MY System

**Marco** · 01-08-2009, 10:43

Hi King,

Wonderful stuff, as usual!

Is that an Audio Technica LT-12 headshell on the Ortofon VMS 30E mk2? If so, it's the same as what I'm using at the moment with my DL-103SA. It's one of the best headshells you can buy... Sadly, they're long discontinued.

Marco.

**kcc123** · 01-08-2009, 10:53

As rare as hen’s teeth, the Panasonic EPS-460C is a strain gauge/ semiconductor cartridge which needs a special preamp to get it worked properly, sadly I don’t have one. So, it is for display only at the moment and don’t ask me how it sounds because I don’t really know despite I have had it for quite a while. I did try it connected to a spare input of one of my preamps, but my first encounter was welcome with an absolute silence, very interesting though.
I am aware that Soundsmith does some excellent dedicated strain gauge preamps and their best offer is the SG-810 which is frighteningly expensive at a whopping cost of US $14,999.95, a chicken feed to some but crippling financial stress to others. If I had the money I would buy a big sparkling diamond for my wife that should indeed make her very happy and she would keep a blind eye on my ever-increasing hi-fi expending. I hope miracle would happen on me with a winning lottery ticket one day that could allow me to do so.

The Panasonic EPS-460C strain gauge cartridge

**kcc123** · 01-08-2009, 11:01

Originally Posted by Marco

Hi King,

Wonderful stuff, as usual!

Is that an Audio Technica LT-12 headshell on the Ortofon VMS 30E mk2? If so, it's the same as what I'm using at the moment with my DL-103SA. It's one of the best headshells you can buy... Sadly, they're long discontinued.

Marco.

Hi Marco,
Yes, it is.

**Alex_UK** · 03-08-2009, 23:16

What an enthralling thread, wonderful pictures and collection, but now you've made me very late for bed! You are still a legend though, King!

**kcc123** · 07-09-2009, 01:01

My latest arrival, the Shure M7D cartridge with N21 stylus

One of my best and favourite cartridges, theTechnics EPC- 205C mk3

**Marco** · 07-09-2009, 07:39

Superb pictures as usual, King!

Weren't you getting an M3D, though, as per my recommendation, or am I mistaken?

How does the M7D/N21 sound?

Marco.

**DSJR** · 07-09-2009, 09:36

The 205mkIII was one cartridge that totally passed me by in the Linn/Naim days, as, like the V15III, it had a ruler flat response which made the rest of the system scream in protest. I blamed the cartridge (and Martin Colloms ears) at the time.. I now know VERY different......................................... ..

The M7 shouldn't sound too different to the M3D, as I suspect the innards are the same (?). I'm sure (sorry

) that you now realise that the V15 series is a very different kind of animal.. Ken Kessler once said that the Ultra 500 Shure "educated" rather than entertained. I can certainly say that what the M3D/N21 lacks in refinement, it MORE than makes up in entertainment value

**kcc123** · 07-09-2009, 22:31

Originally Posted by Marco

Superb pictures as usual, King!

Weren't you getting an M3D, though, as per my recommendation, or am I mistaken?

How does the M7D/N21 sound?

Marco.

Hi Marco,

Originally I was trying to get an M3D but unfortunately I was twice being out bid by two guys with a deeper pocket and quicker response, hard luck! So I changed my mind and opted for an M7D which caused less attention by most people, I finally succeeded and snatched one for about forty quid, not bad at all. Hehe!
I then ordered a new N21 stylus and it arrived fours days later from the States. I set up the cartridge on last Sunday and I briefly listened to it for about an hour. My first impressions were very positive, but the bass was not as deep or powerful as I would have expected, however it was quite tight. I know that I have not explored the full potential of this amazing cartridge yet. At the moment, I am using it on a Micro Seiki MA505S tonearm, the tracking weight is set at 2.2 grams. I am still trying to figure out the optimal VTF or loading for it. The effective mass of the MA 505S tonearm is about 15 grams, is it compatible? Or should I partner it with a heavier arm? Marco, can you please advice, thank you!

**kcc123** · 07-09-2009, 23:10

Originally Posted by DSJR

The 205mkIII was one cartridge that totally passed me by in the Linn/Naim days, as, like the V15III, it had a ruler flat response which made the rest of the system scream in protest. I blamed the cartridge (and Martin Colloms ears) at the time.. I now know VERY different......................................... ..

The M7 shouldn't sound too different to the M3D, as I suspect the innards are the same (?). I'm sure (sorry

) that you now realise that the V15 series is a very different kind of animal.. Ken Kessler once said that the Ultra 500 Shure "educated" rather than entertained. I can certainly say that what the M3D/N21 lacks in refinement, it MORE than makes up in entertainment value

Hi Dave,

Martin Colloms did praise and rate the 205mkIII very highly indeed (Hi-Fi Choice no.20), and that was why I bought one according to his recommendation.
As far as I know, the M3D and M7D are exactly the same, but in two different bodies. So, they should sound very similar despite they are different in appearance. My initial impressions of it are very good and I think I am going to compare it with the 205mkIII and the ADC TRX2 later which are also installed on the same Technics SP15 turntable at the moment.

**DSJR** · 08-09-2009, 11:57

The Dual 701 arm has an effective mass of arount 12 - 15 grammes IIRC and I added one of those lead headshell weights to the headslide when fitting the M3D. I've tracked at anything between 2 and 2.5g with no problems. the thing is so relatively crude that I doubt VTA will make a huge difference. Adding extra mass to the shell will make more of a difference to bass I reckon

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