There you can look from where came the flat frequency.
Your loading measures you did it just does not gives you flat frequency as you already posted.
As I posted, that's what you like and it's fine with me. Why that " big deal ".
R.
Looking for a Warmer Sounding Phono Cartridge
I've grown tired of the sound of high end MC cartridges. Detail aplenty, but I've begun to detest to the screechinesssssss.
No, my system is not biased that way. I'd consider my system neutral. Components are listed below. The Koetsu RS sounds wonderful. The other cartridges in my rotation are the Hana ML and the Shelter 901 MK III. These are not described in the literature as very etched sounding nor very detail rich. They are mostly characterized as neutral.
My ears no longer tolerate the highs, anything above 3KHz I would estimate. My hearing disappears at about 8KHz. I don't have any hearing problems except for the loss of higher frequencies. I find also that I'm not as interested in "getting everything that's on the vinyl". Not anymore. I want warmth with quality. I listen to the "audiophile" recordings, to R&R LPs from the 70s and classical and opera from all eras. Some LPs are very good, some not so, but performance overrides the defects. I want to continue to enjoy all of them.
So I'm searching for a good quality warm sounding cartridge, MM, MI, MC or some other, doesn't matter.
I've been researching the field and have come up with these candidates:
- GradoTimber Master 3
- Shelter 501 Mk III
- Soundsmith Zephyr MK III
I was pretty sold on the 501. based mostly on the article by Michael Fremer, but a very helpful contact at Upscale Audio turned me onto the other two. His advice sounds very sound and seems to come from experience with all three.
I would like to keep the discussion limited to the above three and to cartridges less than $1500 USD, unless there's a really great one that I've missed.
Thanks for your help.
My stuff:
Koetsu RS, Hana ML, and Shelter 901, Musical Surroundings Nova II phono pre. Alternate pre is Paragon System E (tubes) and a DIY SUT with Cinemg 1254 trans, sometimes Apt Holman Preamp 1, Technics SL-1200G, Denon DP-57L, Levinson #38s preamp, Rane EQ and Crossover, Bryston 2.5B cubed amp, Revel M105 bookshelf speakers, and HSU 15" Sub.
Showing 6 responses by rauliruegas
@kevemaher : Grace load values for the F9 produce a flat FR ( quadraphonic or not. ).
" The very small decrease in low freq response below 100Hz does not, to my mind and ears, drive my system beyond neutral. " The key words in your statement are : " to my mind and ears " because for be those 5db in that bass FR is not neutral when for you it's for your " mind/ears ". So fine with me.
R. |
@kevemaher : Btw, Grace 9 series motor cartridge was designed to run at 100k not 47k to play the CD-4 recordings of those times. Other cartridges runs at the same load impedance for the same issue like Empire.
R. |
@kevemaher : " I'd consider my system neutral. " Maybe measured " neutral " but exist several levels/steps of system measured " neutral " Your system " looks " as an average or a little below average system and ovbiously it performs inside that " neutral " overall quality level.
It's clear that if you are deep found in that " neutral " measured system then you have a " trouble " inside your ears not the system or you need a way stepped " neutral " system quality above yours. You are happy with the F9 ( I own .it ) even that measured not " neutral " in that bass range when Grace measures says is flat down there. So, some " facts " of what you posted are against in between. In the other side in audio and other that measures the concept of " neutral " means different " things " to different gentlemans and you are an example of that.
R. |
@kevemaher : Obviously your Rane is not helping you to for your ears " problem " and gain/loading for the Hana/Shelter neither. The Rosewood is way different performer and that's one reason you like it because is not so " agressive " . One source for your " ears " problem ( because it's not a cartridge problems. ) could be that build material of your speaker tweeters that crossover around 2.5khz and could have some kind of ringing down there or maybe not because you said your room/system is neutral and you measured. Now, if the Rosewood works for your " ears " then why to look for other cartridge when the other 2 that are not bad cartridges just does not works with your " ears ".
Why to use more that one cartridge and if you want to use your other tonearms then Rosewood dowthere too. Different tonearms and different tonearm internal wiring could help too with those 2 cartridges.
At the end reading here and there you are only " guessing " what only your ears can confirm, not guessing because your room/system is unique as each one of our room/systems and it's obvious and you learned in this thread when you posted:
" that there are about as many opinions as there are posts. "
R. |
Dear @kevemaher : " I want warmth with quality. " Look warmth means no quality for a good phono cartridge, as a fact live MUSIC seated at nearfield position has quality with out warmth. I think that you do not think you need a new cartridge because there is not the problem instead my advise is to add to your system a good equalizer analog as Klark TekniK or digital.
That you like the Koetsu does not means is a " rigth " cartridge doing its job because it's not but that's what you like so try the equalizer.
Reards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |