What is it in MM that can give me goose-bumps? 🤔
@anthonya @chakster what do you think about xsv3000 Pickering? or v15 I already have Stanton 780 and epc 205 ciiL and akg pm25 on the way... In 1977 the XSV/3000 was Pickering’s first cartridge with the Stereohedron diamond. It was a totally new stylus shape at that time: "This new cartridge makes possible a wider, more open, fines sound - because it maximizes stereo tracing capabilities with the slightest, lightest touch a record ever had. It increases record life because force is spread over a greater contact area. And that means the least record wear achievable in these times (with a stereo cartridge)." In 1979 Pickering introduced an improved version called XSV/4000 and it was in production line until 1993. The XSV/4000 is much better than earlier XSV/3000 mainly because of the lower tip mass and higher compliance, wider frequency response. Then Pickering introduced even better next model (XSV/5000) with Stereohedron mk II stylus tip, and low impedance models such as XLZ/4500 and XLZ/7500 but it’s another story. The Stereohedron tip design is the result of long research in extended frequency response for tracing of high frequency modulations. Like its cousin, the Quadrahedral, the STEREOHEDRON stylus is shaped to provide an enlarged area of record groove contact, while providing the ability to accurately trace the high frequency, the level modulations found on today’s records, thus, the Stereohedron stylus provides superior performance which low stylus wear and low record wear for your stereo records. As far as i know, chronologically, Pickering XUV/4500Q with Quadrahedron stylus for CD-4 records was the predecessor of the Stereohedron series. The first Stereohedron series was the XSV/3000 model. Reading an old review I noticed that Stereohedron was preferable over Quadrahedron for stereo records. In other words even XSV/3000 was better than XUV/4500Q and XSV/4000 is better than XSV/3000. The Stereohedron has a large bearing surface which is distributed over a large portion of the modulated groove, and at the stated optimum tracking force of 1.2 grams, the actual force per unit area is, of course, much less and should significantly contribute to the longevity of recordings. A cartridge is only a link between the cold, lifeless excursion of the record groove and live, rich sound coming from the speakers. Your entire sound system will perform only as good as your cartridge does! Pickering cartridges manufactured at Pickering & Company, INC (Sunnyside Boulevard, Plainview, N.Y. 11803). Mr. Pickering was one of the founders of the Audio Engineering Society in 1948, was George Szell’s recording consultant, researched violin acoustics and constructed more than fifty vioins and violas and was active in the Violin Society of America. He also worked on ultrasound eye imaging with the technique’s inventor. After the war ended in 1945, Pickering met Mr. Stanton - an engineer who said he could sell all of the pickups he could build. So with some friends he went into business in Oceanside, Long Island and sure enough as many as he could build were quickly sold at first only to radio stations. But by 1947 the demand from high-fidelity fanatics was strong enough for what’s now called a ‘cartridge’ and Pickering & Company was formed to meet the new hobby’s demands. Mr. Stanton invented the interchangeable needle grips Pickering used. By the 1960 Stanton purchased Pickering & Company. He later established Stanton Magnetics Inc in 1961, and soon invented his legendary Stereohedron stylus tip in the 70’s. He was the chairman and president of both Pickering & Co and Stanton Magnetics Inc, designed some amazing cartridges until 1998, then Mr.Stanton sold both companies... Denon DA-401 is great tonearm for high compliance cartridges. If you’re looking for Victor then check UA-7045 If you want Stanton then look for 881, 980 or 981 , make sure the stylus is genuine Stereohedron first or mk2 version. |
@chakster thank you for listing out. I always wondered what's the fuss. I'm one that agree with your thoughts on this had a friend for experiment with very expensive gear and Mc setup. tried a high end mm. it just blew his mind with 1/7 th of the cost. it's different but what matters it's music. it's way way easier to make music. Mc had always been very tough unless u get everything every thing right. it doesn't really deliver music wise if not done correctly . as I heard good Mc before. but mostly worse than digital audio. I always tease them, is this music or just excitable sound? why bother what happens in extreme frequency and there is more data in the 10k to 100hz region. of course good MM can go beyond that but doesn't over cook the frequency extreme Thus we also conclude this debate ourself |
I must admit that not every MC is bad and not every MM is good. I prefer some top vintage MM (NOS) because of the obvious difference in performance (and cost) compared to modern MC carts. I don’t like modern MM cartridges, most of them does not have that magic. Same about most of the modern tubes (vintage NOS always better). I like some vintage LOMC too, but they are definitely much more expensive than great vintage MM, and more expensive than some modern MC too. |
