Jbeats Posted June 3, 2017 Posted June 3, 2017 I'm a relative newbi to the vintage audio world, well, actually thinking about my setup beyond just listening to vinyl. I am looking for advice on options for an entry to mid level cartridge on my vintage Marantz 6350 TT with original tonearm? I recently replaced an old and worn ADC 7e blue with a new AT95e and have heard marked improvements in tonal clarity; stereo separation and soundstage (amongst other things!). Sounds so much better it has got me thinking where else I can go with cartridges on a medium budget that may get even more out of my system? Which is: Marantz 6350 Direct Drive TT Marantz 1090 integrated Amp Celestion Ditton 66 Studio Monitors Celestion Ditton 110 Headshell ADC also. Any advice welcome?! Cheers.
Jbeats Posted July 8, 2017 Author Posted July 8, 2017 Thanks for the response folks, been a while but some life stuff got in the way and notifications were off...! Eltech budget $200-$250 oz at this stage. Happy thanks for that, I read it's medium compliance so will be sweet for the Marantz 6350 s-arm. What's your experience with it?? Since my original post I pulled out an old Technics etc-u25 cart that had a dud stylus and got a new ED stylus from TT Needles for it. Did an A/B against the AT95 and needless to say the U25 will be staying on for the moment! Happy days, things just getting better Still, that has just shown me the value of the cart-stylus to the listening experience. Any more suggestions would be awesome, even MC carts if relevant in that budget. Happy how do you think the Shure would go in comparison?
Jbeats Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 @Happy In your opinion is this deal ok?? I've read some great reviews on it but may need to update the stylus? https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/112436481800
Happy Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 [mention=123585]Happy[/mention] In your opinion is this deal ok?? I've read some great reviews on it but may need to update the stylus?https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/112436481800 Not knowing the condition of the stylus it's safe to assume it's shot, in which event the price is pretty high. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Jbeats Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 13 minutes ago, Happy said: Not knowing the condition of the stylus it's safe to assume it's shot, in which event the price is pretty high. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Thanks mate, appreciate the advice. I'll keep an eye out for any more on the market. Also looking at the Sumiko Pearl and the Nagaoka 110 at a lower price point though not sure they'll be much of a step up from the U25 if at all....
ophool Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 Good few folk have found enjoyment with the Denon DL-110 1
Jbeats Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 2 hours ago, ophool said: Good few folk have found enjoyment with the Denon DL-110 Cheers ophool. That reminded me of the Denon 110. Was on the list sometime ago based on favourable reviews but was outside the budget at the time. Guess the high output MC will be sweet with my phono and from what I read she is musical, transparent and warm. Just what I'm after! Sounds like it is nice in the bass range too which if anything is the weak point in the Technics U25. Will be on the list for sure.... 1
MattyW Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 I'd second the DL110 for that price range. Once worn out you could upgrade the cart with a shibata or microtracer tip Sent from my Redmi Pro using Tapatalk
Jbeats Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 Thanks Matty, for interest have you heard the 110 using either of those stylus upgrades?
pete_mac Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 One very happy DL-110 user here! It has performed beautifully on a few vintage turntables now, including a Technics SL-1600, Sansui SR-222mk2, and now a Technics SL-120 with SME3009II non-improved arm.
MattyW Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 No, I on solid my DL110 when I moved to the DL103. I have two standard DL103 in wood bodies, one with a Nagaoka cantilever and nude shibata tip, the other with a Garrott aluminium cantilever and elliptical tip. Both very nice. I've a DL103D in a Snakewood body will recieve a shibata eventually too.Low output MC's go to another level though fall outside of the budget you've mentioned. If you're willing to look at used carts I'd suggest picking up a Pickering XSV3000 cartridge body and putting an LPGEAR Vividline stylus on it. It's a better performing cart and will set you back less.Sent from my Redmi Pro using Tapatalk
Jbeats Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 Thanks pete_mac, good info and nice gear I'll look into that Pickering combo you mentioned Matty as an option,thanks. Ok to go secondhand from reputable sellers as long as it'll be worth the effort! On another note, current head shell is this vintage ADC below. I'd like to buy another headshell to make it easier to A/B carts. I only have the one TT so mounting and re-aligning new carts on one headshell each time makes for difficult and time consuming comparisons!! Any recommendations on a similar HS?
MattyW Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 I've found that the cheap technics style headshells you can source off eBay are great. 6.5g and mass can be increased if necessary with screw in weights. Replace the cheap headshell wires with silver headshell wires and it doesn't really get much better than that Sent from my Redmi Pro using Tapatalk
Jbeats Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 Perfect thanks. I better change the wires on the ADC if I'm going to A/B accurately!
Jbeats Posted July 10, 2017 Author Posted July 10, 2017 On 09/07/2017 at 5:29 PM, MattyW said: No, I on solid my DL110 when I moved to the DL103. I have two standard DL103 in wood bodies, one with a Nagaoka cantilever and nude shibata tip, the other with a Garrott aluminium cantilever and elliptical tip. Both very nice. I've a DL103D in a Snakewood body will recieve a shibata eventually too. Low output MC's go to another level though fall outside of the budget you've mentioned. If you're willing to look at used carts I'd suggest picking up a Pickering XSV3000 cartridge body and putting an LPGEAR Vividline stylus on it. It's a better performing cart and will set you back less. Sent from my Redmi Pro using Tapatalk Matty had a bit of a browse and Xsv3000's mostly going for a pretty penny. I'm intrigued by the cart and keen to check one out but in your experience what is a decent price to pay? Is the D3000 iis original stylus worth chasing too? 1
MattyW Posted July 10, 2017 Posted July 10, 2017 I picked my previous body for $80 and got a LPGEAR Vividline for it. While I'm sure the genuine styli sound great I wouldn't pay what they sell for. My XSV3000 went with my Ariston Turntable to [mention=103759]Soundfan[/mention] on the weekend. Certainly worth getting his impressions. They're still a lot of cart for the money Sent from my Redmi Pro using Tapatalk
Guest Hensa Posted July 10, 2017 Posted July 10, 2017 (edited) 7 hours ago, Jbeats said: Matty had a bit of a browse and Xsv3000's mostly going for a pretty penny. I'm intrigued by the cart and keen to check one out but in your experience what is a decent price to pay? Is the D3000 iis original stylus worth chasing too? I have the XSV-4000 with the original stereohedron stylus as well as the LP Gear stylus and the LP Gear variant doesn't hold a candle to the original, to my ears. The D-4000 which is interchangeable with the D-3000, is smoother but with better detail retrieval and a more buttery finish. Bass was also tighter and better defined though possibly not seeming quite as deep. I found the LP Gear replacement, while very good in its own right, a little hard and etched by comparison with the original. Very hard to find with the stereohedron in good condition but if you do, worth paying a bit extra - in my top few for MM carts. EDIT: I realised it was actually the XSV-3000 for which I had both the D-3000 and LP Gear stylus rather than the XSV-4000. I have sold the XSV-3000 along with the extra stylus to another SNA member and now just (occasionally) use my XSV-4000 with D-4000 stylus. Edited July 10, 2017 by Hensa
MattyW Posted July 10, 2017 Posted July 10, 2017 I've an XSP4004 in a p mount to universal adapter (p mount version of the XSV4000) if you want that. No idea what the stylus is on it though it's not original. Set me back $130 at the time I think. I definitely prefer Jico Shibata styli to the LPGEAR Vividline where possible. I don't believe they make a stylus for the 4000/4004 though. I also have a more common XV15 625E with a Jico Shibata. Really enjoy the sound of this cart though it has a little less bass and punch than the XSV series. The Jico styli are a bit brighter than the LPGEAR though are more detailed and resolving. Worth the extra money where available. Another cart worth considering is the JVC Z1-S. I've picked two up for $30 each by looking for JVC headshells listed on eBay. An amazing cart if you're willing to spend silly money for a Jico NeoSAS/S. Short of a NeoSAS I'd rather get a Pickering / Stanton with a shibata or Vividline for the money. Sent from my Redmi Pro using Tapatalk 1
Jbeats Posted July 12, 2017 Author Posted July 12, 2017 On 11/07/2017 at 5:15 AM, Hensa said: I have the XSV-4000 with the original stereohedron stylus as well as the LP Gear stylus and the LP Gear variant doesn't hold a candle to the original, to my ears. The D-4000 which is interchangeable with the D-3000, is smoother but with better detail retrieval and a more buttery finish. Bass was also tighter and better defined though possibly not seeming quite as deep. I found the LP Gear replacement, while very good in its own right, a little hard and etched by comparison with the original. Very hard to find with the stereohedron in good condition but if you do, worth paying a bit extra - in my top few for MM carts. EDIT: I realised it was actually the XSV-3000 for which I had both the D-3000 and LP Gear stylus rather than the XSV-4000. I have sold the XSV-3000 along with the extra stylus to another SNA member and now just (occasionally) use my XSV-4000 with D-4000 stylus. Thanks Hensa, I need someone else like you on SNA to want to part with the XSV-3000 cart and D-3000 stylus combo! MattyW how would you rate the 4004 you have to, say, the XSV3000 or the XV15 625E given you don't know what stylus is on it? Is it a quality adaptor on there? I'm interested but a little put off they don't do a Jico for that and it seems as though the 4000 stylus are hard to find. Was the 4000 similar to the 3000? I'm keeping my eyes out and hopefully the right combo pops up soon on a deck or otherwise for a good price. Just had a bunch of magic LP's arrive in the mail that I'm keen to hear the best of!
MattyW Posted July 12, 2017 Posted July 12, 2017 The 4000 was the next model up from the 3000. Slightly greater frequency range. Can't recall the sound as I only mounted it up to make sure it worked. I'm pretty sure it has a cheap generic stylus. The adapter seems quite good. I think the best and only decent after market stylus for it is the LPGEAR Vividline. I find the LPGEAR Vividline to be warmer than Jico, still plenty of detail though. It's a hyper elliptical after all. The Pickering / Stanton XSV and XV15 series are very nice and balanced carts. I rate them over a stock DL110 or DL103. Sent from my Redmi Pro using Tapatalk
Guest Hensa Posted July 13, 2017 Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) 21 hours ago, Jbeats said: Thanks Hensa, I need someone else like you on SNA to want to part with the XSV-3000 cart and D-3000 stylus combo! If I ever want to move on my XSV-4000, I'll let you know. I don't listen to it often but since letting my 3000 go, I'm not all that keen to part with it. Like Matt, I rate them highly and certainly above the DL110 (which I disliked intensely) as well as numerous modern MM carts. Edited July 13, 2017 by Hensa
Jbeats Posted July 13, 2017 Author Posted July 13, 2017 hensa. When you're on a good thing stick to it! MattyW sent you a pm. I think I need a taste of this Pickering thing....thanks for all your info/suggestions. 1
Jbeats Posted July 19, 2017 Author Posted July 19, 2017 @MattyW Pickering XSP4004 arrived quickly and safely today thanks Matt, kids elsewhere this eve so happily launched straight into setting her up. Balanced her and set VTF to 1.5g (though have since dropped to 1.4). Loaded my favourite vinyl for new gear, the special release vinyl of Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead and turned off the lights! I'm no audiophile nor officianado but here are my first impressions. Initially I felt the 4004 was less 'forward' than the Technics U25 and Tom Yorkes vocals seemed a little cloudy. As things progressed and the smile widened I realised this as the Pickering being much more resolving and hence revealing. The cloudiness was in fact vocal reverb in the recording. Instruments and orchestra flowed beautifully but didn't overwhelm the vocals. Highs were clear and the overall impression was warmth. It also left a lot of space for the bass which I have been slightly missing to date so thumbs up there Early days but I get the feeling the cartridge is going to match very well with my gear and the Ditton 66's. With the suggested LP Gear Vividline on the way I can't wait to compare it to the the current one! Matt the stylus the arrived on the cartridge is marked D4000 ii S. I gather this is the original stereohedron unless it's been re-tipped?? If it is then bonus, will make a great comparison to the Vividline. Happy boy here.
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