I’m done with moving coil cartridge hassle

[paulf-2007]

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Deccas too. Currently using an SC4E on a Mission 774, but I have other Deccas ...

I always wanted to get that 'live' sound that you get when you go to a gig, and the Decca gets me closest to that.

I am still chasing the prefect arm for the Decca (to go with my grease 301 that I will one-day finish), but the 774 does OK.

I had a C4e and it sounded great but I got a load of surface noise. I also tried my mates super gold, very nice too. My Shure ultra 500 is excellent and no hassle and gets top spot.

[Natara]

After a very expensive accident with a Dynavector 20x2L I’ve just bought an Audio Technica AT 150AE MM and am happy to know that not only can the stylus be replaced with these models it can also be upgraded with a ‘better’ stylus.

[fiddlemaker]

After a very expensive accident with a Dynavector 20x2L I’ve just bought an Audio Technica AT 150AE MM and am happy to know that not only can the stylus be replaced with these models it can also be upgraded with a ‘better’ stylus.

How do you find the sound compared with the Dynavector?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[montesquieu]

For me, there's a better way and that's using a phonostage DESIGNED for the use of MC. Thats what I decided to chase. In the end, we designed our own phonostage and it's worked out really well. I know that's not possible for everyone but there are phonostages out there that may change your opinion on your carts. We used a Jfet to do the gain work. There are others who do this too and with great results.

My conclusion is the complete opposite. I have never heard even the most exotic and expensive straight to MC phono stage work as well as a decent MM phono stage + well-matched quality SUT. My own Aurorasound Vida is a case in point - obvious to anyone who visited - but I've heard the same time and time again, the £10k+ Thoress Phono Enhancer most recently.

When you are handling cartridges at 2 ohms and 0.015mV you are on a hiding to nothing trying to do it all with active gain. But in fact the same applies with less weird and wonderful stuff too. Yes it can be expensive but SUTs are far more flexible when it comes to matching (no obsessing over a few ohms loading here or there), get it right and the results are sublime.

[RobbieGong]

My conclusion is the complete opposite. I have never heard even the most exotic and expensive straight to MC phono stage work as well as a decent MM phono stage + well-matched quality SUT. My own Aurorasound Vida is a case in point - obvious to anyone who visited - but I've heard the same time and time again, the £10k+ Thoress Phono Enhancer most recently.

When you are handling cartridges at 2 ohms and 0.015mV you are on a hiding to nothing trying to do it all with active gain. But in fact the same applies with less weird and wonderful stuff too. Yes it can be expensive but SUTs are far more flexible when it comes to matching (no obsessing over a few ohms loading here or there), get it right and the results are sublime.

'Work as well'...... That can be a whole debate in itself for someone else.

You've expressed an approach that has gotten great results for you.

I and others have had what we regard as fabulous results from the simple approach of the excellent onboard phonostage's that are found in some integrated amps, no doubt.

In my case 2M Black mm through in-built onboard phonostage of a fairly humble Technics SU VX800 - no issues at all, lovely sound, really opened my eyes to how good the 2MB is.

Sansui AU-919 - Ortofon Quintet Black and Cadenza Black through in-built phonostage - beautiful !

Sansui AU alpha 707 DR - Cadenza Black and Cadenza Black with FGS upgrade re-tip through in-built.... - jawdropping !

[montesquieu]

'Work as well'...... That can be a whole debate in itself for someone else.

You've expressed an approach that has gotten great results for you.

I and others have had what we regard as fabulous results from the simple approach of the excellent onboard phonostage's that are found in some integrated amps, no doubt.

In my case 2M Black mm through in-built onboard phonostage of a fairly humble Technics SU VX800 - no issues at all, lovely sound, really opened my eyes to how good the 2MB is.

Sansui AU-919 - Ortofon Quintet Black and Cadenza Black through in-built phonostage - beautiful !

Sansui AU alpha 707 DR - Cadenza Black and Cadenza Black with FGS upgrade re-tip through in-built.... - jawdropping !

And you tried all of these into MM with a top quality SUT and know that direct is better?

[RobbieGong]

And you tried all of these into MM with a top quality SUT and know that direct is better?

2MB mm went into mm and the Quintet and Cadenza mc's went into mc.

Didnt say this simple approach was better just that I've had great results without any faff, hassle or issues in respect of the OPs thread.

[montesquieu]

2MB mm went into mm and the Quintet and Cadenza mc's went into mc.

Didnt say this simple approach was better just that I've had great results without any faff, hassle or issues in respect of the OPs thread.

I never argued that you could't get great results, only that my conclusions (on hearing a shed load of phono stages, cartridges, head amps and SUTs) were different from Olly's.My experience has been that ultimate results are to be had from using a SUT.

Other methods have their fans - head amps in particular I'm sympathetic to ... but I would put head amps in a different bracket to all-MC phono stages due to the special attention given to power supply, regulation etc just for that critical last bit of crud-free gain that's needed for MC over MM..

[RobbieGong]

I never argued that you could't get great results, only that my conclusions (on hearing a shed load of phono stages, cartridges, head amps and SUTs) were different from Olly's.My experience has been that ultimate results are to be had from using a SUT.

Other methods have their fans - head amps in particular I'm sympathetic to ... but I would put head amps in a different bracket to all-MC phono stages due to the special attention given to power supply, regulation etc just for that critical last bit of crud-free gain that's needed for MC over MM..

I didnt think you were arguing.

My responses are not against what you are saying at all as I've never tried that way.

My responses are more in line with the OPs thread 'I’m done with moving coil cartridge hassle'

His post goes on to express mc's as a hassle, therefore I'm just expresing that I havnt found that the case with the 'simple' approach I've always chosen / taken.

Certainly not knocking other approaches as I havnt tried them and I dont doubt that sublime results have been and can be achieved through other ways than the way I've done it so far.

[Ammonite Audio]

I'm with Tom on this one!