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Rookie questions - toneam and cartridge

Hi all! I'm fairly new to the analog scene and I'm hoping I can get some good advice. I recently aquired an older JVC turntable. I know that's not a name that inspires any awe in the turntable world, but this model (QL-Y66F) seems very well built and in excellent shape. At any rate, it's just an experiment for me...

My first question regards the tonearm. The unit came with two tonearms - one S-shaped and the other straight. The manual mentions them both but says nothing about why one would choose one over the other. Can anyone give me some insight here?

My second question is about the choice of cartridge. Currently the unit has a Shure M91ED. I have no idea what the condition is, but I have found several place which stock replacement stylii for this cartridge, so it would be easy and cheap enough to freshen it up. The question is whether or not to bother. Is this a decent and appropriate cartridge for the turntable or should I look into another cartridge altogether? And if so (new cartridge), what would be a good suggestion in an inexpensive cartridge? I don't want to over-equip the turntable in terms of a high-end cartridge. If I decide I like analog enough, I'll likely dump this turntable in time and pick up something better.

Thanks for your suggestions,
RLW
phydeaux

Showing 4 responses by jimbo3

jimbo3
304 posts
 
RLW- I think there is a way to hook up the phono directly to the amp and have volume control as you have done with your CDP. This may be a function of certain types of phono stages and might be somewhat expensive. I think there is also a simple switching method so you could switch between CDP and phono.

I have no real knowledge of this kind of arrangement, but vaguely recall hearing of such things. Maybe one of our bretheren could shed some light on this?

Regards
Jim
jimbo3
304 posts
 
Welcome to analog, RLW. You are probably going to want to stick with MM cartridges for now as there aren't many low price point MC's that are worth fooling with. (Possible exception is the DL-103, but then you'd still need a high gain phono pre.) Somthing in the Grado or Rega line or some have reported liking the latest version of the Shure V-15.

For your purposes, a used cartridge might be the way to go if you could get some assurance of condition.

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

Regards
Jim
jimbo3
304 posts
 
RLW- If you are happy with your pre-amp and just need a phono pre-amp, the $30 phono pre from Rat Shack will do for now. There are also some other entry level phono pre's from $100 to $300 on the used market. After you decide what you are going to do over the long term, you can investigate some nicer phono pre's.

There are only a handful of pre-amps that have a decent phono section, so you widen the potential field of pre-amps and phono pre's if you go with separates.

regards
Jim
jimbo3
304 posts
 
RLW- I don't see where you could go terribly wrong with the Platinum except that Grados sometimes hum on certain tables so you'd need to determine if that might be the case with the type of table you have. Ask around but don't get all wrapped around the axle about the hum issue as there are only a few tables out there that have that affect on Grados and even then it's a case-by-case problem. (It has to do with motor shielding.)

Agreed that a mahogany body is unusual in a $300 (list) cartridge. Don't know that it really improves sonics, but it looks cool!

Regards
Jim
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