Arm - Cartridge matching

[worrasf]

OK so just when you think you are beginning to get to grips with setting up your system(s) HiFi bowls you a curved ball - or maybe I should have sussed this out earlier :eyebrows:

I have 3 MM cartridges - Astatic MF-100, Reson Reca & AT 150 mlx - I have 2 arms Jelco SA 750D (avec Hugo collar) and Origin Live Silver II so all in all not Dansette kit ;)

All 3 cartridges work well in both arms BUT the Astatic is simply stunning in the Jelco whereas the Reson was OK but a bit splashy and lacked focus. The Reson just sings in the Origin Live where it is tight, articulate and just so enjoyable while the Astatic tended to be a tad pedestrian and even at 1g VTF would occasionally bottom out it's suspension on this arm which it never does on the Jelco. The AT 150 mlx is pretty consistent on both arms and while very fine just doesn't have the finesse of the Astatic or the attack of the Reson.

Now I guess this is down to arm/cartridge dynamic compliance matching but I never really appreciated the magnitude of the difference in sound from the same cartridge in different arms until now :scratch:

Steve

[DSJR]

What about damping on the Jelco? hasn't the 750D come about as a recommended arm because of the Denon 103 and other fussy MC's? my experience of the Glanz ancestors to the Astatic were that they maybe needed low mass arms. the Reson is a ton-up Goldring 10 series isn't it? Might explain why it likes the rega-derived arm you use perhaps?

I don't know the 150MLX sadly, but should imagine it's forte is delicasy and lightness of touch, possibly best realised in a lightweight tonearm with a tad of damping applied? The MC AT33EV may just give you the best of both without the "etched" quality the line contact stylus of the OC9 and 150 can offer?