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Entertaining A - B Comparison

So, I just sold what had been my first turntable - the trusty Thorens TD-160 Super with the Grace 707 arm and a Shure M97xe cartridge. Since I had to demo it for the fellow I had the opportunity to set it up next to my Sota Star which has a Audioquest PT-6 arm and an AT OC9 cartridge.

You know what? The Thorens/Shure combo did not come off as bad as one might have expected. No where near as much detail or refinement from the cartridge, or as stable an image from the table, but otherwise quite pleasant. And I know its not really all that "hi-fi" but that Shure has a very nice warm sound. Not terribly open in the highs, but warm with really natural timbres. You could do worse.

The OC9 by comparison has much better clarity, but it really is a bit dry sounding. Might be a reason to upgrade sooner or..... sooner.

At any rate, I watched my Thorens drive off in the back of this fellows hatchback. Based on what he was telling me he didn't seem cursed with the hi-fi bug. He just wanted to spin some records. I'm sure he'll enjoy it.
grimace
7 responses Add your response
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rauliruegas
13,053 posts
 
Dear grimace: It happen that my TTs has ( add-on ) a vaccum system too and I use a clamp that like in your case makes a quality improvement.

Put a record with the vacumm working ( with out clamp ) and hit with your finger the LP near the center ( you can do it any where but near the center is more easy to hear. ) and then make the same but with the clamp-on and hear that this time the " sound " from the finger hit on the record is more " dead " that with out clamp, resonance/vibration comes lower and this means lower/diffrent distortions in favor of the music sound quality reproduction.

regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
grimace OP
624 posts
 
Yeah, I just read that article last night and I did make note of it. I don't have a lot of experience in this. I wonder if that mid-range thing is more of a MM vs MC thing? I can't imagine why it would be since everyone seems to swear by their MCs including their fine mids.

Also,

I gotta say ... that stupid clamp... I don't know why -especially since the table has vacuum - but that thing makes a HUGE difference in the sound quality. The more I listen to it the better I like it. Who knew?
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
05-16-08: Grimace
Well, Like I said, I wasn't unhappy with the Shure. I actually like that lush midrange. I know its not very hi-fi, but it sounds nice. I wonder if the now deceased V15's had that same quality? An NOS one might be an idea if one comes up.
In the new Absolute Sound review of the Ortofon 2M Red ($99) and Black ($599) cartridges, Neil Gader writes that the Black should easily replace the Shure V15s out that that are getting long in the tooth. He said these Ortofons have that seductive Shure-like midrange while being more extended at both ends and cleaner and faster in the bass. And that even goes for the $99 2M Red, so pricewise it's even a worthy successor to the M97xE.

My price/performance dollar is on the Blue, which upgrades the Red to a nude stylus and lists at $199.
grimace OP
624 posts
 
Well, Like I said, I wasn't unhappy with the Shure. I actually like that lush midrange. I know its not very hi-fi, but it sounds nice. I wonder if the now deceased V15's had that same quality? An NOS one might be an idea if one comes up.

In all honesty I don't have a clue what 'loading' is or how to ascertain the ohms. I'm a very non-technical a-phile. Feel free to enlighten me.

BTW, in the mail today came a Sota reflex clamp that I got on e-bay. This little bugger makes an audible difference in bass weight and what was already really good solidity. Seems like stage depth is better as well. pretty cool.
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rauliruegas
13,053 posts
 
Dear Grimace: I don't know how you are loading ( impedance ) the Shure one but if you could try at 100Kohms you can improve its quality performance. That cartridge is a lot better that we think but it needs 100Komh.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Told you the Thorens was good. The weak point was the Shure. Oh well, you have an awesome table now and shouldn't miss it a bit. I'm still dueling my Sota Jewel vs the VPI 19 that I picked up. Quite different sound regardless of the cartridge. The VPI is "lighter" but the Sota has much more depth and fullness...
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Don't write off the OC-9 until you break in for a few weeks. Lots of good cartridges will sound a little bright and dry early on and warm up with time. VTA could also impact, but wait until you get it broken in before optimizing VTA. Another tenth or two of tracking force might help, until it breaks in.

Dave
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