Looking for a Warmer Sounding Phono Cartridge

Best MM is the Audio Note IQ iii

Try ZYX for MC...they are very neutral with great detail.

Not just an opinion as I own them.

@piebaldpython Yes, I am still running the original tubes made in Hungary.

I purchased this preamp in 1980. It was in my system for about two years. I devloped a problem with the volume going to max if I touched the pot. At that time, I had little knowledge on how to troubleshoot so I put it away and purchased an APT Preamp Two.

Fasr forward to today...

Both preamps are back in my system as phono preamps. The Paragon is fed by a DIY SUT using Cinemag 1254 Xformers (the stylus is a Koetsu RS). The Apt is being used as a phono preamp for my Grace F9E with Soundsmith stylus assembly. I use the tape out.

I have rebuilt the PSU for the Paragon. I fixed the noisy pot with some Deoxit. Wish I has been able to figure that out 40 years ago!

I've performed a major update to the APT. New caps in the PS and in the signal path. Low ESR caps in the PS and Nichicon Fine Gold caps for signal path. I disassembled the volume pot (which I'm not using). This really cleaned up the sound.

I replaced the TL072CP ICs with modern OPA 2134 ICs. However these ICs draw more power and were blowing the 1/4 amp fuse (a 4A fuse did not blow). So I installed new TL0712 ICs in the tone control and gain section. I kept  the OPA 2134 in the phono preamp section. The 1/4 amp fuse was happy.

I have extensively measured both preamps after rebuild. The OPA 2134 reduced the already low 60 Hz noise on the APT (and higher order) by almost 10dB.

- Aside from reducing the 60 Hz hum,  the OPA 2134 replacement ICs on the APT did not change the distortion, nor the max input.

The noise floor is -80 dB with distortion slightly above this with both preamps.

These are excellent results. Sound is wonderful. Both have a slightly warm presentation. The Paragon does not have excessive "Tube Sound". Both are very quiet.

These guys will stay in my system for a long time.

@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.

I also have a personal disfavor of rising high end cartridges.  I went back to a more simple Dynavector 20X2 L although I did consider the Rosewood and Hana MC (red and now blue).  I have hearing at least out to 16Khz (tested last year at 66).  I am sensitive to a few odd high frequencies, especially one soprano note around high Bb or A which sounds piercing to me, in the Dorothy Chandler (season ticket holder/400+ performances).  The lower resolution Dynavector permits me to enjoy almost all of my 27,500 LPs.  The Karat Diamond annoys on less than high quality LPs and Lyras, Ortofons are too bright for me.  I'm sorry for your hearing loss/sensativity issues. 

You might consider the Grace Asakura One MC. Also, I saw a review about Grado’s highest level cartridge and reviewer said it’s the best sounding cartridge he’s ever heard. I believe it sells for around $30,000.00. I’ll take three!

@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.

@lewm Thanks for the suggestion about Tinnitis.; I have my ears checked regularly. Never a mention of Tinnitis or any other kind of hearing loss except for the loss of high frequencies.

I looked online for symptoms. I don't have any.

This is clearly my personal bias. Back when I was less informed about the technical aspects of phono cartridges, my system was so irritating that I stopped listening to vinyl. I thought that there was something wrong with the mastering or pressing. "How could they..." was my thinking.

Now I know that alignment is so important. Then I was listening to a badly aligned cartridge. Now I never get that awful sound I had back then because I now put a lot of care into stylus and cartridge alignment.

Disdain for that awful sound must still linger in my mind. Even a small amount of it is a real annoyance. Cymbals can sound very bad if not properly reproduced. And in my experience there are very few recordings that get this sound acceptable (to me).

My advice is to move past the Nova II. I had the III and even with the added power supply I felt it was unengaging and flat sounding. Manley Chinooks added tons of warmth and depth over the Nova. Can’t say I’ve got any input on cartridge warmth, but for close to the same budget you might be able to find an older used Chinook.

Some people are more sensitive to high frequency metallic tweeters and find them strident. Usually a soft dome tweeter would be better for them.

Glad the OP found a solution- I highly suspect a warmer “quality” cartridge than the Koetsu Rosewood Sig doesn’t exist, do more warmth must be gotten somewhere else in his audio chain.

It's just that I have never found alignment to make such a quantitative difference in apparent frequency response. But this is very subjective, I suspect.

I find that electrolytic capacitors in the signal path can give a nasty, almost digital glare to the higher frequencies. Could it be that there are electrolytics in your speaker crossover?

I upgraded the crossovers in my neighbour’s higher end bookshelves, and the difference was night and day. Very much bang for buck.

But if you are bent on a cartridge change, I have a higher end Koetsu and similarly priced Grado. The Grado is smoother.

@lewm The alignment must have been way off. I never bothered with alignment over three moves. I just never thought about it. I have since been educated.

Believe me, it sounded horrible. In fixing this problem I noticed that the stylus kept skipping across the LP. I think that the stylus had reached the end o its life. So there were several causes for the shrill sound.

"stylus kept skipping across the LP..."

This suggests the tonearm is hanging up on something external, like the cueing device (if you have altered VTA in connection with changing cartridges, there is a chance the tonearm is fouling the lift on the cue), or there is drag on the internal tonearm wires (can be invisible rubbing, where the internal wires enter the vertical pivot shaft).  Also, if you have even a modest magnifying glass around the house, take a look to see whether the stylus is still attached to the cantilever. Also, check out the anti-skate device on your tonearm.

@lewm Thanks for the suggestions. It was definitely a worn out stylus. As I mentioned, I really wasn't aware of the care that cartridges require.

A year or so ago, when I knew a bunch more and had performed over 20 alignments I pulled the cartridge out of deep storage. It still skipped. Other cartridges sound great on the same table. So there's nothing amiss with the table. In fact, this particular arm has very smooth motion and little bearing friction.

I retired the stylus assembly and replaced it with the SS R-9E.

@rauliruegas I load the cartridge with 47K. Total capacitance of cables and phono input is about 150 pf. I make my own phono cables. the bulk cable has a capacitance of 17 pf/ft, measured by me. Short runs have little capacitance, about 50 pf in the case of the cable I'm using.

As I noted previously, I've measured the FR of this cartridge. It has only a tiny rise above 10KHz, indicating that the loading is optimal for achieving bandwidth out to 20KHz, not the much higher bandwidth required by quadrophonic LPs. 

I have derived the equations that calculate the FR from my model of a cartridge The calculations agree with my measurements. There's no need for the 100K loading. In fact, it might introduce noise in the form of IM distortion.

The very small decrease in low freq response below 100Hz does not, to my mind and ears, drive my system beyond neutral.

@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.

@rauliruegas Please read the F9 manual posted by farsch on he Vinyl Engine website. Both impedances are mentioned, but 47K is the only one in the spec list.

I'm pretty sure that Grace knew what they were doing.

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.

@kevemaher Yes, I can guarantee the Grace is 47K.

This is a tempest in a teapot. If you like 47K, you might also try 100K, and then choose what you like best. Results may vary in relation to total capacitance and personal preference. IMO, there’s no right or wrong.

I have owned both Soundsmith Zephyr. I would not go with that but instead the Carmen (which I also owned and regretted selling with a turntable). Elliptical, very low groove noise compared to the Zephyr, warm and rounded sound. And cheaper than the Zephyr.