Marco's latest vintage marvel....

[DSJR]

While we are going on about old things, I would be fascinated by anyone trying a Sonotone 9tahc. It is ceramic so you will have to keep the volume down as it has loads of output, far more than a moving magnet.

Now these were largely only fitted to radiograms and record players and the Garrard 1025tc autochanger, but I remember them having zonking dynamics if a little limited in HF and not exactly flat across the frequency band, some would say full of character.

Richard

Got it in one Richard. Been there and doing it now

The trouble now, is that tracking is marginal on later vinyl cuts and, more impotantly, the rubberised material used to couple the cantilever to the ceramic elements can harden up with the decades' passing.

I have very fond memories of the Acos 104, a high compliance (for this type) ceramic of very low mass and 2 - 3g tracking. The new-old-stock one I bought last year has significantly stiffened up and although incredibly "direct" sounding, the sweetness has gone that I remembered. The previous top model GP96-1 I also have is as smooth as ever, the coupling element made of a whitish coloured material which hasn't gone off. The sound is smooth but so dull and bland without eq.

Back to the 9TAHC. The very early ones have a more flexible coupler and the ones I've seen appear to be set far back on the cantilever, allowing more flexibility to the stylus. Perfect in a Garrard 3000 autochanger I remember. Sadly, later ones and all the current Jap copies, are low tracking ability groove-wreckers IMO, as is the copy of the Sonotone 3559/garrard KS41C that was another goodie when it was new.

How do these compare to modern cheap magnetics, even if loading is good (I have a simple little J-FET 1.5M line buffer I made), not a hope in heck I'm afraid, as in my opinion, an AT95E is far better.. Doesn't stop me playing though

http://www.roger-russell.com/sonopg/sonopc.htm

[spendorman]

I think there was a dual turnover LP stylus as against the 78/LP turnover for the Sonotone 9TAHC.

I think that I have a Decca Deram in the loft, in a Garrard SP25. Also a G800 in another SP25

[SPS]

While we are going on about old things, I would be fascinated by anyone trying a Sonotone 9tahc. It is ceramic so you will have to keep the volume down as it has loads of output, far more than a moving magnet.

Now these were largely only fitted to radiograms and record players and the Garrard 1025tc autochanger, but I remember them having zonking dynamics if a little limited in HF and not exactly flat across the frequency band, some would say full of character.

Richard

I have a couple , i heard one a few months ago, the guy gave me one and a stylus,
then just last week i found another in the garage loft.

i need to knock up a gain stage to give them a fair chance,( no phono requred as such) but i was very suprised by the one i heard
solid gold case too...

well it very nearly looks that way..

cheers

[Dominic Harper]

Some more news on the upgraded G800.
I have replaced the original cantilever with one of my hand made nickel silver jobbies, and fitted an elliptical tip 0.0007 x 0.0002.
This has really put this cart amongst the pigeons.
The Supex is history. This thing does bass and mid-range like nothing else.
Forget MC's. Even the treble is lovely.
It can also conjure up a very believable 3D image.
Tracking is dead on 2.5g and I have yet to work out compliance.
It works a treat in my SME 3009 Imp and Audiomods arms. I'm guessing a heavy arm is not needed.
With the new cantilever/tip, this cartridge pulls way more out of the grooves than anything else I have used, and I have used some very nice carts.

The Nickel cantilever is playing a major role here. I have re-tipped two stylus assemblies. One retained the ally cantilever, the other had the new cantilever.
Both have identical tips fitted. The ally cantilever is a fine performer and achieves about 70% of what the new cantilever can do.

I know super stiff materials such as Boron are favored, but they are mega stiff and as such will transmit every thing directly to the suspension/coils.
Nickel silver rod is a great alternative, being stiffer than alloy tube but not as stiff as Boron.

I will experiment further by rewinding the coils for a low impedance version.
This should be interesting and could take this cart into another league.

Cart was tested with both a John Linsley Hood stage, and a Yaqin tube stage.
Best results were with the tube stage.

New cantilever and tip


under microscope

[Marco]

Hi Dominic,

This is very interesting stuff!! It just shows you the quality of the generator. You can hear its greatness, even with a good original NOS stylus.

I will probably have my G800 done, too. What cost is involved in fitting the nickel cantilever and tip?

Marco.

[DSJR]

I have one here at home - an original good-diamond stylus in a G800. Sounds just as I and hifi dave remember it tracking at 2.75g. Boppier in the bass than an AT95E, dull on "ssshhhh" sounds and a one-note tinkle further up to top it off - and don't give me the cr@p about the deck not being good enough (I have these in the Techie) or the amp or anything else for that matter. A bloody M55E creams it handsomely and as for the possibility of a Jico M75 SAS, let alone a V15 SAS, do leave off I've also compared it with a VMS30, which has a warm soft bass but a lovely treble in comparison and also a great Supex 900E in standard form which is head and shoulder above all of them and this one tracks well too at 1.8g...

No, the G800 was a good try for an induced magnet type back in 1968, but ADC overtook Goldring quite handsomely and I think a vintage 220XE or similar would be far better.

I still have the promise of a G800E or two and look forward to hearing this in comparison. Thing is Dominic, you'd charge a small fortune for doing up the G800 needle like yours and I personally don't think the generator is up to it, as laminated pole pieces and such-like hadn't been developed as yet

[Dominic Harper]

Wow, where did that come from?
As someone who repairs cartridges, tonearms, turntables, designs plinths etc etc, I think I have an understanding of what I'm talking about.
You are entitled to your opinion, of course.
I do not however charge a small fortune for this upgrade. That is your assumption and not fact.
The generator certainly is up to the job, quite unlike many other cart I have worked on and has possibilities for further work.
The re-worked cartridge will be great value for money, and that's what I am all about.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

All I can say is that you're entitled to your opinion, which I of course vehemently disagree with, although I have no doubt that you're hearing what you're hearing.

I'll ask you one question, though.......

Do you honestly think that if I were hearing the same with the G800 as you, that I'd be raving about it?? You should know me by now and the standards I strive for with sound quality.

Therefore, the HUGE dichotomy in our respective experiences with the G800 I think goes way beyond a mere difference in our tastes......... There MUST therefore be another explanation!

Think about it

Marco.

[Dominic Harper]

You have a PM by the way Marco!

[Rare Bird]

I think Dave could possibly prefer the 'G900IGC' like i did.Superb tracking..All people have different ears/preferences tho.