2. analog
  3. 146526-2589

MC suggestions

I have long been a Grado fan.  Currently running a Statement Reference v2.  I love it, but.  I auditioned the Ortofon Quintet Black and the Dyna 17d3 and the Benz Glider and while each were excellent in their way, the overall feeling, despite being faster and transparent left me wanting, I was happy enough with my Grado. Id like to take another crack at this now. What I am looking for at this point and I hope you guys can make some suggestions, is a cleaner, and more live sound. This combined with a nice sense of space and width to the soundstage.  Is this asking a lot in my price range which is 2.5k(ish)?  I am of the opinion after spending sometime trying to figure this out, that an el34 based tube amp combined with the Grado cart are just too similar in voicing(warm).  I had hope that running a ss phono stage combined with the low output statement would be just the synergy.  It definitely moved the needle in the right direction and I could live happily if I didn't think I could push it a little farther in the detail direction without losing what I love about the Grado sound.  That is primarily it is not brittle, its natural sounding, nice soundstage all around.  Perhaps if I had solid state amplification it would be a synergistic match made in heaven.  Some carts I have been thinking about are VAS, Miyajima, Dyna(I did really like the 10x5 I listened to at one point).  Not to rule out Lyra but would be worried about the thinness I've read about from some users.  Grado fans seem a little few and far between and I wonder if there are previous fans who have moved on.  Maybe I just need to have a couple carts around and their is no one right cart. I have hesitated pursuing a cart change because my system has been tuned to Grado's sound but if I can get close with another company making MC's that wouldn't call for recalibrating my rig that much would be great.  Thanks for reading and sorry to be so long winded.
128x128fourwnds

Showing 3 responses by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,249 posts
 
I had a special low output Grado Reference cartridge. It put out 1.5 mv. It was my work horse cartridge for  some 25 years. Finally one channel died and I desided to retire it. The arm on this table a SOTA Cosmos is a Syrinx PU3, a medium mass arm suitable for many cartridges. I us an ARC phono amp. The Grado was a great tracker and very musical, easy going and fluid.
i got to try a friends Clearaudio Titanium which was less laid back than the Grado. What struck me the most were the dynamics. That cartridge in my system had more punch than George Forman. The Titanium was out of my affordability without pissing off the wife range but I manage to sneak into the Da Vinci. That part of  Clearaudio line has the same motor, cantilever  from the Talisman up to the Titanium. Only the bodies change. Th Da Vinci and Titanium get the Golfinger's stylus. The Golfinger has a different motor.  The Talisman is really the sweet spot where price and performance line up to give you the best value. It has a rising high above 15 KHz which some people like. As the cartridge breaks in it does flatten out. if you have cantilever anxiety it is probably not the cartridge for you. The Lyra Delos is the other cartridge in this price range that stands out.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,249 posts
 
Air Tight PC 7 detailed and lots of air. Very stiff. you might have to add weight.Best for classical.
Clearaudio Stradavari V2 Great tracker, very dynamic. Great for Jazz and Rock.
Ortofon Cadenza Gold. Great tracker, Neutral(accurate) Most like the Grado here. Sounds good with any thing.
Lyra Delos most like the Clearaudio not quite as dynamic maybe a little more detailed.
I had a Grado Statement for 10 years. For me to run a cartridge that long is severely atypical. It's little wires finally let go. I will surely get another at some point

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,249 posts
 
Fourwnds I wish I could have afforded a cartridge that good at your age. Actually there were no cartridges that good then! Just get the HI FI News test record. It has tracks for both lateral and vertical resonance. For the PC 7 just add weight until you get the resonance down between 8 and 12 Hz. The lower in that range the better. You can add weight with longer screws putting nuts on the screw before you screw them in so the nuts are on top of the head shell (dorky looking) or you can get cartridge weights which are pads the fit under the cartridge(better looking.) You can adjust the weight by sheering off the pads at the corners with heavy scissors. Getting this right has a big payback in bass and tracking ability.
More to discover