View Full Version : Stylus pics - keep or return for refund
walpurgis
17-10-2017, 19:19
Hard to tell, but the diamond tip looks as though it could be OK, suggesting that whatever problems there are may have a cause elsewhere. I'd have the refund to be honest.
Hard to tell, but the diamond tip looks as though it could be OK, suggesting that whatever problems there are may have a cause elsewhere. I'd have the refund to be honest.That my thoughts too, I've been unsure about it since day 1, sounded good at the time but the more I listen to it the more it niggles that it's not quite right
topoxforddoc
17-10-2017, 21:12
Mike,
You can't possibly tell with this level of magnification and viewpoint. The classic Shure SEK-2 microscope used 120x magnification with two sided lighting, looking down end onto the stylus tip. You look for the "cats eyes", which are the wear point of the stylus surface. Big cats eyes mean more wear. See here
http://pubs.shure.com/view/guide/SEK-2/en-US.pdf
Charlie
montesquieu
17-10-2017, 21:23
Mike,
You can't possibly tell with this level of magnification and viewpoint. The classic Shure SEK-2 microscope used 120x magnification with two sided lighting, looking down end onto the stylus tip. You look for the "cats eyes", which are the wear point of the stylus surface. Big cats eyes mean more wear. See here
http://pubs.shure.com/view/guide/SEK-2/en-US.pdf
Charlie
Useful document.
Oh for F**K sake, big reply just accidentally deleted, must admit this has just about finished me for vinyl, can't even be bothered retyping my reply I'm so fed up with it.
PS: this is a reflection on the cartridge and vinyl in general NOT the people who posted help ;)
walpurgis
17-10-2017, 21:47
Take a breather and think about it tomorrow Mike.
Take a breather and think about it tomorrow Mike.
Good advice, but I've been here a few times already :rolleyes:
If he's offering a refund then take it mike. Your not happy so that's best option
Idlewithnodrive
17-10-2017, 22:43
Take a breather and think about it tomorrow Mike.
Exactly this. Vinyl can be a royal PITA, but it's worth it and you'd miss it.
If he's offering a refund then take it mike. Your not happy so that's best option
Yip, it’s going back, I just checked the image from a similar cartridge and the stylus is about twice as long compared to mine. So back it goes, a shame but never mind hopefully won’t be anything lost.
Just need to get the bottom of why my Decca Gold isn’t loud enough on my phono stage [emoji20]
walpurgis
17-10-2017, 22:52
Yip, it’s going back, I just checked the image from a similar cartridge and the stylus is about twice as long compared to mine. So back it goes, a shame but never mind hopefully won’t be anything lost.
Just need to get the bottom of why my Decca Gold isn’t loud enough on my phono stage [emoji20]
It's possible that the cartridge (whatever it may be? :scratch:) has been retipped and not done well.
Deccas are highish output cartridges, so that doesn't sound right. I'd try another phono stage. Can you borrow one for comparison?
It's possible that the cartridge (whatever it may be? :scratch:) has been retipped and not done well.
Deccas are highish output cartridges, so that doesn't sound right. I'd try another phono stage. Can you borrow one for comparison?That's my thoughts too, I've emailed for quotes for retipping but I'm thinking that it's best just to let it go.
I think my Decca is goosed too as swapping over to my TQ Claymore built in stage makes no difference. This just adds more grief, kind of rubs salt into the wound at the moment.
jandl100
18-10-2017, 07:21
Oh for F**K sake, big reply just accidentally deleted, must admit this has just about finished me for vinyl, can't even be bothered retyping my reply I'm so fed up with it.
Just dump the whole vinyl thing, is my advice.
I feel a cleaner, better person since finally managing it myself. :thumbsup:
Digital is better, easier and lets you focus on the music.
:sofa:
Must admit I haven’t been in a rush to bring my turntable downstairs... Tidal and Spotify’s huge catalogues help.
Sound wise there is nothing like it but it can cause despair at other times.
Just take deep breaths and leave it til your feeling like sorting your problem. Often getting a new perspective helps too. Ali might be able to help as he is close
Bigman80
18-10-2017, 09:24
Mikey,
Vinyl can be a pain in the arse BUT don't give up. Rewards are waiting. Flog all the non essential bits and buy a TOTL ZYX or similar. fit and forget type of cartridge. Then just enjoy for a while.
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the comments, I'll deal with this Cartridge refund and once my Tannoys are back from recone it'll be a serious rejig of system to get it how I want.
Been a frustrating journey and I'm not done yet, but I started out wrong with it all and now I'm paying the price.
walpurgis
18-10-2017, 09:43
Then you've got the break-in period for the Tannoy cones. You'll be thinking 'will it ever end?'. :)
It drove me potty waiting for my new ZYX R100 02 H MC to break in. Took near 40 hours of playing!
Then you've got the break-in period for the Tannoy cones. You'll be thinking 'will it ever end?'. :)
It drove me potty waiting for my new ZYX R100 02 H MC to break in. Took near 40 hours of playing!Lol, I'll enjoy that bit though, a 100 hours listening, pah manage that in a day [emoji23]
Bigman80
18-10-2017, 10:24
Thanks for the comments, I'll deal with this Cartridge refund and once my Tannoys are back from recone it'll be a serious rejig of system to get it how I want.
Been a frustrating journey and I'm not done yet, but I started out wrong with it all and now I'm paying the price.Started out wrong? What do you mean?
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk
walpurgis
18-10-2017, 10:29
New speaker driver and new cone break-in.
It's not just a loosening up of the cone suspension, as many think, there's more to it.
When a cone is new it has or should have consistency through the structure of the cone, some will be made with stiffened areas to the centre or cone material varying in thickness from centre to outer edge.
As the speaker is driven, the cone material will flex and ripple. These effects are 'break-up patterns' and this flexes and stretches the cone material and will gradually establish areas within the cone material where the break-up will always occur.
http://i68.tinypic.com/aay8lg.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/keeyb8.png
It's a bit like bending a piece of card. Once done, the card will always be more willing to bend again at the same point.
This is why (in my view) it is always preferable to fit new surrounds to old, nicely broken in cones, rather than install whole new cone/surround assemblies.
It can take months or even years for a cone to 'come right'! It's well known that some speakers develop a more pleasant sound as they age. I recall this being very true with old Goodmans and Wharfedale speakers with felted pulp cones.
.
Still, they will still sound pretty good, or no-one would ever buy them new
Oh for F**K sake, big reply just accidentally deleted, must admit this has just about finished me for vinyl, can't even be bothered retyping my reply I'm so fed up with it.
PS: this is a reflection on the cartridge and vinyl in general NOT the people who posted help ;)
are you talking about the cartridge i bid on as well?
dont give up mike,remember i threw the towel in with the c4e,id sold my 2m black as well so i couldn't even go back to what i knew was good,it all turned out great for me in the end so dont make rash decisions.
if you stick with the decca,send it off for a check over,maybe a re tip?
are you talking about the cartridge i bid on as well?
dont give up mike,remember i threw the towel in with the c4e,id sold my 2m black as well so i couldn't even go back to what i knew was good,it all turned out great for me in the end so dont make rash decisions.
if you stick with the decca,send it off for a check over,maybe a re tip?Hi Jamie,
Yeah same one, the seller has already started the refund process, they've been great with no hassles at all. So I'll get my money back, he's going to get it checked/repaired if it needs it and get back to me in case I want it again.
I've emailed John Wright about the Decca as it gives low output on 2 different stages so I think that's faulty too, nae luck eh, it's been like that since I received it so I should have had that checked immediately too, it just never occurred to be that it was faulty though [emoji17] I just thought it was a mismatch between the Vivant stage and Ali's Slagle that I was using as a pre at the time.
It was serviced on 2014 but according to the seller it had little use since then, but I know how fragile they can be so maybe Royal Mail killed it.
I'll get there eventually.
Mind you, our living room is going to get a complete revamp with the TV being repositioned and I'm getting a dedicated listening room ( currently home cinema room which joins onto the living room ) with approval from The Boss to replace the saggy 2 seater settee in there with 2 stressless recliners or similar anyway, so it's not ALL bad news [emoji4]
Started out wrong? What do you mean?
Sent from my EVA-L09 using TapatalkI meant speakers first then add from there, I just bought everything randomly and arse for elbow [emoji23]
Bigman80
18-10-2017, 22:09
I meant speakers first then add from there, I just bought everything randomly and arse for elbow [emoji23]Oh I see lol, well, it's all about synergy and it'll come together for you. Has for me.
That slagle is now permanent in my system. No worries about its performance at all. The Vivant shouldn't be causing you an issue either as it's just been modded hasn't it! Defo a cart issue. Shame that but it'll come good.
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk
Could be a mismatch. Had that once
Could be a mismatch. Had that onceThat was my original thought but it's the same on my integrated phono input too [emoji848]
Damn Tapatalk double posting
Ok so it's more expense, the Decca is off to the Decca hospital for a checkup today [emoji17]
So that's me without vinyl play ( until the cheapie Regards cart I bought arrives for the spare TT ), and my Tannoys cabs are empty, thank goodness for my Raspberry Pi and my PMC 21's that I can't sell [emoji4]
Sorry to hear about your cartridge problems Mike.
I have been chasing my tail in a similar manner, making multiple changes that have had a knock on effect with system synergy.
So I now have a different Cartridge (thanks to your assistance) a new phono stage and I have gone fully balanced. I almost slipped into this by accident as more and more of the bits just happened to have the balanced facility.
Similarly my speakers are in a state of flux, from both driver choice and crossover method, digital active v analogue active. The digital active sounds great and best with digital sources and the analogue is much better with my turntable.
It can be very frustrating at times, so I sympathise with your feelings.
Just stick at it, you will get there in the end. :)
Sorry to hear about your cartridge problems Mike.
I have been chasing my tail in a similar manner, making multiple changes that have had a knock on effect with system synergy.
So I now have a different Cartridge (thanks to your assistance) a new phono stage and I have gone fully balanced. I almost slipped into this by accident as more and more of the bits just happened to have the balanced facility.
Similarly my speakers are in a state of flux, from both driver choice and crossover method, digital active v analogue active. The digital active sounds great and best with digital sources and the analogue is much better with my turntable.
It can be very frustrating at times, so I sympathise with your feelings.
Just stick at it, you will get there in the end. :)I do get frustrated, but I'm sure I'll get there in the end, its like doing a 10,000 piece jigsaw with some pieces missing [emoji23]
Good to see that the AT cart is doing it for you.
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