View Full Version : WTD Decca cartridge
another itch needing scratching now that I've found a Hadcock tone arm. those in the know seem to prefer the C4E, but anything considered really in the diachronous Decca ballpark. may need a retip.
(I have an elderly Cartridge Man Music Maker III, bought direct from Mr Gregory, which I was thinking of having refurbished, but could let go if anyone is interested in PX).
Given a Decca's fast attack and excellent reproduction of the leading edge of a musical waveform - the term tachychronous might be more appropriate. :)
Good luck with the search.
thank you. i'll be excpecting the Decca to emit tachychron particles.
thank you. i'll be excpecting the Decca to emit tachychron particles.Particles or Waves??? [emoji44] [emoji1787]
Sent from my G8441 using Tapatalk
damn. I think I meant tachyon particles. getting rusty.
still no joy. C4E preferred, but will consider newer iterations.
still no joy. C4E preferred, but will consider newer iterations. Nothing on the bay ?. Which reminds me mine needs sending off for attention.
RobbieGong
30-04-2020, 16:04
Decca here, Dont think it's a C4E, dont know what these ones are like ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114158409908
Decca here, Dont think it's a C4E, dont know what these ones are like ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114158409908
It's a Decca Mk. V. It is fitted with a spherical stylus.
Whether or not it is better than a Mk. IV is somewhat moot as the Mk. VI (and Mk. V) correct some of the shortcomings of the Mk. IV (the C4E and SC4E) but at the same time have their own design flaws.
As with all Decca cartridges you have to find a good sample (the sample-to-sample variation is enormous) and then let your ears decide. But if you can find a good sample and take care with the installation and set up, you will be rewarded with one of the most exciting and involving performances, that no other cartridge I know of can provide.
walpurgis
30-04-2020, 17:41
That example looks silver to me.
topoxforddoc
30-04-2020, 17:56
It took me 3 years to find a decent C4E, but the wait was worth it!
That example looks silver to me.
The blurb says it is a Decca 'Grey'. The Decca Greys were hand-picked samples of the Mk. V reserved for export (and usually referred to as the Decca 'Export').
They were thus fitted with a spherical stylus.
'Silver' and 'grey' are not too different in colour, although the Decca 'Greys' I have seen were darker in hue.
I've tried googling it, but with no apparent success. what is the difference between a Decca Grey & a Decca Silver?
The blurb says it is a Decca 'Grey'. The Decca Greys were hand-picked samples of the Mk. V reserved for export (and usually referred to as the Decca 'Export').
They were thus fitted with a spherical stylus.
'Silver' and 'grey' are not too different in colour, although the Decca 'Greys' I have seen were darker in hue.
it was your post somewhere along the way ("beg, borrow, steal"?) that got me going.
It took me 3 years to find a decent C4E, but the wait was worth it!
walpurgis
30-04-2020, 18:22
I've tried googling it, but with no apparent success. what is the difference between a Decca Grey & a Decca Silver?
None that I'm aware of, apart from the finish, both were the 'Export'. Mine was grey and bought new at the time. I kept it many years, as it was the best sounding of all the London types I'd owned including Golds.
I've tried googling it, but with no apparent success. what is the difference between a Decca Grey & a Decca Silver?
As Geoff has said, there doesn't seem to be any difference. Both are 'export' samples of the Mk. V (aka the Decca 'Blue'), fitted with a spherical sample.
There is some understandable confusion with Decca's nomenclature for their Mk. V and Mk. VI cartridge designs. For example there is mention of a Decca 'Black', which I think might be the same as the 'Blue' (but I could well be wrong). Likewise there is the the Decca 'Maroon' (known in the US as the Decca 'Plum') which is a Mk. V design, but made on a separate production line, with (supposedly) extra special care taken with its construction. Like all Mk. Vs, it also sports a spherical stylus.
The big problem with all Decca cartridges is their atrocious standard of construction, leading to enormous variations in quality, and hence reliability. I have had three Decca 'Blues': one fantastic; one OK, and one decidedly poor. The Decca 'Gold' I have is fine, as is my Decca SC4E. I also have a Decca Mk. III which I can use with a Decca ffss Super arm. or via an SME D3 adaptor on an SME arm. It hasn't be used for a good while now, so I can't really comment on how it sounds compared with the the later designs.
There is further complication in that Decca fitted an RC network to some of the Mk. IV designs: ostensibly to the RC, but some other Mk. IVs had them fitted as well. And to make matters even more unclear, the coils for early Decca cartridges were made for them by Parmeko. These coils continued to be used up to the early Mk. Vs, when Decca made their own coils, which produced a lower output than the Parmeko coils.
appreciative as I am of what amounts to a free education, I'm still looking for a Decca.
How much are you willing to pay? Are you still looking for an SC4E or a C4E, or would you consider a Mk.V or Mk.VI?
I'm afraid there is no short answer.
I'm looking for a long-term replacement for my Music Maker III, which I've retired considering it has about 1200 hours on it (2012-2020). my budget would be what it costs having the MMIII refurbished by Mr Gregory (plus a little more, if needed). this is not to cast aspersions on the MMIII (which I've not heard in its most recent incarnation). however, I bought a 103R on this forum to tide me over & it's made me think.
so I've come to the conclusion I'd like to push the MM envelope & try a Decca. I had a refurbished one (Mk V I think), but suppose felt intimidated by it & sold it here untried a few years ago. still regret that. I keep reading a C4E or a SC4E refurbished by John Wright is the way to go -- so that's what I'd like to try. though if that's going to take years, as suggested above, then I'm open to other options.
I've bought a Croft head amp meanwhile & the 103R is going to stay. I've also bought a second deck, however, so, for the Decca it'd either be a Cartridgeman Conductor/Fletcher Omega 3 or a Hadcock 228/Lenco75 in a very heavy plinth.
cheers
ahto
The C4E and SC4Es are rarely come up up for sale these days, whereas the Mk.V and Mk.VIs are more common.
There is a rather nice Decca 'Maroon' for sale on ebay at the moment for £560: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/London-Decca-Maroon/254514198932?_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLI CE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225114%26meid%3De9fe2ed6f2 dc4551b6294aa6d2e9636a%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26r kt%3D5%26sd%3D392345403169%26itm%3D254514198932%26 pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1
I have 21no Decca cartridges comprising FFSS MKI (6no), MKII (5no), MKIII (3no), H4E (4No) plus 1no each of Decca London Green (78rpm), Blue & Maroon. PM me if any of interest. Obviously, unless you are using the original Decca tonearm, you will need an adaptor for the FFSS type for use with a modern tonearm with detachable SME pattern headshell. These adaptors are availble and still being made, albeit a little expensive.
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