View Full Version : Just slapped this onto my TT
So, I bought this a few weeks ago just to see what all the fuss was about. If read bits and pieces about it on various threads, pages and turntable sites, I was warned that the stylus might need replacing or retipping, but thought I'd buy it anyway, then just buy a replacement stylus when it arrived. Little did I know how hard it is to buy a NOS stylus for it.
So tonight after work, I was about to refit my Mission 774 arm to the techie when I remembered about the old cartridge I'd bought a few weeks back. I thought might as well try that before faffing about swapping arms on the TT.
I have just fitted it to my Orsonic headshell, didn't even use the Smartractor to set it up, just screwed it into the headshell roughly where I thought it should sit, checked the balance, set the tracking to 1.0g and dropped the needle onto the LP, Holy Moly what the heck is this thing, right away I was amazed by the bass, the slam, how tight it was, vocals sounded smooth and forward in the mix, the treble also seems to be spot on, clear, sharp, no rough edge, Stevie Ray Vaughans Tin Pan Alley is one of my go to tracks for testing cartridges Tony and Brian ( Scottish Mafia ) have heard my TT setup and were well impressed using a Zyx R100, I sold that then went to a Kontrapunkt B which they haven't heard, I think the KB betters the Zyx, but this old scrapper is their equal, in my system anyway, it seems to be exactly what I've been looking for in a cartridge for the last 3-4 years. I even heard Stevie say something in the track that I hadn't heard before!
I think Geoff will be along to sing its praises too so I'm sure he's a fan of them.
For me, it's the best buy I've made of any HiFi kit since joining AoS, PFM etc and I've spent £1000's
Just need to find a spare stylus for it now as it's going nowhere.
Gobsmacked is an understatement and I'm not just saying that because it cost next to nothing, I would be saying it even it it cost a few hundred [emoji6] [emoji4]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190225/f650a80f42a8a8e820b9b4331d9b461c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190225/4e662b17d32fbc66e6d9a1744509d584.jpg
Nice cartridge the ADC XLM. Had the mk2 improved for a while and really enjoyed it.
i had a couple of adc's and liked them a lot,they had a certain something.
Seems to really gel with the Fidelity arm and Techie TT. I won't be bothering to try my Mission arm tonight [emoji6]
i should have said i tried the ones geoff sold me on my (at the time) 774!
Firebottle
25-02-2019, 19:04
Brilliant Mikey, really glad you are finding it hits the spot :D
i should have said i tried the ones geoff sold me on my (at the time) 774!At the moment the Fidelity arm sounds good with it so I'll not fit the 774 as it's going to be a faff to swap over so I'll leave it for just now
Brilliant Mikey, really glad you are finding it hits the spot :DSounds really good, ok I'm sure if I could be bothered to do a direct comparison I could no doubt pick fault with it, but I'm actually preferring the sound from it compared to the Zyx AND the KB.
It might be that synergy thing [emoji6]
Hi Mike
I had the ZLM, it was superb.
Great carts.
Really glad your loving yours.
Steve
Well, I've been listening for the last 2 hours and my initial thoughts haven't changed, really liking it a lot, tried classic rock, electronic, prog rock, 70''s pop, didn't let me down with any of them.
I've been fiddling with the vinyl setup over the weekend as I still wasn't 100% happy with it, and trust me I've been fiddling with it off and on for months, no, years.
Now....
I think I've arrived [emoji4]
Hi Mike
Im still trying to get there, its great when you do.
Pity they don't still produce the ADC range, they had some fantastic Carts.
Original Stylus in link below
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ADC-XLM1-stylus-original-NOS/303075722845?hash=item4690b8865d:g:m7YAAOSwgX9cdFE 3:rk:6:pf:0
Steve
Hi Mike
Im still trying to get there, its great when you do.
Pity they don't still produce the ADC range, they had some fantastic Carts.
Original Stylus in link below
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ADC-XLM1-stylus-original-NOS/303075722845?hash=item4690b8865d:g:m7YAAOSwgX9cdFE 3:rk:6:pf:0
SteveHi Steve,
Saw that one but I think I'd need the iii version?
I had an XLMIII. Sold it. Stupid, stupid boy... :doh:
walpurgis
25-02-2019, 22:09
Hi Steve,
Saw that one but I think I'd need the iii version?
XLM III is the best of them apart from the rare ZLM.
XLM III is the best of them apart from the rare ZLM.I read that too, I'm keeping an eye out for one but having listened to this XLM III right through from fitting it earlier tonight, I'm more than happy with it. If a ZLM appears then I'll try for it but won't be too disappointed if I fail [emoji6]
I had an XLMIII. Sold it. Stupid, stupid boy... :doh:I can only sympathise with you now that I've heard one
walpurgis
25-02-2019, 23:02
I read that too, I'm keeping an eye out for one but having listened to this XLM III right through from fitting it earlier tonight, I'm more than happy with it. If a ZLM appears then I'll try for it but won't be too disappointed if I fail [emoji6]
I had a few years back and really enjoyed them. The older 10E Mk.IV sounds near enough the same and I've still got one and a spare stylus. Sounds excellent!
Got a couple of 10E Mk.II's and a 550XE from the sixties as well, they are also very nice.
Ideally, the XLM III should really be used in a lowish mass arm. They respond well to a bit of damping though and I'm betting the 774 arm would surprise you if you gave it a whirl with the ADC.
Ideally, the XLM III should really be used in a lowish mass arm. They respond well to a bit of damping though and I'm betting the 774 arm would surprise you if you gave it a whirl with the ADC.
I would try the 774 but hearing how it sounds tonight on my 20g FR arm ( complete opposite mass wise to the 774 [emoji50] ) I'm loathe to change it.
Maybe one day I'll try it. But it's a bit of a guddle changing armboard and everything so for now I'm leaving it.
I still have a couple of ADC 25s (each complete with three different size/profile stylii) as well as a pair of ADC 10E Mk. IV (again with several styli).
They are part of a small collection of vintage fixed-coil cartridges I have built up consisting of ADC, B&O and Decca designs plus an AKG, and my first 'serious' cartridge: the Shure M55E.
Audio Al
26-02-2019, 05:24
Happy for you and yes I have had the :eek: feeling with hifi ;)
Got an xlm Integra. Nice cart
Yorkrise
27-02-2019, 08:38
Is that a fidelity research fr64? What is that like?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Is that a fidelity research fr64? What is that like?
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkYip, FR64FX silver wired according to the box it came in. Previously using a Mission 774, is the FR better?
Hard to say I've never done a direct comparison as it would take so long to swap them over. I nearly swapped into 774 back in the other night but couldn't be bothered so I swapped cartridges and headshell instead [emoji23]
Maybe one day I'll try a swap but for now the FR is staying put.
Ali Tait
27-02-2019, 20:46
Nice one Mike, glad it’s hitting the spot.
Nice one Mike, glad it’s hitting the spot.Hi Ali,
It's certainly is, I'll feed it more lps over the next few days, I'll try different genres too.
XLM fans might like to know that reasonably priced NOS MKII improved can be had here:
https://www.musonic.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_71&products_id=18221&zenid=ht76fev08b7fcpo8kd1qpcktd6
I bought one a few weeks ago not expecting much, but they're genuine. I think the MKII and MKIII were electrically more or less identical so stylii will be interchangeable. Think the MKII has a less fancy tip but it still sounds very nice.
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