Cartridge upgrade

@rfauto I also forgot to mention you have to go into the unit and set gain to 45 dB. The instructions tell you how to do that. On the back you set the dip switches to 47k.  

@rfauto If that is really the case, that idiot had no idea what he is talking about. Your Chinook is capable of applying the correct 47 k ohm load the Voice needs, Just read the diagram on the back of the unit!!! Return the Blue. The Voice is so much superior it is not funny. That idiot must have been trying to sell you another cartridge. 

@rfauto You have a Manley Chinook and can play any cartridge MM, MI or MC without a step up transformer. You are cleared for any cartridge except perhaps the lowest output MCs with outputs below 0.2mv. You could use them but won't have the greatest signal to noise ratio. Moving Iron Cartridges like the Soundsmiths and Grados have one major advantage over other cartridges and that is a much lower effective mass. The moving system of the cartridge is much lighter and can follow the groove more accurately. I would take the Voice over any MC cartridge below the price of $6000. Then there is Soundsmith's customer service and relatively inexpensive rebuild prices. 

@rfauto The Voice is $3000 and a great buy. I have heard it up against $10,000 MC cartridges and it more than held its own. Turn the volume all the way up with your preamp on Phono without any music playing. What do you hear? Now turn the volume one third of the way down. That is as loud as you will need to go with the Voice before blowing up your speakers. Hear any hiss? 

@lewm you are not kidding. I tried the Hyperion on my SUT and it was AWFUL. However, rf has a Manley Chinook, so not a problem. Are you still listening to the Nagaoka? I almost went for one, but on a nostalgic lark I picked up two Shure V15 V MR bodies in excellent condition. I'll try a few Jico styluses and sell one.

@rfauto That is a fine little table and you can put any cartridge you want on it although you might have to add a little mass for some cartridges. It appears that Kiseki is pulling out of the American market as the usual retailers are not carrying them any more. You might look at the Audio Technica ART20, the Lyra Delos, The Soundsmith Voice and the Grado Statement. I would get The Soundsmith Voice because its tracking ability is top notch, it is very dynamic, it is high output which will give you a vastly better signal to noise ratio, Soundsmith's service is second to none and retipping is way more reasonable than any other cartridge. Buy it directly from Soundsmith. 

You can only expect top notch performance when the cartridge is set up correctly. You will need an alignment jig preferably for Lofgren B or A. The tone arm has a calibrated counter balance which is fine. Set anti skating so the arm drifts slowly towards the spindle between grooves in the run out area or on a blank side.