View Full Version : A new cartridge chez Cagey
OldPinkMan has sent me a cartridge to have a play with (thanks Richard), so that I have a comparison to my AT33PTG/II.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1606/26006730024_3934fab38c_z_d.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1455/26612402865_99a788725f_z_d.jpg
Any guesses to what it is?
walpurgis
24-04-2016, 11:26
Looks like a 'P' mount with adaptor. Technics?
Yes. P-mount Technics with adapter.
An EPC-310MC - and it's not too shabby! ;)
walpurgis
24-04-2016, 11:43
Yes. P-mount Technics with adapter.
An EPC-310MC - and it's not too shabby! ;)
The AT-33 will struggle to beat that one. I had the very closely related top of the range EPC-305MC Technics MC and not much came close to that (Fidelity Research MC-201 did) until I bought a ZYX.
(P mounts flex a bit. Wedge a small bit of tightly folded paper between the cartridge top and the P mount. It'll firm the sound up)
Geoff,
Did you ever try the Technics EPC-205 MM?
If so, what did you think of it?
Richard rates it very highly, but finding a good original will prove difficult.
walpurgis
24-04-2016, 14:39
Geoff,
Did you ever try the Technics EPC-205 MM?
No. Never got my hands on one, but they have a great reputation.
It's certainly an MM I'd like to try. Along with a Grace F9E and JVC X-1. Mind you, they'd have to go some to better my ADCs.
morris_minor
25-04-2016, 15:58
I've been trying to find one of these in good nick at a decent price for years, Kevin! My Technics p-mount decks would just love one . .
Kevin,
The EPC-305MC Technics MC has legendary specs ans perfomance - does it live up to the hype?
Anthony
No idea. This is a "mere" 310.
It is rather good though.
Oldpinkman
26-04-2016, 12:11
As I said to you before Kevin - it punches way above its weight. It was terrific value when new. There are not many MC's (or any sort of cartridge) that will better it, and whilst perhaps not the last word in absolute refinement it will give you a decent idea of what a good MC sounds like. Heaven only knows there are some horrible sounding MC's out there.
My rig is now due down on 18th May... ;)
Looks kinda cool on the end of yer FX-1200 (with all that 'gubbins' fitted), Kevin. Glad it sounds good, too! Always did like the cartridges Technics produced. Enjoy :cool:
Marco.
morris_minor
26-04-2016, 14:50
Talking about MCs from back in the day I recently got hold of a NOS Yamaha MC-1x (http://www.revalia.esy.es/da/mc1x/yamahaMC1x.pdf), with a tapered beryllium tube cantilever. My MC experience isn't extensive, but compared to a Zyx R100, Ortofon Rondo Blue, Hana EL, AT33M, and Ortofon Vivo Red - the Yammy is easily the best of the bunch.
http://www.revalia.esy.es/da/mc1x/yam-mc1-x.jpg
Love the look of that too, Bob. The best of these classic designs, from the heyday of vinyl replay, often outperform modern items. You should make that picture into your avatar! ;)
Marco.
morris_minor
29-04-2016, 10:03
It does look pretty cool, doesn't it, Marco? Kind of retro-modern. It shows what the Japanese corporations could do when they put their mind to it. I use the cartridge on a Kenwood KD7010 (aka 990), which, GyroSE notwithstanding, is easily the best turntable I've ever had. I sometimes wonder if I should take the "plinth" off it and run it as a "spider edition" - like here: :)
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ee/99/80/ee99802423c3a403792e2e1bedb29615.jpg
And I've just found this too: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?40422-Playing-vinyl-naked
Beast of a turntable. Not seen one of those before! :eek:
morris_minor
29-04-2016, 18:24
Here's my KD7010 wearing it's black skirt to hide those butch legs . . :eyebrows:
http://www.revalia.esy.es/da/mc1x/7010.jpg
Ammonite Audio
29-04-2016, 19:18
The KD-990 does definitely sound better without its plinth, partly because the plinth acts as a sounding board for the mains transformer. I've had to fashion a small wooden box for the controls of mine, and at some point I'll need to cover the circuit board to protect the exposed components. The deck also sounds better without those big feet - I use OEM Stillpoints. Here is mine at the recent Styl:us vinyl show (more photos here http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?44629-Styl-us-Vinyl-Show ):
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s301/hugocass/IMG_20160423_131535_zpsghzb0swq.jpg
It does look pretty cool, doesn't it, Marco? Kind of retro-modern. It shows what the Japanese corporations could do when they put their mind to it. I use the cartridge on a Kenwood KD7010 (aka 990), which, GyroSE notwithstanding, is easily the best turntable I've ever had. I sometimes wonder if I should take the "plinth" off it and run it as a "spider edition" - like here: :)
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ee/99/80/ee99802423c3a403792e2e1bedb29615.jpg
And I've just found this too: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?40422-Playing-vinyl-naked
The feet I agree with, I use oak cones under mine, the plinth I'm not so sure there's any difference......
morris_minor
30-04-2016, 12:38
The KD-990 does definitely sound better without its plinth, partly because the plinth acts as a sounding board for the mains transformer. I've had to fashion a small wooden box for the controls of mine, and at some point I'll need to cover the circuit board to protect the exposed components. The deck also sounds better without those big feet - I use OEM Stillpoints. Here is mine at the recent Styl:us vinyl show (more photos here http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?44629-Styl-us-Vinyl-Show ):
That looks impressive Hugo! I see you've mounted a different tonearm; what did you think the shortcomings were with the stock arm? I like the little housing you've made for the control switches too . .
[Mods: is it worth moving these Kenwood posts to a different thread - they've somewhat hijacked Kevin's OP :sorry: ]
I think thread drift like this is really interesting. Maybe an idea to add something to the title about the Kenwood deck?
Two years on and I now have my very own EPC-P310 to play with.
This one has a paratrace stylus on a sapphire cantilever spliced into the original boron pipe, which in a way is a shame, but is much cheaper than an EPC-305. The added advantage of my 310 is that it was checked over by ESCO, so it has a clean bill of health prior to me purchasing it.
I am quite happy with the modified 310,as I feel the limiting factor with the original Technics cartridges was the stylus profile. The 310 still sounds very neutral, but with added detail.
I am still tempted by a 305, but Infear it will lack the detail that I enjoy from my other cartridges.
Two years on and I now have my very own EPC-P310 to play with.
This one has a paratrace stylus on a sapphire cantilever spliced into the original boron pipe, which in a way is a shame, but is much cheaper than an EPC-305. The added advantage of my 310 is that it was checked over by ESCO, so it has a clean bill of health prior to me purchasing it.
I am quite happy with the modified 310,as I feel the limiting factor with the original Technics cartridges was the stylus profile. The 310 still sounds very neutral, but with added detail.
I am still tempted by a 305, but Infear it will lack the detail that I enjoy from my other cartridges.
Nice exotic mix of materials there Kev?:) I have not heard a sapphire cantilevered cartridge but plenty of Boron. Just bought a Kontrapunkt B which has an amazingly thin Ruby cantilever and Fritz gyger diamond.
I saw your thread, and I am happy you found one after a few months of looking.
Personally, I am not an Ortofon fan. The 2MB put me off enough not to investigate their MC products. It’s an expensive past time trying MC cartridges. I would still like to hear one at some point, but in someone else’s system.
Having borrowed the first 310 from Richard, I liked the tone but missed the detail. This seemed like a good compromise.
I am still tempted to try a 305, but I have my reservations about the suspension when it gets warm down here.
I saw your thread, and I am happy you found one after a few months of looking.
Personally, I am not an Ortofon fan. The 2MB put me off enough not to investigate their MC products. It’s an expensive past time trying MC cartridges. I would still like to hear one at some point, but in someone else’s system.
Having borrowed the first 310 from Richard, I liked the tone but missed the detail. This seemed like a good compromise.
I am still tempted to try a 305, but I have my reservations about the suspension when it gets warm down here.
The Kontrapunkt b is nothing like the 2M black and probably not even similar to the Cadenza range that has now replaced it. You are right, it is difficult trying to get to listen to MC cartridges especially in your own system and then at considerable expense. I have been fortunate and heard many MC cartridges in both my own system and other systems over the last few years and nothing really made me want to part with a large wedge of cash until now..
Your right to have reservations about the suspension on some of these old cartridges, I had one collapse sometime back and wreck a good LP!
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