mwhouston Posted February 8, 2018 Author Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Andrews_melb said: I think you’d need to throw the VTA up a bit with it, ive got that rega spacer kit which works easy and is cheap. I might get round to putting it on this weekend Yes got mine up at the back. 1
Wimbo Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 From memory, when they were alive, the top of the range was the P77. After they died, the new owners (Which from memory was Phillipe and the boys, Audio Dynamics) brought out the more upmarket MM's and MC's. Just set my brothers MMF9 up with a K3. He had it on a Dual CS505/2. 1
stevoz Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Wimbo said: From memory, when they were alive, the top of the range was the P77. After they died, the new owners (Which from memory was Phillipe and the boys, Audio Dynamics) brought out the more upmarket MM's and MC's. Just set my brothers MMF9 up with a K3. He had it on a Dual CS505/2. Sounds about right to me. I always thought the P77 was their flagship cart. It certainly was in the late '70's when I was buying my first audio system (Luxman/Rotel). I nearly bought one but went with the Grace F8C. In the last few years since returning to vinyl, I've kept seeing other Garrott carts, both MM (or 'Dynamic Coil' as they called it), MC's....just last night I saw a P88 MC and of course, the Optim's and was thinking "they were busy before their demise" but it makes sense that Audio Dynamics created the extended range of carts, it has been nearly 27 years since the brothers departed. What a loss....... 1
Ian McP Posted February 9, 2018 Posted February 9, 2018 17 hours ago, Decky said: OMG all these years I lived in ignorance and finally I am enlightened - thank you so much I used to operate an SEM and a sputter coater was the first "port of call" before putting specimens into the SEM (SEM = Scanning Electron Microscope) regards Ian
Ian McP Posted February 9, 2018 Posted February 9, 2018 13 hours ago, stevoz said: Sounds about right to me. I always thought the P77 was their flagship cart. It certainly was in the late '70's when I was buying my first audio system (Luxman/Rotel). I nearly bought one but went with the Grace F8C. In the last few years since returning to vinyl, I've kept seeing other Garrott carts, both MM (or 'Dynamic Coil' as they called it), MC's....just last night I saw a P88 MC and of course, the Optim's and was thinking "they were busy before their demise" but it makes sense that Audio Dynamics created the extended range of carts, it has been nearly 27 years since the brothers departed. What a loss....... As it has a replaceable stylus assembly I believe it to be a moving magnet type of cartridge. The new AT-ART1000 MC is an interesting beast with coils directly above the stylus tip! http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/945a357badc935ee/index.html see pics, now that looks like a super delicate and vulnerable place for them thar coils! http://excellence.audio-technica.com/?_ga=2.147923895.1885115315.1518137885-1529860334.1516171701 regards Ian 1
Decky Posted February 9, 2018 Posted February 9, 2018 17 minutes ago, Ian McP said: I used to operate an SEM and a sputter coater was the first "port of call" before putting specimens into the SEM (SEM = Scanning Electron Microscope) regards Ian Me too. But thanks for sharing.
Addicted to music Posted February 9, 2018 Posted February 9, 2018 40 minutes ago, Ian McP said: As it has a replaceable stylus assembly I believe it to be a moving magnet type of cartridge. The new AT-ART1000 MC is an interesting beast with coils directly above the stylus tip! http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/945a357badc935ee/index.html see pics, now that looks like a super delicate and vulnerable place for them thar coils! http://excellence.audio-technica.com/?_ga=2.147923895.1885115315.1518137885-1529860334.1516171701 regards Ian Interesting design concept. But at a cool $4999US i think I'll stick to the ATOC9 II.
mwhouston Posted February 12, 2018 Author Posted February 12, 2018 Late last week I spent a couple more long listening sessions with the K2. I think it is so good I'm withdrawing my Ortofon Rondo Blue from re-tipping. Garrotts have had it for weeks now. When I rang to have the procedure stopped they said they would get back to me. Never did. Tomorrow I'll try again to have the re-tipping stopped. Im gong back to MM. I'd like to hear others thoughts on this but I've not heard a cart that is as natural and transparent as the K2. Throw in some good weight right across the frequency board and you have the perfect listening experience. Some LPs I have played dozens of time sound so much better under the K2 I just can't imagine a MC cart coming close. And it plays real quiet taming the worst of my LPs. I'll probably buy a new K3 and relegate the K2 to TT number two in the second system. Not or sure of it is the fact I'm not using a MC stage or the K2 is just working really well with my DIY tube phone presmp. Don't care just want to keep enjoying it.
stevoz Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 8 minutes ago, mwhouston said: Late last week I spent a couple more long listening sessions with the K2. I think it is so good I'm withdrawing my Ortofon Rondo Blue from re-tipping. Garrotts have had it for weeks now. When I rang to have the procedure stopped they said they would get back to me. Never did. Tomorrow I'll try again to have the re-tipping stopped. Im gong back to MM. I'd like to hear others thoughts on this but I've not heard a cart that is as natural and transparent as the K2. Throw in some good weight right across the frequency board and you have the perfect listening experience. Some LPs I have played dozens of time sound so much better under the K2 I just can't imagine a MC cart coming close. And it plays real quiet taming the worst of my LPs. I'll probably buy a new K3 and relegate the K2 to TT number two in the second system. Not or sure of it is the fact I'm not using a MC stage or the K2 is just working really well with my DIY tube phone presmp. Don't care just want to keep enjoying it. Great result! How good might the venerable P77 be then? 1
Mat-with-one-t Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Just had my old Ortofon mc10 super retipped by them. Very nice results, 1
McCvinyl Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 8 hours ago, mwhouston said: Late last week I spent a couple more long listening sessions with the K2. I think it is so good I'm withdrawing my Ortofon Rondo Blue from re-tipping. Garrotts have had it for weeks now. When I rang to have the procedure stopped they said they would get back to me. Never did. Tomorrow I'll try again to have the re-tipping stopped. Im gong back to MM. I'd like to hear others thoughts on this but I've not heard a cart that is as natural and transparent as the K2. Throw in some good weight right across the frequency board and you have the perfect listening experience. Some LPs I have played dozens of time sound so much better under the K2 I just can't imagine a MC cart coming close. And it plays real quiet taming the worst of my LPs. I'll probably buy a new K3 and relegate the K2 to TT number two in the second system. Not or sure of it is the fact I'm not using a MC stage or the K2 is just working really well with my DIY tube phone presmp. Don't care just want to keep enjoying it. I have just had the same experience going from MC dv karat to MM goldring 2500. The whole frequency board just gaining more dynamics and making the music just more enjoyable really getting you bopping along to it with just a slight trade off in some tiny details but you forget that when the music is really talking to you. This has really steered my mind to how important synergy is with a system and comforted me knowing that big $ does not = good sound and learning this I will be seriously looking for that synergy before forking out for my next upgrade. Thats right Im in the Garrott thread... Is anyone using one of the FGS carts and how do they compare to similar priced MC they seem worth a few bucks compared to other MM but if I could get that MM synergy with some MC finesse it would be on my radar.
mwhouston Posted February 12, 2018 Author Posted February 12, 2018 My whole system at the mo appears really transparent with either my DIY 2W 6V6 SE UL tube amp or my DIY 250W class D. I still can't get over when playing vinyl with the K2 I feel I'm stairing right at the orchestra or singer or band. It's like a front row seat. I think why I hadn't noticed this before is the cart had had only very light use and had not really settled in. With my MC cart away it has had prime time and with me playing 4 hours of music five days a week it has had the hours to really give its best. Also in the past the K2 has only been used with a battery SS phono preamp. Same TT though. My DIY tube phono pre appears to work a hell of a lot better than the SS unit with this cart. It also shows just how good the tube phono stage is. It should sound good I made it with nothing but premium parts. And the JJ 12AX7s in it sound great for a cheap tube. I may have to get some "T" series Psvanes to see if there is more performance yet. 1
stevoz Posted February 13, 2018 Posted February 13, 2018 (edited) 14 hours ago, McCvinyl said: Is anyone using one of the FGS carts and how do they compare to similar priced MC they seem worth a few bucks compared to other MM but if I could get that MM synergy with some MC finesse it would be on my radar. My brother was running an Ortofon MC10 Supreme for awhile and thought he'd test out a good MM. He bought a Garrott Bros FGS Optim (not the Ruby version) and liked it a lot but thought something was missing and when he returned to the MC10, thought it was better. He has since purchased an MC15. This is not dissing the FGS Optim by any means.....as you say, the synergy with his system just may not have been there. He has a Project 6PerspeX turntable and Sonneteer Sedley phono stage feeding a Cambridge Audio Azur 840A amp and Mordaunt-Short Performance 6 speakers. Edited February 13, 2018 by stevoz 1
Batty Posted August 14, 2019 Posted August 14, 2019 Bought a K2 from WMHouston, I now have it mounted on mt Rock II (in place of an AT OC9/III, quite good, not as smooth or detailed as the AT, but deffo no slouch. I may just buy a K3 stylus at some time.
TOPSHELF Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 Late last week I spent a couple more long listening sessions with the K2. I think it is so good I'm withdrawing my Ortofon Rondo Blue from re-tipping. Garrotts have had it for weeks now. When I rang to have the procedure stopped they said they would get back to me. Never did. Tomorrow I'll try again to have the re-tipping stopped. Im gong back to MM. I'd like to hear others thoughts on this but I've not heard a cart that is as natural and transparent as the K2. Throw in some good weight right across the frequency board and you have the perfect listening experience. Some LPs I have played dozens of time sound so much better under the K2 I just can't imagine a MC cart coming close. And it plays real quiet taming the worst of my LPs. I'll probably buy a new K3 and relegate the K2 to TT number two in the second system. Not or sure of it is the fact I'm not using a MC stage or the K2 is just working really well with my DIY tube phone presmp. Don't care just want to keep enjoying it. Thought i would bring this thread up again as i had a great listening session with a mate recently and i think the P77 really impressed him, bearing in mind my whole system costs a bit less than his TT and cart! The P77 really does let the music flow with a lovely level of grip and twang. I think the explanation on their pamphlet describes the sound quite well....
TOPSHELF Posted September 24, 2019 Posted September 24, 2019 Does anyone have an understanding of the difference between the P77 and the P77 "Dynamic coil?"
stevoz Posted September 25, 2019 Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) 19 hours ago, TOPSHELF said: Does anyone have an understanding of the difference between the P77 and the P77 "Dynamic coil?" I believe the P77 has always been 'dynamic coil'....as were all other carts developed by the brothers that bore their name (the 'P' and 'K' ranges). It's a system they developed, in their words, to deliver the best qualities of MC, MM and MI cartridges. I believe the P77i is also 'dynamic coil', as I don't think the current owners of the brand have changed the design. I have a P66, which came out before the P77 and it is also a 'dynamic coil' cartridge. Edited September 25, 2019 by stevoz 1
TOPSHELF Posted September 25, 2019 Posted September 25, 2019 I believe the P77 has always been 'dynamic coil'....as were all other carts developed by the brothers that bore their name (the 'P' and 'K' ranges). It's a system they developed, in their words, to deliver the best qualities of MC, MM and MI cartridges. I believe the P77i is also 'dynamic coil', as I don't think the current owners of the brand have changed the design. I have a P66, which came out before the P77 and it is also a 'dynamic coil' cartridge.I thought so too. One cart i have has "dynamic coil" stamped on it.... So same cart different era maybe? 1
Neilsan Posted September 30, 2019 Posted September 30, 2019 I've had ,from new, a Garrott P77 , now with an SAS Stylus 1 stylus,my best cartridge, along with the Technics EPS 205/3 with an SAS stylus. And others,including a Shure V15/3 SAS. I recently bought a K2 to try.Very nice so decided to fit the SAS Stylus 1 in it.Very close then to the P77. Never felt the need for an mc cartridge, although I've tried out the Denon DL103 I was given.Very musical but not as smooth and grown up as the P77. 1
Wimbo Posted September 30, 2019 Posted September 30, 2019 They are all John and Brians Dynamic Coils.
KRSDarwin Posted September 30, 2019 Posted September 30, 2019 Recently I replaced an (admittedly) tired Denon DL110 with a Garrott K1 in my (secondhand) upgraded Rega Planar 2 (running through mwhouston’s great tube phono stage and a Bewitch tube amp) and it sounds fantastic. Clear and musical. 2
Neilsan Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 I understand that the 3 K's are the same body,just have different styli.
Wimbo Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) 52 minutes ago, Neilsan said: I understand that the 3 K's are the same body,just have different styli. Yes. A&R Cambridge first used those bodies from memory. P66 and 77 used them as well. Edited October 3, 2019 by Wimbo 1
btd Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 I have always been a bit suspect about my P77`s. Neither carry the Dynamic Coil on the cartridge. It`s hard to know what I am going to replace them with. One has a damaged cantilever and the other is probably well passed its use by date. I just can`t stop using it. Over the years I have tried Stanton 681`s, OM40, Shure 15 iii with a Jico and a few others but none compare to the P77.
VanArn Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 Despite the marketing hype, 'Dynamic Coil' , the cartridge works on the moving magnet principle.
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