Dear nandric: IMHO the best headshell is the one that makes your/the cartridge really " sing ".
I have no preferences for headshell because some ones works great with some cartridges and " bad " with other cartridges even with the same cartridge but different tonearm a good one in one tonearm could be a bad one in other tonearm.
Resonances/distortions everywhere the tonearm/cartidge/headshell/TT/platform/etc makes almost imposible to predict the result between headshells and cartridges combinations. IMHO we have to try and decide through several tests.
So and in this subject said/say that this or that headshell is the best has IMHO no real foundation.
Remember that when an " important " persons/reviewers/guru in audio stated that this/that audio item is the way to go then we think is the best and when we have it almost always will sounds good for us even if not: we are prepared for that audio item sounds good way before we hear it.
Only our skill/experience/know-how level in audio could tell us what's " real " and what's only " illusion ".
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Halcro: I'm more sursprised by your post:
+++++ " state that he has no understanding of the reasons for the performance changes of various headshells is contradictory to.... " +++++, please let me know where I stated that sincerely I can't remember where.
No the headshell subject as any audio subject is in no way a " black art ", things are that exist almost no scientific research that can be confirmed through listening process or the other way around and due to this fact there are several " black art " audio subjects, that's all.
Now, if you re-read the MM thread ( first page. ) I stated there that I had " bad time " with the AT 20SS till I mounted in the SAEC UL3X headshell, I tested that cartridge in those " old " times with several other headshells and in different tonearmsand till today I don't have a precise explanation about. This seems like " black magic " but certainly it's not.
A few weeks ago I posted that I had some " problems " trying to made that the ADC 25 performs at its best, well I tryed in at least five different headshells ( where my guide was my experiences about. ) with no success til with out real foundation I mounted in an aluminum AT headshell that is full of holes/perforated and is not only ugly headshell but when you see it and when you have in your hand you can't trust in it! and you know what this AT headshell was the only one that made the ADC 25 really sings.
Black magic?, certainly not but even that I would like I don't have the time to design a scientific model to find out why that happened.
In the last four years I tested around 80 different cartridges with different tonearms and different headshells and even this kind of whole experiences I can't be aware today why the ADC 25 performs so well with that AT headshell maybe you have a precise explanation and I would like to hear it and learn about.
+++++ " The best removable headshells generally are those that are integral with the cartridge.... " ++++++
I respect your opinion but I have to disagree here, why?:
IMHO an integarted cartridge/headshell design preclude that we can find out which tonearm/headshell is the best match ( the cartridge examples you named were designed almost 40 years ago and between all those tears till today many things already change it on the whole subject. ) for that cartridge today shows us at its best even we can't test it in a fixed tonearm headshell design.
In the other side the internal wire/connectors inside that kind of cartridge designs are 40 years old and IMHO we today have better wire/pin connectors for cartridge mount: no doubt about.
There are other " problems " like in the FR where you can't change overhang or azymuth ( if the tonearm does not has it. ) or offset angle for testing different geometry tonearm/cartridge set up or for anything else.
I like more flexibility.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Dertonarm: I own the Orsonics and the AT ( the three models. ) ones, I think I own over 35 different headshell designs that I use trying to make the best cartridge match.
++++++ " These three do represent technically the best I have found in 30 years. If a cartridge/tonearm sounds bad with any of these 4 headshells, it is not the headshell's fault. " +++++
as almost always with you a statement that you can't prove. In the other side I can prove it is not that way.
The ADC 25 and AT20SS are only two examples that even if one headshell design could seems the " best technically " not always is a good cartridge match and with some cartridges could sound bad.
IMHO there is no audio perfect items and headshells are not an exception.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Nandric: +++++ " I am not able to understand your
conviction that an forum is somehow more objective. Ie one
get usualy 15 different answers from 10 persons. " +++++
normally I don't trust on professional reviewers that are biased some way or the other to commercial compromises, I don't trust either in 30 years old reviews where the audio items ( audio systems. ) used are way different from today ones.
I don't trust on reviewers where things were that their reports are faulty ( by its review process. ) and where their findings are different from what we heard on different home systems or that are out of reality against live events taked as music reference.
Even that Halcro and I are not always in agreement ( we are in the main audio targets. ), fortunately, I trust with out doubt over say MF. There are many reasons why I trust in Halcro but one critical is that Halcro is not biased in any commercial way and in his honesty that he reports what he heard, it does not matters if I agree or not.
In this forum there are several persons whom I trust with out doubt over any single reviewer out there.
Do you think that I don't trust in Downunder only because he and I almost always are in disagrement?, no I trust in him that's not biased in anyway.
There are several other persons in this forum that are very well regarded, that own great audio systems and that I don't trust on them, mainly because are biased: biased or in a commercial way or biased to support some one.
In good shape: can I trust in Dertonarm or Syntax or Nandric ? could you?
Yes, I trust in non-biased people in this and other forums against/over reviewers even if we have " 15 different answers from 10 persons ", the subject here is which of those 15 answers are the " one " and only your skills/experience/know-how level along some type of research ( who is telling what, which audio system they own, music sound priorities of those persons, biased?: to what, etc, etc ) can tell you.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Dertonarm: Of course that I already used those headshell with LOMCs. The Orsonic and AT headshell ( older the Ors. ) were out there way before I started to test MM/MIs.
About cartridge body I think almost all cartridges have " problems " and are not perfect as you and other persons ( including me ) can whish but this is true with almost any other audio item so: what's the point?, I posted several times that all the TTs are unfinished designs ( you and me already discussed on this subject. ) but on tonearms we can say the same as with cartridges or speakers or amplifiers.
My point is that due that our audio world is not perfect we have to have the tools ( in this case: headshells/tonearms. ) for our cartridges can shows always at its best and this means ( between other things . ) that we have to look for matched items.
You are a wise man and I know that you know way before your last post what I'm refering to. Dertonarm I think that the time when we always want to win a discussion are past and our today contribution are " deeper " than that self misunderstooded satisfaction. I think and believe in your maturity even that several times you ( IMHO ) don't shows it.
Anyway, I don't want to follow opening more " windows " in this thread.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Nandric: Of course that I don't make any audio item choice only because I trust in you and that's not what I posted.
++++++" the subject here is which of those 15 answers are the " one " and only your skills/experience/know-how level along some type of research ( who is telling what, which audio system they own, music sound priorities of those persons, biased?: to what, etc, etc ) can tell you. " +++++
IMHO anyone of us follow a process ( personal one. ) when we take a decision.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Halcro: +++++ " The fact that we don't have the knowledge or patience to discover these is simply an admission of the depth of our lack of knowledge when it comes to audio. " +++++
yes we are ignorant ( at least I'm. ) on many audio subjects see it from the " scientific " point of view, fortunately my/our years of audio experiences help us some way or the other.
What in some audio subjects I/we don't have is for example ( Downunder's one. ): why the same cartridge in the same tonearm but with different headshells souns different. We can speculate about but I don't have a precise/real an proven answers coming from a scientific process that take in count every single parameter with influence in what we heard.
Yes, maybe is time to change this. Who say " I " ?
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Halcro: +++++ " If one is interested in accuracy and rigidity, I find the AT headshells ones to be avoided " +++++
maybe no other headshell manufacturer as Audio technica has so many different models: different in weight, different in headshell build materials ( magnesium, aluminum and blended. ), different on headshell shape and different on headshell damping, I own around 9-10 AT models.
Accuracy?, till today in no one of the AT headshells I have any single trouble about accuracy, I always achieve the cartridge desired set up.
Even when I have to change the offset angle you always has a small margin about and if the needs in OA is wider then you always can mount the cartridge with non-paralled headshell holes.
IMHO I can't see how any AT headshell could be not accurate.
Rigidty?, well on some of the AT headshells the manufacturer choosed to give the customer two great options: overhang adjustement ( through different holes and with a " fine tunning " overhang through that screw you hate. ) and Azymuth one ( remember here that several tonearms has not the Azymuth changes option. ). There are many people that today " die " for these options that they don't have it in their cartridge/tonearm set ups.
Are there trade-offs?, could be but those headshells were not designed thinking only on Halcro.
In the other side AT have some headshells with out those options that you reject, one of them is the MG10 or the one I'm using with my ADC 25 that comes with slots to hold the cartridge.
Are there better headshells?, certainly are but I don't recommend avoid the AT before test it.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear friends: If you want to change your headshell lead wires these IMHO are very good options:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Audio-Technica-AT6101-AT-6101-4-Piece-Lead-Set-Wires-/140509509888?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b704f900#ht_500wt_922
these ones are the AT top of the line and are the ones that comes with the AT Technihard latest headshell design. I own and works really fine.
http://www.2juki.com/index.php?categoryid=2&p164_item=16&p164_action=item
these made by VdH with silver wire are highly recommend.
http://www.2juki.com/index.php?categoryid=2&p164_item=25&p164_action=item
http://www.2juki.com/index.php?categoryid=2&p164_item=59&p164_action=item
both Ikeda very good wires.
Which one is better?, well a hard call but I stay with the silver made ones.
Btw, both sellers are trusty.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
Which one is better?, hard call but I stay with the silver made ones. |
Dear Banquo363: The very first time ( one year ago ) that I tested the Azden I made it mounted in a SAEC ULS-2X ( composite build material. ) in the AT 1503 tonearm with very good results.
This time ( you can read about in the MM thread: last posts. ) I mounted in the Grace G-945 with own magnesium Grace headshell and its performance is nothing less than spectacular.
Remember that as important is the headshell as is the tonearm and cartridge/tonearm set up along capacitance loading.
Btw, I don't think is the best move to go for the Technihard AT headshells: its plattform body ( between other things. ) is too short for many MM/MI cartridges.
On the Empire cartridge you can read here about:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ranlg&1275323834
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear dertonarm: Yes, " every one in a while ...". Well, I think that we agree more than what we " shows ".
Audio it is not E=mc2, is almost simple that it is difficult not to agree on the main subjects.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Downunder: +++++ " I have no idea how someone can make decisions on the full merits of a cartridge after using it for 4 or 5 choice cuts or several days. " +++++
agree, me either!.
+++++ " I have to live with a cartridge for a long period of time to appreciate all its strengths and weaknesses. " +++++
the " all " word is the key on the whole subject. I already explained to you and other people the why and how's about but here we go again:
if you are trained ( in deep and through a learning process ) say as a Formula One driver ( like Alonso or Shumacher ) when you move the switch on car " key " in that very first moment you know 40% of that car and after one-two turns to the circuit race you know other 55% of the car's characteristics.
The " full and all strengths and weknesses " certainly will take you a little more: maybe two or three or four full races.
Well, my target when I give an opinion on MM/MI cartridges is to help other interested people , if overall, one or the other cartridge could be a good alternative.
Now, due that the whole MM/MI cartridge subject is " new " for many of us there are out there a lot of cartridges ( vintage. ) that we can buy but how can we make a choice? what to buy ? .
I think that always help to make those cartridge choices at least to have, if not a full precise idea, an " idea " about and that was and is my role in that thread that over the years added great contributors that with their opinions on the same subject already helped all of us that are " discovering " the MM/MI analog source alternative and that's all.
Yes, I'm trained in deep on purpose to do that with a good average % of sucess and no I don't heard only " 4-5 choice cuts " because if you think this then is a totally misunderstood.
I receive over 10+ email every day asking for MM/MI cartridge set up and asking for advise on that MM/MI ( vintage and today ) cartridges and all these daily emails comes from people that never posted in that MM/MI thread.
I don't know you but my main targets in this forum and in every single thread is to learn and try to help other people when I can. The 95% of my posts are experiences that I share with you/other people.
My contribution and contributions of all the people should be a real contribution: I mean that can help some one.
Like in any forum we are free to " take " what we like and what did not left alone.
In the other side we all are free to: just don't read " this or that " post or " those threads ".
Anyway, always a pleasure to talk with you.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Nick_sr: +++++ " In regards to the head shell leads issue, I just did away with them completely. " +++++
yes the best headshell leads are no headshell leads. Not only you but many other persons out there ( including me ) already taked that alternative that between other things make " life more easy ".
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Dertonarm: It is not that much: only one hole distance. For the ADC 25 or 20SS the Technihard headshell is out of question.
Right now I'm usin the 13 one with my MS LF-7 and I used a 18 one with the DL-103 LOMC cartridge where in both cases works just fine.
Maybe I have an advantage over you and some other people: I own a " ton " of different headshells that makes me things easy and where I learned that are better options that those Technihard AT headshells, I'm not saying are bad ones but only that are not the best " user friendly " items.
I have a lot of luck with many of the other AT headshell models. In the other side not always we can use a 18grs headshell weight.
Regards and enjoy the music,
raul. |
Dear Banquo363: Well not easy to get those very short screws for the Empire, I'm lucky because I have hundred of screws and I found it a pair for it but you can mount the Empire in a non-AT headshell and then you can use a " normal " length screws with nuts.
Yes, the headshell wires goes connected to the Azden's adaptor pins and not to the cartridge ones.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Robob: The 309 has a SME " dedicated/non-standard " removable headshell but that's not the Universal removable headshell like the one SME used in the 3012 and the ones we are named in this thread.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear Banquo363: The best connection for the Azden is " direct connection FASHION ", that's direct to the cartridge pin connectors. For you can do this you have to take off/out the adaptor pin connectors and find headshell leads connectors that could fit those cartridge pin connectors that are so thin.
Anyway, you are in the " road " again.
Regrads and enjoy the music,
Raul. |
Dear pryso/Dlaloum: I totally agree with Halcro on the Orsonic hadshells ( I owned all the different original models. ) that IMHO are just a crap of headshell full of distortions.
Of course there are people that loves those distortions because IMHO they don't know/be aware that part of what they are hearing through this headshell in reality is added distortion.
This Orsonic headshell is one more myth in the analog audio that sellers spread the " rumor " that was a " great one " with out IMHO any precise/clear evidence and with out any other " help " ( for we customers. ) that makes easy money.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R. |
