Which wood Grado

last_lemming: I too have an SL1200GR and Thiel 2.4s and I have a Grado Sonata that sounds pretty good through the rig (Manley amplification). I also have an Ortofon Black that is priced similarly and I think it is a superior cartridge compared to the Sonata. The Black has a shibata stylus and retrieves far more high frequencies than does the Sonata. The mat I use is Herbie’s Way Excellent - 4 mm http://herbiesaudiolab.net/ttmat.htm

last_lemming: Across those frequency ranges you cited I think they compare well, with some slight differences, given that the styli are quite different profiles. What I like about the Ortofon is that, while the mids and upper/mid bass have the same overall sweetness of the Grado, the Black has quite a bit more texture simply because it pulls out the higher frequency overtones of timbre from instruments and vocals in those ranges. Also, in the deep bass, again, texture is a big part of note definition, along with fullness of character, and I always prefer hearing a balance of note details over a solely booming or somewhat veiled bass note. Don’t get me wrong, I greatly enjoy listening to the Sonata for some 70s recordings that need "warming up," say, Yes,’ Tales From Topographic Oceans or some of the original American Reprise pressings from that era, perhaps Young’s, After The Goldrush or Tull’s, Aqualung. With the Black, you hear it all and if accuracy and detail are important, then this would be my choice. If "warming up" less than stellar pressings is important to you, then the Sonata may be the ticket. It’s largely about the stylus profile; my hunch is that if the stylus on the Black were able to be installed on the Sonata, these cartridges would be much closer in sonic signature. Sadly, Grado doesn’t publish the specs of its styli and my guess is that they are no higher a profile than 0.3 X 0.7 mil. And what’s with that? I mean even Shure, Stanton and Pickering offered high profile styli. C’mon Grado; disclose already!
Hope this helps.
Steve