Tape a nickel to your headshell. Readjust your cartridge settings again. Anti skate, tracking force whatnot. See if it makes it better or worse.
Looking for a Replacement for AT VM740ML Cartridge
Thinking of changing out my AT VM740ML Cartridge being I feel it’s a little bright. I like the transparency but would like just a “SLIGHT BIT” more warmth without it deadening the sound, so looking for recommendations.
Previous carts used:
Ortofon Super OM20 which I loved on a previous TT, just not compatible with my tonearm on my current turntable.
Ortofon 2MBlue - Did not last and like the OM20 better
Sumiko Moonstone - Way too dull sounding
Turntable is a EAT B Sharp and Currently using a Gold Note PH-10 Phono PreAmp with the external power supply, and even with it set to -3 dB on all the EQ settings still seems to be on the bright side.
I’d like to stick with MM, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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I ended up returning the PH-10 being it just had too much gain, even at -3 dB was still too overwhelming !!! So switched back to the Pro-Ject for now. I previously owned a Tubes for HiFi SP-13 PreAmp and liked it very much, so as suggested in a response to my post was a PH-16 from Tubes for HiFi, so I reached out to them for some info. I think Roy sold the company, but even so, the PH-16X looks very interesting and being all tubes will probably be more of what I’m looking for. |
Thanks for the idea. We do not have nickel coins Down Under, though we mine plenty of nickel! The VM540ML has a designed tracking force between 1.8 and 2.2 grams. The SME 3009 tone arm is a high-precision, low mass design and worked particularly well with the Shure V15 high compliance cartridges, tracking at about 1 gram. Tracking force is applied by turning a big counterweight until the arm balances level, then sliding a smaller weight along a calibrated rod to apply tracking force. The rod is marked in 1/4 gram intervals and stops short at 1.5 grams. It is easy enough to turn the big counterweight to give more tracking force, but you have to use some other way of measuring it. No drama with digital scales.. The anti-skating force is applied by a bob weight dangling on a very fine line running through a miniature pulley. The other end of the line loops around another calibrated rod to apply side pressure. Once again, the rod length is designed for a maximum of 1.5 grams tracking force. The obvious solution is to increase the mass of the bob weight with some very small nickel equivalent with a central hole! I have test records with tracks for setting the anti-skating force but I have not worked out how to use them yet! |
@richardbrand, I am using a Jico stylus on my Shure V15-4 cartridge. VN45HE SAS/B, it cost less than $300 from LP Gear, received it in less than 5 days and I am on the east coast. It has the carbon brush |
Thanks! My Shure cartridge is the V15 type III. When I priced that Jico stylus it was A$399 plus delivery while the VM540ML complete cartridge was A$409.69 including delivery and a head shell I cannot use. I ordered it on Friday night and it was on my doorstep next morning. Not bad for Amazon and inland Australia! This is probably not helping the OP, though! His VM760ML has 2-db better channel separation and goes to 30-kHz versus 27-kHz which could make it a bit brighter than its lesser (on paper) brother. It seems odd to propose an upgrade to Shure V15 because they have been out of production for yonks, but maybe it does make sense in the context of wanting to stay with moving magnet cartridges? |
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