Happy Accident!

[Opti-cal]

Yesterday, after forgetting vinyl was playing (damn these silent stages and clean records!) I bumped into the rack next to my TT causing it to skip horribly and reminding me all too late that there was indeed vinyl in progress . . .

Re-set the stylus to the record . . . oh dear unbalanced (and not so good) sound poured out through my speakers.

Upon inspection I have slightly buggered my Denon DL-304's needle. I always suspected it was not perfectly straight since I bought it but hadn't really bothered me as it fell in line when on the record and it sounds wonderful. Alas neither of those statements could now be said to be true.

After a minute of wallowing in self pity, I pulled myself up off the floor (I did genuinely roll about on the floor in a sort of adult tantrum as if to portray a 'why me why now everything is terrible' outburst) as I remembered I had a cart stored away that could maybe save the day.

Quickly removed the Denon from Ittok III arm (a lot quicker than putting it on!) and within a couple of minutes I had a shiny new Audio Technica OC9 XEN mounted in its place. Nice threads on top of the cart so fitting was a doddle, it lines up perfectly with the squared off edges of the shell incorporated into my arm, it actually looks custom fitted.

Got lucky with the alignment too, minor adjustments later it was spot on.

I was also able to increase tracking weight from 1.2 to 2.0g enabling me to move the counterweight closer to the pivot of the arm (which someone told me was a good thing up to a point) so literally within 20 minutes of all hope being lost I was back up and running again.

Well this thing is completely silent, tracks like a dream and is already sounding as good as the Denon with very low hours on it.


I'm fully aware some pics would be useful to accompany this story so I will duly oblige later.


Would be interested to hear what anyone thinks of the new lineup of the OC9 carts after some break-in time.

Also if anyone wants a super easy swap-in cart for their Ittok's I can thoroughly recommend the AT's, they are top quality. No messing about with nuts/long bolts etc.

[struth]

The Audio Technica OC9 XEN is a good cart.. good your back in action..

[Barry]

I think a few of us have damaged a stylus/cantilever by accident (I know I have - and the cartridge was not even mine! :( ). But after kicking yourself, you pull yourself together and fit another cartridge (perhaps a long forgotten one in the spares box), often to find the 'new' one is better.

Anyway, glad to hear you are now up and running Chris. :)

[dave2010]

I think a few of us have damaged a stylus/cantilever by accident (I know I have - and the cartridge was not even mine! :( ). But after kicking yourself, you pull yourself together and fit another cartridge (perhaps a long forgotten one in the spares box), often to find the 'new' one is better.
Many years ago, when I played vinyl more, and really worried about these things, we arranged a children’s party. One little monster found my turntable and happily flicked the stylus on the cartridge I had at the time back and forwards a few times. I did bend it back, and it still worked after a fashion, but that was probably £20 written off in days when £20 could actually buy something worthwhile.

I could make some sexist comment at this point, but I won’t. Suffice to say that trying to explain what the little darling had just done, though not to him or his parents, fell on deaf ears.

One gets over these concerns - eventually!

[Pharos]

I had a 304 and damaged it in the Linn velvet, offsetting it a little. Had it for a few years like that and have just fitted a new on (costing £500), but not levelled it or played it yet, still bothered about my new speakers' sound, but I do like the 304 very much
Some years ago I had an OC9 and found it toppy, and it had a lowish compliance, so I gave it away.

[Opti-cal]

Thanks chaps, appreciate the support for getting back on the wagon so quickly!

Here is a little pic of the cart on the arm. Sorry its not a great pic, will get some better ones up soon. This just shows how nicely the cart fills the headshell on the Ittok. Also the Linn and Audio Technica logo's have a nice synergy between them I think . . . which was nice.


https://i.ibb.co/pKznpbG/IMAG2437.jpg (https://ibb.co/pKznpbG)

[Opti-cal]

I had a 304 and damaged it in the Linn velvet, offsetting it a little. Had it for a few years like that and have just fitted a new on (costing £500), but not levelled it or played it yet, still bothered about my new speakers' sound, but I do like the 304 very much
Some years ago I had an OC9 and found it toppy, and it had a lowish compliance, so I gave it away.

The 304 definitely has a special sound I concur. I think the new line of OC9's are supposed to be a little more relaxed than prior examples. No less detailed but like all things its system dependent. I'm much more of a fan of pairing "dark" components with "bright" speakers or vice versa, rather than having all "neutral" ones in the chain. I believe this gives a more organic and musical sound.

Having said that though this cart appears to be very neutral so far not drawing attention to itself, just sounding good throughout the spectrum. Happy days.

[oldius]

OC9 are great cartridges, IME, and would be significantly more expensive if made by one of the boutique brands.