage, about a year ago, from Deco audio (nice firm). And I bought a Grado wooden cartridge from Cartridge World, another good firm. In every case I paid the normal price, no favours, no special deals. That's it for the last 12 months.
The next thing I buy might be a new SME 12 R, possibly with an SPU cartridge, But that depends on whether I have the money.
Any other questions?

And on the actual subject of this thread...yes, a damping trough is a very good idea with this arm. Anyone who isn't familiar with the SME 111 should grab any chance to examine one. The thin titanium tube and the quality of the plastic mouldings are just superb for the 1970s. It's a class act.

[ftomivec]

I have now put on a audio technica at-f3 occ moving coil cartridge.i needed to put on a 10mm brass spacer on arm.looks nice with other brass.i also got my sut rewired with good quality silver wire.it sounds realy good and working well.my next step is luxman valve amp and a pair of pmc or proac speakers.so if anyone got anything around let me no.cheershttp://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy341/fto1996mivec/IMG_1133_1.jpg (http://s806.photobucket.com/user/fto1996mivec/media/IMG_1133_1.jpg.html)