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Grado Cartridge questions.....

I drive me Vandersteen 1C's with a Rogue Audio Cronus integrated amp (EL-34 tubes) and an NAD 533/Goldring Elektra (basically, a Rega Planar 2) front end. The table is plugged directly into the amp's phono input (built-in MM phono stage). The music sounds lovely, but..... I want to improve my analog set-up (the usual "upgrade itch").

I have heard that the Grado wood body cartridges match very well with my Vandy's and my amplifier. Most of my LP listening is "classic acoustic small ensemble" jazz (Miles, 'Trane, Rollins, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Brubeck, Peterson, Lester Young, Hawkins, Messengers, Horace Silver, MJQ, etc.) So, finally, here are my questions :

1. Grado Platinum vs. Grado Sonata ?? The $200 difference is affordable.....is it worth it ?

2. Platnum/Sonata Reference vs. Platinum/Sonata Statement ??........The higher output Reference series would allow me to use my current built-in phono stage, whereas I would need an outboard phono stage (and the necessary issues of stage and interconnect decisions) for the Statement series. What's your opinion ??

3. What $ 1000 - $1500 table/arm combo to drive the cartridge ??... Rega ?, Project ?, SOTA ?, Music Hall ?....

I'd really appreciate your feelings and advice. Thanks, and Happy Listening !!
adam18
11 responses Add your response
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Too many changes at once make it difficult to evaluate the improvement of a single component. I'm not a fan of the Grado (sounds rolled off with wooly bass) and don't believe it is a good match for the ICs which are not the last word in transparency especially when driven with low power tubes.
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
The higher level wood bady Grados can sound quite lovely, particulary on acoustic music. The Sonata is a material improvement over the Platinum, and each step up from the Sonata offers improvements in resolution, soundstaging, and extension at both ends of the frequency spectrum.

If you can use and can acquire the 1.5mv output versions of these cartridges, they will provide better sonics than the 4.5mv output versions.

A Grado Sonata or Reference would be a nice match with a VPI Scout and it's tonearm. An alternative cartidge that works well with the VPI Scout, and would provide greater resolution and transparency, is the Shelter 501. But its 0.4mv output will require a competent phono stage and it is yet another jump higher in cost.
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stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
..just my 2cents... I had a Grado Sonata low output on a Rega P-25. I always had a hum problem. The hum was very low, and listeners could kind of blank it out, but it always bothered me. By the way...the hum did not increase as I moved the tonearm to the area around the end of the record...it was just constantly there. I don't think that a Grado cartridge and any Vandersteen is a good match. Grado have a kind of a "tube" sound...that is, the highs seems a bit rolled off. Vandersteen's corporate sound is again, a bit rolled off in the highs. I think the combination of the 2 would be too rolled off...for me, anyway. Personally, I'd put in a Dynavektor or Benz cartridge.
fruff1976
103 posts
 
I have a Music Hall MMF-7 with a Grado Reference and it sounds great.
photon46
1,082 posts
 
I think Stringreen is giving good advice. The Grado/Vandersteen combo has the potential to be a bit too polite and rolled off. Another cartridge I happen to like would be a Goldring 1042, or even better, a Reson Reca. TNT-Audio.com has reviews of these two and I share the reviewer's opinions.
adam18 OP
670 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses so far. Okay, so let's assume I go for the Grado Reference Sonata (there just seems to be something very cool about buying an audio product from Brooklyn, New York, from a family owned company that's been in the audio business forever). What's your recommendation for a turntable/tonearm combo in the $ 1000 - 1500 range that will mate well with the cartridge ? I'm assuming that any Rega rig will cause the Grado to produce too much "hum." So how about a table with an outboard motor ?
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
I owned a Grado Sonata 4.5 and it is very nice but a bit lush in bass response as is the Vandersteen and Rogue if they follow their 'house' sounds
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Adam18, fwiw, I lived very happily for many years with Grado Sonata/Reference cartridges and Vandersteen 2C speakers with a VPI HW-19 turntable. (Prior to that the speakers were Celestion SL700s, perhaps even more "polite" on top but more resolving).

On acoustic music the Grados and Vandersteens were a great combination, with very natural reproduction of the timbre of the instruments. Yes, some of the very top might be a bit rolled off, but the midrange was wonderful and one could listen for hours without fatigue. Your Vandersteen 1C speakers are more neutral, with a more extended top, than the 2Cs I had, so the match might be even better.
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adam18 OP
670 posts
 
Wow, thanks a lot guys........I really appreciate all the input. It seems like Grado and Vandersteen, the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, will work very well for me. To my ears, beautiful midrange and natural timbre are much more important attributes than the slight drawbacks of extreme top end roll-off or a bit of bass lushness. So now, which table should I use to drive Sonata Reference ? Music Hall MMF-7 and VPI Scout are two good choices....what else should I consider ?? Anything from SOTA, Project, or Clearaudio ?? Thanks a lot, and Happy Listening to all.
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