Dear friends: Over the time and testing/trying different cartridges ( " old " and new ones ) with different tonearms to find the " best " performance on each cartridge I find some interesting subjects that I want to share with all of you:
Denon 103: this is one of my oldest cartridges that I own and I use it for a while many years ago. In the last three years every time that I mounted and hear it I can't heard it for more than half hour, that's why I always treat it like a " rubbish cartridge " in my posts about. I try it with almost every single tonearm that I own and the result was always the same. Then, I take in count that in all the tonearms ( removable and fixed headshell ) I can't tighten to much the headshell screws because the 103 is " open " ( input to output ) all the way where the screw goes and if I try to really tighten then the screw goes out of the cartridge body ( it is dificult to me this explanation because my English problems, I hope you can understand ). I don't like to tailored the cartridge sound through tight ( more or less pressure ) the headshell screws, I always tighten the screws at " its limits " where IMHO and experiences there are less resonances/vibrations on it with better overall performances. So, what to do?, it happen that I have an Audio Technica AT-LH18/OCC headshell ( headshell weight: 18grs. ) that has screwed holes underneath the headshell ( these holes are 2mm in deep, don't cross/pass the headshell ) in this manner I can tight the screws at maximum with out any trouble, well this was a great solution ( along with the weight of the headshell ) because I mounted the 103 in the Dynavector 505 ( similar to 507 ) and the performance change for the better like night and day, now I can hear the 103 for more than half an hour: very good improvement, this not means that now the 103 is at the XV-1/Myabi/etc performance level: no, but now the 103 has a decent performance that for its price is very good.
Dynavector XV-1: this one is one of my favorite cartridges, I really like it. It is a cartridge that almost always perform very good in almost any tonearm. Well I never be satisfied with " very good " performance I always look for excellent/exemplary performance. I read some posts where XV-1 owners posted that this cartridge is a very good match with the Dynavector 505/507 tonearms and this was not my own experience about, it sounds good but nothing more. I decide to try a little hard on the subject with: VTA/VTF/load impedance/etc,/etc with out any " great " results. Then I decide to try with different headshells ( other than the original 507/505 ones ) till I find that with a light weight headshell ( Denon 100% magnesium, 6gr. The Dyna headshells weight: around 14-15 grs. ) the performance was/is glorious for say the least: I never heard ( any where ) better XV-1 performance that in this set-up.
Fidelity Research MC 702: this is a very " old " MC cartridge design. It is an integral headshell design, bulky one ( " ugly " ? ) at 30-32 grs, low compliance 6-7 Cu, low output 0.2mv and likes VTF 2-3grs.
I own this cartridge for at least 20 years and I buy it second hand in almost new/pristine condition. After many years I set up ( last December ) in my Micro Seiki MAX 282 tonearm ( it likes tonearms like: Ikeda, Dynavector, Audiocraft, SAEC, etc, etc ) and for the very first musical note I knew that this cartridge was something very special. After 20 hours the sound performance was/is formidable/marvelous, I don't have words to describe my " surprise ", the best I can tell is that the music flow easily through this cartridge like in almost any other ( any where ) cartridge I heard. If you " see " it ( second hand ) and if you have the right tonearm and phonolinepreamp then buy it!!!!!
Supex SDX 2200R: Another " old " MC design with screw open body type design ( like the 103 you need the right headshell ), ruby cantilever and low output 0.2mv. Man
I make the set-up on the Lustre GST 801 tonearm and sound was terrible at the begin, I have to wait 30 hours for the suspension settle down. This was/is a great cartridge too, IMHO it competes with cartridges like the Universe ( are very similar in quality performance ) or any other today ones. Many people look for the Supex 900 series ( that I owned ) well the Supex Ruby beats easily those ones.
Audio Technica ATML 180 OCC: One of the greatest MM cartridges ever made. This model ( I understand ) never sale in USA, the one that was on sale was the ATML 170 and 160 ( still very good ).
Till you hear a MM cartridge with the right phonolinepreamp you can't understand how good/great are the MM cartridges. During my last trip I was in San Diego and Norm heard in his system ( I think for the first time ) a MM cartridge the Empire EDR.9: he was happily surprised, he really likes the quality sound performance of this 100.00 dls MM cartridge.
Some MM cartridges like this one not only compete with any top MC cartridge out there but in some ways beat them, yes ( IMHO ) is better that any single Koetsu I heard it, that any ZYX or Lyra. It is incredible that a 500.00 MM cartridge could be better performer than a 6-8K MC one. This cartridge I mated with the Technics EPA 100MK2.
Technics 205CMK4: A marvelous MM cartridge. As good the Audio Technica is this one is better!!!! What can I say about?, almost nothing but: Magic Diamond, Allaerts, Dynavector, Transfiguration, you named: the Technics is at least at the same level in any single sound performance parameter and beat almost all those MC cartridges for neutrality/natural tone balance, like I already say: marvelous cartridge!!!!!, if you have the tonearm and right phonolinepreamp then buy it!!!! Mine is matched with the Micro Seiki MAX 282.
Ikeda 9REX: This one is a today MC cartridge with a unique design characteristic for a MC cartridge: it does not use cantilever ( like the cutter lhate/heads on the recording ), the design is with out cantilever. It is a very low output 0.16mv, weighty: 17grs, low compliance: 6CU and like VTF 2.8grs.
It is obvious that this cartridge is not for everyone, not only need the right tonearm and the very best phonolinepreamp out there but a lot of patience to obtain the best performance. When you achieve this " best performance " you knowed because you will be in heaven. The sound performance of this cartridge is a " little " different for all we know: the inmediacy of the sound and transients are second to none, the pitch/texture/no overhang/tight/fast bass is second to none, the high frequencies extension and speed are second to none, etc, etc. You can't be near the live music like with this Ikeda cartridge: this one really is truer to the recording audio device!!! You have to be a experienced music lover who attend very often to live events to understand what you are hearing through the Ikeda cartridge, you can't compare its sound performance with the sound performance of any other cartridge: it is not only the subject if it is better or not but the subject is that is different/near the live event. It is an infamous bad traker: it does not like any single dust in the LP or in the stylus, we have to have everything in pristine condition. It takes more than 200 hours to hear it at its best. Like I told you: we need patience and know how.
As an Alternative to the EDR9, I just purchased ten (10) NOS Empire A22ME's which will arrive in a few days. I'm listing some for sale on Audiogon but want to compare the differences between this unit and the EDR9. After breakin, the A22ME has amazing detail and transparency, even at low volumes. On a Schubert String Quartet, it even activated my subwoofer so the base is excellent. To my ears, it sounds as good or better than the EDR9, though with some quality differences in the cartridge itself. One is, the tapered stylus is a .2 x 7 Biradial where the EDR9 has a L.A.C. stylus. With the EDR9, it can be used for Quadrophonic whereas the A22ME cannot. The .2 x .7 stylus with Empire is always higher quality and used in the 2000Z and 2000T which were their best in the metal jacket type. The A22ME has slightly higer output at 5.0 MV and the stylus itself is the 2 prong later style that Empire used rather than the single prong with the heart shape on the EDR9. The tracking angle is 20 degrees which many manufacturers went to late in the cycle. The A22ME can track at 1.25 compared to 1.5 for the EDR9. Compliance is 20 x 10 cm/dyne, less than the EDR9 and not all that high, though I detect no tracking or inner groove problems at all. The frequency response is close on both units with the EDR9 being at 20-35,000 hz and the A22ME being at 7-33,000 hz, a slight difference.The A22E will probably work best on a light or medium tone arm such as a newer Thorens-Dual or any of the Regas. If you need a EDR9 replacement, at half the price or less, you will be pleasantly suprised by the A22ME's that are listed on Audiogon. I intend to keep a few in my vault (ha) for the future. This is not a typical Empire !
Dear Glrickaby: Like almost all cartridges its performance is system dependent specially on the tonearm. Other subject is the set-up that like Travbrow share with us the EDR.9 is very sensitive.
I never had the opportunity to hear/heard any 2000 model only the 4000 and some of the plastic bodies like: 600LAC, 750Limited and the 100GT, all of them IMHO are very good cartridges along the EDR.9. Of course that are better cartridges or cartridges with different quality performance that match better our music sound reproduction priorities.
Other that in my own system I had the opportunity to heard the EDR.9 in other friend's system ( very good one ) mate it with VPI TT/tonearm and its performance for I what remember was very good.
Now, I agree with you about the Goldring 1042 that is very good cartridge, I owned for 4 months and I change it for the Reson Reca ( both are build for the same manufacturer ): look to have the opportunity to hear the Reson that as good the 1042 is the Reca is more refined and with better natural tonal balance, at least in my experience.
My edr.9 didnt sound to good until I set the tracking force at 1.2 grams and spent some time adjusting the azimuth and anti-skate.It seemed more sensitive to these adjustments than some of the other cartridges I have owned.
I followed most of the threads about the EDR9 and my experience does not quite agree. The French source did not show up and after a month he gave me a refund. ( Two weeks later it showed up and I paid him) I mounted it on an MMF5, Thorens 190, and other various turntables and while it sounded very good, did not blow me away on the classical that is usually played. I have several 2000 series Empires and interestly enough the heart shaped shaft on the 2000 series fits the EDR9 exactly! I tried a red 2000 series stylus which I believe was a .2 x .7 elliptical and noticed little difference with the EDR9 stylus. (believe the Red and clear 2000 series are quite a few steps up from the basic 2000 black) Contrary to one thread, the EDR stylus is actually a LC type sylus and not elliptical. We do not have high end phono preamps i.e. MMF phono pack and a Harmon Kardon 125 watt per channel receiver with a built in phono pre-amp but have been more impressed with other cartridges like the Goldring 1042, Sumiko BP Special, Shelter 201 (basically a Sumiko Black Pearl),Clearaudio Beta S (Basically an AT95 with a better stylus), a Stanton 881S and yes, an AT95 and various Ortofons including the 5,10,30 etc.,Though these are all different price ranges and my hearing and set up skills are not bad, I ended up reselling the EDR9 on Audiogon or Ebay for the $80 or so that I paid for it. If one can find an Empire 2000S or 2000Z ,NOS, I believe the sound experience may be similar to what some have experienced with EDR9, though they are an older style. The newer Empire plastic bodies 150, 350 500 series do not compare well with the older metal body 2000 types or the EDR9,in my experience. Empires generally sound better on same generation turntables and that is why they were so popular at the time ,though not the detail and timbre of some of the current generation stuff. Yes,the EDR9 is a nice cartridge but was not impressed enough to keep it. Sorry to swim upsteam and no intention to denigrate other opinions about this unit. I'm currently running a REGA P3/2000 with a Goldring 1042 which is close to perfection for me. (Have the EasyRiser set at 2MM and not sure its right yet.) I prefer MM or high output MC though I have a lovely old NIKKO Beta 30 which will run just about any low output MC. I'm not into the high end stuff which started the original thread but certainly respect everything I've read here. .
Dear Impulseh2: I miss your post, sorry for that. Yes, I agree with you the 702 is an exeptional performer. Normally I use it in the MAX 282 where performs ( till today at its best ).
+++++ " It can be - with care - taken out of its headshell " +++++
this is a " new/fresh notice " to me, I appreciate if you could share with us how do you make it? ( other that with care ).
The FIDELITY RESEARCH FR702, above, is exceptional - in the right arm. It can be - with care - taken out of its headshell and mounted in any heavy arm...I suspect the Ikeda would be brilliant. I used it in a Mission Mechanic and a Zeta, each sounding exceptionally good. Mine was damaged by houseguests whilst I was away from home and in a fit of pique I threw it out. My fault! I now use an equally old Kondo Audio Note Io from the very first few he made. I often wish that I had my 702 back again!
Dear friends: I mount/change my B&O MMC20CL to the Micro Seiki MAX237 tonearm and perform better than in the Dynavector 505 and in some ways similar than in the Audiocraft AC3300 but overall this cartridge sounds really fine/great in the MAX237.
I think that Theo ( Freshpuma ) bought three of these cartridges and no one above 250.00 and this MMC20CL B&O cartridge model ( IMHO )outperform cartridges in the 2K-3K price level, a desired item.
Dear friends: Those of you that already tested/try it the Empire 900GT, 600LAC or 500ID could share your experiences about?, this will be very welcome!!!
Dear friends: Well this is not a surprise because I already try more than four Empire cartridges and all of them are very good ones but this time I tested/try it one with very low price/inexpensive ( 120.00 )the model: 500 ID, its specifications are great ( for say the least ), example: bandwidth from 6Hz to 35,000Hz!!!!!!!, of course that what is interesting is how it sounds and " sounds " really fine: I don't know how a too inexpensive cartridge can give us this very high quality sound reproduction. Recommended !!!
Dear Matt: Well, first I think that you have to give it at least 30 hours of play, then you can " play " a little with VTA/VTF and if these can't fix it then maybe your tonearm is not a good match for the EDR.9.
Btw, what do you mean with " too much bass ", where is the problem or why do you think in that way?
Dear Theo: B&O MMC20CL: +++++ " In my system, a bit dark character, but I think it could achieve more in another tonearm. " ++++++
Yes you are right. I was playing it in the Audiocraft AC3300 with very good performance ( nothing near " little dark " ) but now that the AC3300 belongs to the XV-1 I return the MMC20CL to the Dyna DV-505 and its sounds is no less than spectacular: great tonal balance, natural timbre, transparent all over the frequency, very good bass and believle soundstage, I like it a lot!!!! I agree with you that this cartridge is more refined than the Empires and yes is " fun " to see through the saphire cantilever.
So I tried the turntableneedles.com stylus for the LTD 750 (it's translucent blue, you may recall). I had some trouble--it sounding very garbled, but I kept removing and reseating it and it finally sounded better.
It doesn't sound nearly as refined as the Jico one (a line contact--the turntableneedles one is elliptical). And it seemed to be turning up so much bass energy it would feed back to the turntable and skip (maybe this is just the quality of the stylus causing the skips, too).
Oh, and the cantilever's kinda off center. It is on the Jico, too, but not so much.
Still & all, it would do in a pinch. I'm just glad I have the Jico, which just keeps sounding better.
Dear friends: All this time testing/trying those great MM cartridges ( a lot of fun !!!! ) show/teach me that I have to try harder with my MC cartridges to obtain/improve its quality performance and one MC where I already do it was in my Dyna XV-1 ( not the XV-1s that IMHO I think it has an inferior quality performance against the XV-1. ) that is an all time favorite of mine, well I try it on several tonearms: SME IV, Triplanar, Ikeda 407, Micro Seiki 282, Audiocraft AC-4400 ( straight arm wand ), Lustre GST-801 and Dyna 505 ( that was the XV-1 history matching tonearm order, each time I achieve an improvement. ). From a few months to now I'm using the Audiocraft AC-3300 with and S shaped wand with a removable headshell ( testing different MM cartridges. ) and I decided to try the XV-1 on it and this was/is a great choice / the best for the XV-1 , what can I say? other that I never be/been nearer to the music with any other cartridge/tonearm combination ( in my system or other audio system ) that these days with the XV-1/AC-3300, I'm " shocked " about for say the least because what I'm hearing is really near the live event/recording and let you to enjoy the music ( not the hardware ) as never/ever I/you be/been experienced. It is something really hard to explain on words due to the very high feelings(emotions that " wake up " hearing the XV-1/AC-3300 wonderful couple. I have to say that I never imagine that the XV-1 could be so damm good!!!!!!!
I got two replacement styli for the LTD 750, the elliptical one from turntableneedles (see above) and this one from JICO. Though the page shows a translucent blue stylus carrier and says the manufacturer is Empire, it turns out the carrier is opaque black and there's no indication that it's actually made by Empire--no lettering on the stylus guard, etc.
Still, it fits the cart body fine and sounds great. Maybe a bit better bass than the original, maybe a bit more sibilance. Very happy to know I can continue to use this excellent cart as long as JICO's around.
Next I'll try the elliptical one--which _is_ translucent blue, by the way.
Dear Gregm: I don't know about your specific cartridge but I'm running my Empire cartridges at 47K/250pf and with a little negative VTA angle. Regards and enjoy the music. Raul.
EMpire + loading: Raul & other Empire cartridge amateurs: what loading do you use for them? I have a 2000e/3 and cannot find the inductance specs anywhere.... It sounded congested at 47kOhm / 200pF. Lowering resistance to half made it very slow sounding but smooth; around 35kOhm things are better, but I still feel I'm shooting in the dark.
Maybe lowering the capacitance would help further? Any pointers? Thanks
Dear Theo: Well that could means that it is not a fault on the MMC20CL cartridge.
Regarding the Empire cartridges I really like it all of them and is hard to say which one between the 900GT or EDR.9, both are great ones. Btw, you must try the 600LAC is outstanding too.
+++++ " All inn all I have so far enjoyed the exploration of NOS MM carts a lot. And most important, I have enjoyed and discovered new music with them. They are great musical communicators. " +++++
Regarding the MMC20CL, I found that the "SSSS" are only present on some records, often 80's pressings.
I also share your impression on the 900GT. Overall much of the same sound as the EDR.9. Maybe a little bit more details. If we shall spilt hairs, I would prefer the EDR.9 for it's overall musical presentation.
I have now tried the EDR.9, 900GT and B&O MMC20CL on my Hadcock 242. I really like all of them. The Empires have an overall good tonal balance, are full of life, and I have really enjoyed a lot of music when listening to them. The MMC20CL sounds much more detailed and refined. In my system, a bit dark character, but I think it could achieve more in another tonearm. All inn all I have so far enjoyed the exploration of NOS MM carts a lot. And most important, I have enjoyed and discovered new music with them. They are great musical communicators. Theo
Dear friends: I think that I have some good news. Like I posted I was/will testing two other MM Empire cartridges that I get in NOS conditions: the 900GT and the 600LAC.
The 900GT and 600LAC show/share many/several sound characteristics of the EDR.9 and 750LTD cartridge " brothers " and if you heard it there is almost no differences at least not big ones. Both have very good tonal balance with a very natural timbre all over the frequencies, bass with very good pitch and tightness and transparent high frequencies with out any over-bright or hash, with very good image/focus and “ live “ soundstage, very good trackers too, etc etc.
Dear Theo: Good for you, now you have cartrige spare for a long time!!!!!
I try my MMC 20CL on Dynavector 505 and in the Audiocraft AC3300 ( with its own universal B&O plastic headshell. ), it sounds very good on both tonearms and I did not experience that " SSSSS" . More than the tonearm that SSSS could disappear when the suspension settle down or with " minute " changes on VTA/VTF. Theo do you have the trouble with all those three cartridges?
Dear Genesis: I think that you can use it with your 507 in a light/medium weight headshell.
In my experience the Dynavector tonearm works very well almost with any cartridge, the only subject is to choose the right weight headshell for the cartridge.
Hi Raul. I was so lucky to come across three MMC20CL. Two nearly new, and one with 200 h on it's back. So I bought them all (of course), and now I am trying one of them out in my Hadcock arm. I can definitly hear it's inherent qualities, coherence and musical flow, but it's got a lot of "SSSS". Have you found an arm that mtaches good with the cartridge? I know it was designet for a linear tracker, so maybe it's just very sensitive to tonearm adjustments.
BTW: Very fascinating with that see thru sapphire cantilever :-)
Dear Genesis: Yes, I owned the MM AT-25 ( same cartridge with integral headshell ) that was very good refined cartridge. The AT cartridges of those times were a little on the soft side of the sound: not to bright and very relaxed.
Dear Blowfin: It could be a very good match but the trouble is that the Technics 205CMK3 comes with integral headshell and your tonearm can't take it. I don't know if the Technics cartridge could be take out of its headshell, but you can ask to the seller about.
My 205 comes stand alone and is wonderful performaer.
Hi Raul, do you have any experience with an Audio Technica AT-24 cartridge? Just got one and it looks very well made. All I found is it tracks at 0.8-1.5g which is quite low.
Dear friends: here it is a good opportunity to own a Technics MM cartridge: EPC-205C-MK3. You can see it at ebay germany and the item number is: 220141067265
Dear Maxson: I agree with Theo, 1.1grs. on VTF works fine.
Now, both cartridges are different on performance where the 750LTD sound is more " refined " than the EDR.9 one. Anyway, the performance is tonearm dependent.
The last MM cartridge I owned was a Grado TLZ. To this day, I have fond memories of that cartridge, and I think in retrospect it was better sounding in most ways than the lower end MC cartridges that I used after I took the TLZ out of my system. Unlike other Grados of that era, the TLZ was "fast" and had excellent depth and "air" and a great midrange. I wonder if any of you guys have compared the Empire and B&O cartridges under discussion to the TLZ or XTZ.
For technical reasons, I have not had a chance to run my LTD 750 yet. Can anyone give me their impressions of its sound and, most importantly, of how it compares to a Music Maker MKIII?
Any tips for getting the best out of the EDR9? I've got it on a red-dot armtube of my Morch UP-4--around 6g effective mass, which is appropriate according to the cartridgedb.com. I reduced the VTF to 1.3g, which did seem to help the tizziness I was hearing. But it just sounds less engaging than the 750LTD.
Dear Fran: Good for you. Anyway if in the future you have the opportunity to test a MM cartridge please do it it will be a nice/surprise audio experience.
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