Regards, Nandric: It gets even worse. In 1980, Acutex offered seven carts with (other than color) identical apperance. There were the LPM's (four models) and also the "Standard Series" M206-11 (white grip, conical), the M207-11 (grey, .3 x .7 ellipt.) and the M210-11, (orange, .3 x 7 ellipt., but keep in mind this was not the orange .3 x .7 LPM 310e "Best Ellipt.") These are not to be confused with the big block M3xx carts. It's all so simple---
As to your bigger is better premise? Really, Nikola. As Sun-Tzu might have said: It's not the size of the army but rather the fury of the attack that counts ;^). This is (informally) reflected in that most of the carts mentioned above are relatively low inductance/output impedance designs and of less than 3.6mV output. Mostly. Another needing mention is the Signet TK10ML, 2.2mV and the cart that introduced the ML stylus. There are those who hold the TK10 in high esteem.
Peace, |
Dear Timeltel, unfortunately Sun-Tzu ( or Sun-Zi ) died about 1 century before - so he couldn't watch Hannibal's tactics on august 2nd, 216 b.c., which turned the fury of the attack against the attacker ..... but he is certainly in accordance with Miyamoto Musashi.
Sorry - off topic. I find your descriptions and in-deep analysis of the MMs very valuable.
This is exactly what I was looking for.
Cheers,
D. |
Dear Timeltel,
having followed the recommendation going for a TK10ML I do not regret my efforts, also organizing a new styli. I do know that Halcro is not the happiest man when he looks on his unit but in my case it makes me really excited picking it out of my collection and running it in a TK9LC body with a FR-66s.
best @ fun only |
I also second Daniel's appreciation of the Professor's contributions to this thread.
I have found his encyclopedic mind....and faultless ears.....to be a guiding light for me in this honorable quest for analogue perfection :^)
His recommendation of any cartridge should never go uninvestigated and the recent mention of the Acutex LPM 310/312/315/320 is a case in point.
From the depths of Kentucky.......a well packed parcel arrived chez moi containing said mentioned Acutex :^)
A difficult run-in period (especially on the 315) saw dividends with the 312 eventually singing on the TT-101 turntable.
Mounted on my 'go-to' Yamamoto Ebony headshell in my 'go-to' multiple-adjustable MA-505S tonearm........the Acutex LPM 312 enveloped my room (and within it my ears) with a sound so lush and exciting....it is probably banned in certain states of the southern USA?
That it must be 'coloured' goes without saying :^)
If we emphasise the lower registers so that they 'hit' the guts whilst retaining a tunefulness and tightness more akin to the 'real thing' than any other cartridge I have heard...........we must have a 'coloured' sound?
If....at the same time......the midrange stuns with a realism and three-dimensionality almost unimaginable from a cartridge costing somewhat less than $10,000.......we must have a 'coloured' sound?
Add a high-frequency performance which shimmers and tingles and vibrates and shines without a hint of harshness or distortion and we must have a 'coloured sound'?
Throw in a soundstage that reaches forward and swallows you whilst showing you a room you never had behind your speakers and we must have a 'coloured sound'?
But can it really be 'coloured' when ALL these attributes are combined at the same time?
Can we really be suspicious that one cartridge can be so revealing compared to others when we see that one turntable can be?
Why are we surprised that one component can get it right whilst most others can miss the mark so badly?
OK.....so I'm drunk! But as well as being intoxicated on a fine blend of Scotch.....I am also intoxicated on a sound conjured by a small metal and plastic blob sitting on the end of my tonearm.
Will I persist with the recalcitrant LPM 315? You bet I will......why?.......because the Professor tells me to :^) |
Dear Professor, There are some 'things' which go togehter.
The Balkan humour is not without implicit premises. On
the Balkans we all are convinced that bigger is better. I always buy there watermelons of at least 6kgr...for myself that is.
Never thought that this 'national nature' will be used against me. There are those who think that showing some vulnerability is a good thing. But one should be very careful with those who quote sun-tzu.
Regards, |
|
Regards, Frogman: IMHO, nice catch. I believe you'll find the 412 has a better grip on the bass than does the very nice Azden YM-P50VL. Mids will be presented with good clarity and the HF's detailed without being worrysome.
BTW Frogman, outcome dependent, either this enthusiast paid too much or another not enough, but recently I was fortunate(?) enough to obtain from your referenced vendor a NOS LPM 415STR. Out of consideration for our thread-host, in a week or two and with a better acquaintance with these carts it might perhaps be appropriate if we continue the discussion of Acutex taxonomy over on Raul's epic thread?
In a sideways recognition of certian comments made above, Nikola would you bring along more of your outrageous Balkan exaggeration and Thuchan, of course, your delicious double entendres? And Henry, you are suspected of hyperbole-- I looked several times and there's no evidence of another room behind my speakers.
Apologies, Herr Tonarm. You've been very patient.
Peace, |
Thanks, Timeltel. Agreed, let's touch base again in a couple of weeks. |
Dear Professor, 'outrageous Balkan exaggerarion'? If you
mean the watermelon then you missed my intention. This
was an 'exit strategy statement' based on Von Clausewitz . Ie that our Balkan conviction regarding the 'bigger is better' issue apply only to the vegetables, fruit and carts. To me however some other (very) big mysteries are more interesting. The fact that no Chinese wants a daughter and the fact that no American (on ebay) want to sell abrod. While I , despite my academic education, am not able to write all the numbers needed as
a symbolic representation of American foreign debts I am very disappointed about such a conduct because I missed a.o. 4 Acutex carts this way.
Regards,
|
Dear Timeltel: I will like to see you there because I'm testing ( what a coincidence. Well, we can't stop on the jungle's hunting. ) the same Acutex model ( second hand. ) and we can goo in deep about.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R. |
Allow me to chime in and share my experience with the ruby retip of the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood.
A few years ago, I purchased a used Clearaudio Emotion turntable with Virtuoso Wood here on Audiogon. Unfortunately, it arrived with a bent cantilever. I too was curious about the ruby cantilever option while researching my options for a rebuild. I chose to give it a try.
After a few months of waiting (they are very busy at Soundsmith and the queue was fairly backed up), I received my Virtuoso with new ruby cantilever and line contact stylus. Initially I was very impressed with the increase in detail. However, over time, I found the sound to be a bit strident. I attempted several times to resolve this by changing alignment and lowering the raking angle, but to no avail.
In the end, I chose to drop back to the standard aluminum cantilever with elliptical stylus. Peter from Soundsmith was very accommodating and understanding of my situation. Upon remounting the new rebuild, I immediately heard the original romantic sound of the Viruoso Wood. It's hard for me to say if Peter's rebuild sounded better than stock because it had been so long since I first heard it. What I can say though, is to be careful when chosing the ruby cantilever option. It may work well with some carts, but I did not like the sound it made when attached to the Virtuoso. |
I was thinking just the same thing the other day a comprehensive list of survivors MC/MI cartridges. Here is my contribution far be it from the end all:
ATML 170/180
Grado The Amber Tribute
Grado TLZ
Grace Ruby
Garrot P7
Nagaoka MP 50 Super
B&O MMC2 & MMC20CL
AKG P8ES Super Nova
Audio Technica AT 15SA w/an AT 20SS stylus
Reson Reca
Astatic MF-100
Stanton 881S
Stanton 981
STANTON 991EE Pro
Supex MF-100
Acutex 310
Acutex 320
Acutex 420
Astatic MF-200
ADC Astrian
Microacoustics MA630/830
Empire 750 LTD & 600 LAC
Empire 1000 ZE/X
Sonus Dimensions 5
Adante P-76 |
I have no list but an image of my humidor... containing my favourite MIs and MMs.
best @ fun only |
Tubed1, That is a sweet list. |
Yes, Acman3 yet one must approach the quest for ancient MM/MI with a caveat as locating the cartridge is just half of the fun. In some instances the stylus may be unobtainium and this brings us to perhaps the start of a new thread with a much needed list of current present day desireable MM/MI that are currently available, yet destined to become survivors and give the Pied Piper high priced LOMC a run for their money right of off the end of the abyss. |
Hi Tubed1, You are right. 'just half of the fun' is, alas,
not a 'suficient condition' to stay away from the carts
for which any resonable chance to get the (original) stylus
is so tiny. I am waiting for the stylus for my AKG P 8 ES and Stanton 881S longer than two years. Are we too greedy perheps? Or, simply put, irrational?
Regards, |
Greedy no way! "greed is good" to some extent? Irrational, maybe we all are all in some way a little bit of that and a lot of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Agreed, two years is too long. I know this waaaay off topic however I'm curious Nandric as to your source for a stylus for the 881S as it is my current "house" cartridge and I am on the brink of placing an order with LP Gear for their version of the shibata for this unit. It saddens me at $ 167.00, I just know it just won't be the same but hey it's allegedly in stock, new, a japanese shibata and sources for the real deal STANTON stylus dried up many moons ago! |
How come no mention of the Pickering XSV 3000 and 5000 Series of cartridges? |
I found the Sound Smith CL rebuild for the Virtuoso wood to be vastly superior to the stock version. Ive had both in my system for extended listening and never found the original aluminum cantilever romantic sounding. The retip retains the CA house sound but with greater detail and tighter bass. This is of course in my system, Im sure differences heard reflect phono pre etc. Ive owned several of the previously mentioned MM's and would say the SS virtuoso is my favorite so far although I still prefer a couple of my MC's overall. |
OK. Here's a vote for the Pickering XSVs. I've got both a 3000 and a 5000. Stanton 981LZS is my fave of the Pickering/Stanton group. |
