2. analog
  3. 191646-118844

Time for a new cartridge

My current cartridge which is a Van Den Hul DDTII Special MC is starting to lose it's zing. Details are not as sharp as they were and overall I think I'd like something fresh. My tt is a VPI Prime with the 10" JMW Memorial tonearm. My phono stage is a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista Vinyl. My amp is a McIntosh MA8950 integrated. My speakers are Sonus Faber Cremona M. I have 2 KEF R400B subs, which I think compliment the Cremona's. I've emailed VDH and they said they would do a re tip and get it back to where it was, but I'm thinking maybe it's time for a different sound. With the info I've provided I'd like some alternatives. My budget is around $2500.

128x128chasda

Showing 2 responses by pindac

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

If your Cart's 'ZING' floats your boat.

Then why look elsewhere, it might just need to be reintroduced through a additional attention.

The Cart' can be inspected for suitability for being overhauled.

A Typical Overhaul inclusive of shipping is usually under $500

At 1000 hours of replays as a predicted life before the 'ZING' issue manifests once more, the replays will be approx' $00.50c per hour.

50c a Replay is to myself Bargainsville.

Seems attractive compared to entering the unknown at a replay cost of appro' $3.00 per hour.  

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

I have heard the DS Audio Grand Master on a very expensive system on a few occasions and have not been impressed.

On the first occasion the Grandmaster was immediately followed in use by a New Design rebuilt Cart' with very little hours of usage.

I and some of the attendees were quick to point out their impression with the rebuilt Cart'. After the demo', some attendees were giving a private personal appraisal where the rebuilt Cart' was being referred to as excellent and much better than the Grandmaster.

I was also instrumental in the encouraging the owner of the Grandmaster, to be  buying into a New Design of Generator for it, which I never got to listen to as of yet.

   

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