****Sixteen orgasms in a row is not poetry****
Oh, yes it is! ;-) |
Dear Raul, May I suggest you could go the AT/SIGNET/PRECEPT "path" to the AT-180ML/OCC & AT-170ML/OCC ? After the 50th Ann. edition, of course. That very special modern AT interests me the most at the moment. I may very well buy one some day. I totally agree the rhythmic nature of cartridge performance is the essence to reproduce music, a very complex information. I also have heard/experienced this wonderful phenomenon. Just a very few cartridges are capable of this. Only a few, unfortunately.
As always, thank you. |
Dear Frogman: Good to read that you appreciate rythmum as an essential characteristic on music.
We can have as you said different colors in music as tonality or levels on focus and soundstage or inner detail at different levels but if the music has no rithmum then we only have sound and nothing more. It is the rythmum the one that comunicate the essence of the music it is the rythmum that " moves " our emotion and feelings it is the essence of the music the soul of the music.
You mentioned the Andante P76 that when appeared as the " week discovery " was a very nice discovery indeed. I have years with out touch it again I wish to have more time to re-evaluate so many cartridges that already pass on my hands/ears. I hope you can get a Precept in the near future, a new experience is always something nice to have.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Frogman,
"my ranking of all the MM cartridges that I own that have been discussed in this thread is:
Acutex 420 STR Empire 4000Diii Andante P76 (unfortunately, it is also way too far off the mark tonally) Acutex 412 STR AT AT-ML170OCC Azden YMP50VL"
I have not heard the 412 STR but 'I agree' with your ranking of all the others. My M420 STR was simply a revelation when it returned from Axel with its new cantilever and stylus. I really feel that the voicing and general performance characteristics that were chosen by its creators brings it amazingly close to my aesthetic and expectations of live performances. Even when I sit it along side my Technics EPC-P100C MK4 and Glanz G5 and G7, it still leaves me with one reflection: Stunning!
As always... |
Dear Lew, What I meant with licencia poetica of the Mexican kind is: the 'combo' of lyrical feelings and wishful thinking. |
Dear Dgob: IMHO you need to hear the Precept PC440LC, I think right now it's playing in its own league. Btw, the Frogman's Acutex is in original condition, I think.
I don't know yet if the AT 50o. Anniversary or the Astatic MF2500 could makes a little shadow to that Precept or any of my LOMC that are in " line " to test.
This Precept LC version is not of the WOW cartridge kind, it's simple a cartridge that makes everything right and in some ways could " surprise " us ( not WOWW. ) because almost ever we did not hear this kind of " perfection ".
The usual words as " overwhelming/stunning/marvelous " takes a new meaning. It is not easy to explain, we have to experience it to understand what I'm talking about.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Hi friends, my precept pc220 arrived with nos stylus. And also the nos Precept 440 shiba stylus., I started with the 220 today. There is nothing to add to Raul's review. One hour run in combined with ultra light arm Mission774 delivered all I can wish from cartridge. What a bottom end slam, what live music feeling, speed in percussion, full voices with little sweetness. no. No coloration, sweet voices but natural. Cymbals and Piano sounds natural as for example the Xsv 5000. But the Precept has got the rhythm, the timing, speed, dynamics. What will happen the next 20 hours? What will the pc440 offer? For me the pc 220 is already the king. Thanks to Raul and other Precept fans. |
Hi Dgob,
Your 420STR. Is it the LPM 420STR? If so, what stylus/cantilever did you have Axel install. Regards, Don |
Dear Raul, When we the 'ordinary people' make an ranking among our carts this means among 10 or so which we own. The 'best' in this context means the best of the 10. We can't compete with your + 100 carts. With this 'reduction of complexity' or simplification my ranking is: 1. Magic Diamond; 2 Benz LP S (MR)3. Kiseki blue Gold Spot. 4. Glanz 5 ; 5. AT 180 ;6. Glanz 31 L ( = Astatic MF 200 );7. Signet TK 9 CL ; 8. Stanton 981 HZL.
Regards,
|
Dear Indieroehre: +++++ " delivered all I can wish from cartridge... " +++++
that's precisely what Precept means.
Whom in AT was the responsable for the overall Precept design?, I don't know but IMHO took the best of AT/Sigtnet designs and improved it.
IMHO the Precept cartridges sounds not only different but better. You can hear the improvements easy against not only the AT/Signet cartridges but against almost any cartridge.
Obviously that the Precept revelation is welcomed and now my quality music/sound reference level goes higher and I think put a new challenge for other cartridges.
Your, Precept is a NOS so you have to wait for better " things " through more playing hours when the cartridge completely settle down.
Thank's to share those Precept's experiences.
regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Dear nandric: I can see that those LOMC cartridges outperform all your MM/MI experiences. I own too LOMC that outperform top MM/MI cartridges but when we are talking of the Precept PC440LC almost all cartridges disappear against it.
Maybe my next shoot out may be Precept vs LOMC ones.
Regards and enjoy themusic, R. |
Hi Griffithds,
All I can really say with any certainty is that Axel installed his branded cantilever and elliptical (diamant abtastnadel) stylus. If you approach him directly, he will be able to give you more details as he had voluntarily selected to amend and supply me with this upgraded version and my knowledge about the changes is therefore only based on subsequent observation.
What I can definitely say is that it presents huge amounts of detail without spotlighting any one feature; it has a very impressive dynamic range and transient speed with the ability to soothe and startle in equal measure; its staging abilities (width, depth and height) is unsurpassed in my experience and it really does give you the sense of a whole performance - even/especially with large scale and complex orchestral pieces. One possible consequence of these attributes is that the 420 now stands as the most sensitive cartridge I have ever owned. The slightest change in VTA or VTF can change the sound dramatically and so individual hearing and preferences should be easily accommodated within its available tonal colour palette. At least these are some of the features that I am experiencing with my improving system.
I hope some of this proves helpful even though I cannot directly answer your question.
As always... |
Hi Raul,
Thanks very much for your kind suggestions and I will definitely give those cartridges an audition if the opportunity presents itself. That might mean waiting for a friend to get one that I can listen to in the first instance, as my general hifi contentment (and my current focus on other related targets) leaves me unwilling to speculate on further MM/MI cartridges.
It's nevertheless great to see that new gems are still being found and providing even more listening pleasure.
As always... |
Dear friends: Through latest weeks I was " playing " with SUTs, with some good results and other not very good.
Every single SUT sounds different has its own color and my first task was to find out if those colors are " natural " music colors. From this point of view I decided to keep the Denon AU-340, Entré ET-100, Audiocraft T26 and the Denon AU-1000. I sold it the WE, the Perles/altec and the Patgridge that I don't like it.
The Denon AU-1000 is a statement of SUT if for no other thing because its size and weight. This SUT has 25cms deep and around 20cms wide and weights 12kg. I opened trying to make my usual changes ( internal wire, connectors and the like. ) but there is nothing to change, everything is shielded over shielded. It performs great and perhaps if I decided to stay with I will hard wired the IC input/output.
I owned the AT 1000T that came with four transformers ( two dedicated for the 3ohms AT MC1000 cartridge and the other two for 20ohms and 40ohms. ). This SUT was the heavy I knew with 8kg and for me this was unusual but the Denon in this regards is " something ".
With the changes I did in each SUT its performance level is " surprising " ( surprising for me. ) good and near the quality performance level og my active high gain phono stage.
Btw, when I received the Entré 100 and opened I was a little disapointed because this unit came with only one transformer to handle both channels. Anyway I make the internal changes and listen it against the other SUTs builded with two transformers looking for some kind of music degradation due to the use of only one transformer instead two as the other SUTs and I can tell you that I found out no degradation to the cartridge signal, very good SUT indeed.
This Entré experience gives me the opportunity to " build " a real two channel separate SUT running two Entré 100 units in mono fashion and this is exactly what I will do. I already bought a second Entré ET-100. Btw, this Entré and the Denon 340 gives the oportunity not only to choose cartridge load impedances and gain but handle 3 and 2 ( respectively ) cartridges/tonearms at the same time through a simple switch and of course with by-pass option too. Very user friendly I can say.
Now, that I'm in this new LOMC/SUT " game " I think that some of you that right now has no LOMC cartridges maybe is time to try it, there are several LOMC/SUT cartridges at very good/low prices that not only performs good but that outperform some of our beloved MM/MI ones.
I never left the LOMC alternative and in these times I'm listening more and more to LOMC cartridges, of course not only because its performance but because I have on test line over 20 LOMC waitng for.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
All, I hope all is well! I could use advice from those of you with the super mm cartridges. I've changed course and decided to pursue the other mm carts that might be slightly lower performers, but easier to maintain. I would appreciate any opinions on the Ortofon 540 mkii. I've heard some good things, and the replacement stylii are easily found.
Thanks in advance, Don |
Dgob interesting your acutex 420 experience. I bought a 420 and a 415 back when they were available from the home land Italy. I have not removed ether from there boxes. I will find the time to listen to the originals. Axel sure did a fine repair to my p100le and would not hesitate using his services again.
I had enjoyed my top mm/mi at 155lc with stock stylus and a 160lc stylus for some time. Now my new number one akg p100le is getting almost complete playing time. This vintage cartridge delivers with impact, a wide deep sound stage with sound from top to bottom that no particular area sticks out. Just smooth and easy listening hours on end. |
Raul, I truly admire your devotion to this hobby, you have my respect. However, how is it with such a shining example of a mm cartridge as that of the top Precept line escape the attention of importers, dealers and certain old school members of the audio press?
|
Stltrains,
The AKG P-100 LE was one of my hit list targets, as a former friend played this to amazing effect during his all too short time with us. I've never heard the P1001e though and so I'll keep an ear out for one.
The 420 (at least in my incarnation) is very sensitive to set up and so I'd give yourself time to find its best position. It does not share the warm midrange that some of the cartridges which have been seen as great/best on this thread display. However, it rewards with renditions like those experienced from a mid-stall sitting position in a live concert hall. I hope you post on your experience because I'm curious to know if my original (pre-Axel) was faulty because it did not have the degree of midrange detail that the supplied alternative does. Good luck with the auditions.
[I'm posting this response when your post has appeared as the last on this thread but suspect it might seem out of keeping by the time it passes moderation - as is too frequently the case in my posts to this thread! Gripe over]
As always... |
Dear Dgob, Is the 'branded cantilever' your own or Axel's invention? We may be wondering how it is possible for a cart to sound better after the retipping but we then may overlook the whole repair work. In my shorthand translation from Axel's video I deed mention the measurements as well as the listening test of each cart by Axel. I am not sure if he uses for the later some violin concerto or sonata but according to Axel he can determine this way if the repair is well done. So he is 'fine tuning' each cart after the actual repair. He also stated that for some carts he needs more than 2 months to get them 'right'. This probable imply repetion of the process which is actually 'fine tuning'.
Regards, |
Hi Nandric,
I am positive that you're correct and Axel's repairs include an element of retuning. That would be the only way that I can make sense of the changes that he made both to my Technics 100 Mk4 and this Acutex: the latter representing the only time that he expressed real enthusiasm in calling the returned cartridge (and its new performance) "perfect".
Of course that does leave some room for differences in outcomes but I have found nothing but happiness in his results so far.
As always... |
Dear Grbluen2: I own it but ubfortunatelly is one of those 40+ in the waiting lisetning list.
I bought because I read good things too and because is a current model. That model is the top of the line in that Ortofon cartridge series. My Ortofon experiences are all of them very good so I think you can't be wrong with the 540MK2.
Of course that a first hand experience could be better for you can decide about. I hope some one can do it here.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Erratum:
"It does not share the warm midrange that some of the cartridges which have been seen as great/best on this thread display."
Today I lowered the VTF by around half a millimetre and all the warmth that can be imagined is there. That's part of the reason why I suggest that this cartridge should be able to meet the most discerning and varied of tastes.
As always... |
Thanks Raul. I think I'll give this cartridge a try. Don |
How would Ortofon 540MKii par with Ortofon MC20 + T20 (or MCA76)? If it is as good as or better than MC20, it would be a real bargain at under $300. |
So Raul, when your musical listening pleasure lasts more than 4 hours do you seek medical attention? ;^)
But seriously, given that you initiated this post to discuss MM and MI cartridges, I would have thought you might begin a new thread to cover your findings with LOMC and SUTs? |
Dear Pryso: When I started this MM/MI thread my simple target was only to say: " there is another analog alternative named MM/MI cartridges. " and that's all. Never imagine ( not even in dreams. ) that the thread stay " live " more than two-three weeks or maybe a month and we all know what happened.
This was with an alternative where almost no one cares. Pryso do you imagine what could be happen in a LOMC/SUT alternative thread where so many persons are using for years that alternative till today?.
Days have only 24 hours and in a thread like that the target is to share all our experiences and chime on it and in the other people experiences, maybe I'm not only prepared to start a thread like that ( because of time ) but even to post down there.
Time to time I posted here about but I have a lot of information on LOMC/SUT that I can share or discuss with all of you and I wish I could but I can't. I want to learn more on LOMC and SUT but I have no more time to do it.
Right now I have mounted four LOMC cartridges that I don't hear yet because the Precept and now the AT anniversary and next the Astatic MF-2500.
The LOMC cartridge alternative is almost as exciting as the MM/MI discovery and I say " almost " because the MM/MI was a " discovery " when for me the LOMC alternative is something normal in my audio life and not a discovery.
In the other side, my experiences and opinion on the LOMC and SUT are or could be controversial and maybe we could have ( because of that. ) very " hot " discussions and that fact took from me a lot of energy I don't " have ".
Anyway, thank's to think on me for that. I will have present in my mind and who knows maybe " tomorrow " instead to post here I can start that thread ( but: I love this MM/MI thread. ).
If I was posting on LOMC/SUT subject here is only for some of us could start to enjoy that alternative that is very good one too and something different to experience.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Hi Raul, Any thoughts on the 150anv yet? It is to me more like we were expecting from an Audio Technica ML . It is still breaking in at 25+ hours.
On another note, the Reso- mat is good. Of course it will be system dependent, but worth checking out for a small amount of money. |
Dear Dgob, I hope you are in love? Otherwise I would have difficulty to grasp your second erratum: 'I lowered the VTF by around a milimetre...'. As far as I know the VTF is measured in grams. You obviously meant VTA but thought about her and got confused? There is no cart which can compete with those other feelings.
Regards, |
Dear In_shore: +++++ " how is it with such a shining example of a mm cartridge as that of the top Precept line escape the attention of importers, dealers and certain old school members of the audio press? " +++++
as many other great MM/MI cartridges the Precept even today is a " mystery ".
In those " golden years " reviewers were " concentrated " with " normal " cartridge brands as: Stanton, Technics, ADC, Empire, Pickering, AT, B&O and the like. Even the AT Signet line was almost unknowed and with almost no single cartridge review.
You can take for example the AKG P100LE and there is almost no information or any review of this gem.
In some ways I'm a " vintage " audiophile with a good knowledge level in MM/MI cartridges acquired in those old times, this is why knew what to look for when I started this thread. I owned several MM/MI cartridges that I bought again when started this new adventure.
Now, it is more easy that an audiophile has cartridge information than reviewers/dealers.
The AT owner and President here in México is a close firned of mine and thanks to him I owned every single top of the line AT/Signet cartridges, SUTs, accesories, cables, etc, etc even the Telarc recordings that in some time were distributed world wide by AT. I owned cartridges that never were marketed in America as other AT products.
Well, he never mentioned about Precept line and in all AT japanese catalogs I have there is no single reference to Precept.
Why a so especial product line as the Precept left in the darkness all these years? is something out of my mind.
At least this thread already helped to bring out many cartridges from that " darkness ". I thing we all are or have the privilege to listen/experience today the best of all those times that even with the today audio advancements are truly competitive.
regards and enjoy the music, R. |
While staging replacement of tubes at 1500 hours in my BAT VK75SE during the past week I have been astonished by the improvement in performance of the Precept 220/550ML. I'll take a hit upside the head on this. Unless one is set up to make instant comparisons between cartridges, owners of tube equipment need to factor aging tubes into their memory of cartridges. Henceforth I'm going to keep a fresh set of tubes on hand for each cartridge evaluation.
At this point I can find no fault whatsoever in Precept. |
Hi Nandric,
Yes, VTA. Incidentally, tonearm matches make an obvious but huge difference to the 420's performance. I'm currently playing around, again.
I do spare my love for more corporeal beings (or, of course, a football club) though.
As always... |
Hi Stltrains,
I suggested it was the AKG 100 LE that I had heard on my friends system. This is not the case, I've been reminded that it was in fact the Pioneer PC-1000 MkII and that gem remains on my hit list, if only to see if it performs as well in my system as my ageing memory recalls it performing in his.
As always.. |
Dave the Messenger has a very important announcement for all Audiogoners: The PRECEPT PC550ML, the new Super Nova in the AudiogoN Universe and TERMINATOR the mighty air bearing linear tracker have joined their forces. This is the turning point in History, inevitable change in Evolution. As it was predicted and as it was meant to be.
The good old Grace F-9 Ruby-OCL has finally met a true challenger. And another, the Audio-Technica AT150ANV is patiently waiting for its turn...
A new, fascinating Era has begun.
Dave, we all thank you ! |
Harold, History will reveal that Copernicus listened to the music of the spheres through a linear tonearm and that Ptolemy was a pivot guy. |
Dear Dgarretson: +++++ " At this point I can find no fault whatsoever in Precept. " ++++
that's the same I " feel " with mine. I think that that statement we have to take in its right environment, I mean that that a so dedicated audiophile as you found out no cartridge performance fault is something that in some ways can or could help to change what we are looking for when we are testing audio items and of course the high quality performance of the Precept that " runs " in a little different court.
Maybe all of you is what you are doing. In all those cartridges that I name it in other posts and that belongs to what I name NCG ( New Cartridge Generation. ) status a characteristic with all those cartridges is that " can't find out a cartridge fault ".
Normally any decent cartridge fulfil 80-85% of our quality performance level expectations and the very best goes to 90+% and the exceptional ones as the NCG Precept achieve almost 100%. This means: almost perfection.
Something that help me to have a precise opinion in audio items through comparison tests is first than all look not for what is doing well ( this is easy to discern. ) but for the item faults that we can take in count only if we have a " perfect " reference/standard to compare and discern about and then look for items in between differences.
I follow playing with the 440LC and 550ML looking for 550ML improvements due that is a NOS against the LC that is a " second hand " one. Till now nothing new happened, the LC still at the top.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Dgob the vintage gems out there are getting thin but with diging i am sure we can bring those who have been off of the radar screen to our turntables. Good luck and happy hunting. Mike |
Dear friends: Dgarretson posted +++++" While staging replacement of tubes at 1500 hours in my BAT VK75SE during the past week I have been astonished by the improvement in performance of the Precept 220/550ML. I'll take a hit upside the head on this. Unless one is set up to make instant comparisons between cartridges, owners of tube equipment need to factor aging tubes into their memory of cartridges. Henceforth I'm going to keep a fresh set of tubes on hand for each cartridge evaluation. " +++++++
his first hand experience confirm what I posted here and in other threads: to work in deep to ( with out changing/buying new audio items. ) to improve/up date each one audio system, don't be sticky with what we are hearing don't be " accustomed " with what we are enjoying.
My first hand experiences tell me that always exist a better way to make " things " to achieve " things " to have better audio system quality level performance but if we are sticky/accustom to the same because we are satisfied then we can't be aware how good is a cartridge or any other audio item experiences.
Little changes on the speakers position could help and if not always can go back to the original position, a simple change on toe in makes a difference even changind a little the seat position distance makes significative performance changes. The point is to leave that sticky/accustom attitude behind us every single day.
As room/system changes in the same manner could help changes on electronics ( fuse changes for example. ) or cables IC/speaker position or even the kind of chair we seated.
Maybe today we are putting our effort on the analog rig but we have to remember that as good are the audio links as good will be the system performance quality level. We can't enjoy in all its magnificence the analog fine tunning if the other audio system links were not fine tunned yet.
A good task is to " live " fine tunning the audio system often.
You know that my main target is to achieve the lower distortions in my system.
One " characteristic " that always help me is that my first challenge is me it self: I, first than all, always am challenged me before audio items or system performance, I always am challenging my music/sound targets. I'm not sticky to those targets, I'm questioning it " every day ".
I learned that the time makes changes per se because through the time we learn and we have to be aware of those " time changes " to reevaluate to up date our targets.
You could think I'm sticky with my system but I'm not, my system is in continuos scrutiny in continuos self challenges. I'm sticky with MUSIC only, I consider my self an audio lover more than an audiophile.
Always ask your self: hey what if what I learned in that audio subject is wrong?. As Dgarretson ones told me when I was questioning him because an opinion change by it self: Raul, I have the right to improve.
Yes, all we have the right to improve: be free and enjoy audio freedom way of thinking even non-orthodox way of thinking.
I'm convinced that in any analog system the quality performance system limitations are everywhere but the cartridge it self.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Dgarretson, thanks for your comments re the Precept; I hope to find one for myself. But, I have a question about your most recent comments; and this is taking your comments at face value. How did you ascertain that your very positive reaction was not, at least in part, due to the replacement of tubes; which appears to have been done at the same time as your assessment of the Precept? |
Frogman, Sorry I was unclear. The perceived improvement in the cartridge was due to the retubing. It's not a deep insight, but a reminder(as Raul notes in several other contexts) of the sometimes undetected elephants in the room that bias reviewing. I can't recall reading any reviews in which retubing is explicitly mentioned. However the effect of replacing aging tubes may be more dramatic than the difference between some of the great cartridges of this thread. |
Ditto to what Dave and Raul wrote. I periodically get ambitious and do things to improve in one way or another the circuitry (most often the power supplies) of my audio equipment. You would be surprised to learn how much difference a better power supply configuration can make to the sound of a given circuit. The point is that every time I do any such upgrades, I need to re-evaluate everything else, because I will hear things I did not hear before or differences that were previously inaudible. (Not every "upgrade" is an upgrade, of course. Some of the things I have tried have needed to be undone, a step in the wrong direction.) The most profound revelation (a real up upgrade) was last year after I made major changes to the input circuit of my ESLs. |
Dear Lewm: +++++ " The point is that every time I do any such upgrades, I need to re-evaluate everything else, because I will hear things I did not hear before ..... " +++++
yes, that's true and I go even one step further because I make a system set up re-set tests.
Yes too, power supply in electronics is like gasoline in a car, with better octane/quality gasoline your car performs better.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Dear friends:What a hard task was this Precept PC440LC against the Audio Technica AT150ANV, almost " frustating ".
The 440LC is anchored to the JVC tonearm. I mounted the 150ANV in the Grace G-940 unipivot tonearm through my propietary headshell design. The cartridge is running with 1.5grs on VTF, slightly positive VTA/SRA and my usual 100K on load impedance with 350pf added and with no antiskating in both tonearms.
I found out a difference of around 1db lower SPL in the 440LC but that level was even trhough the comparison tests.
First playing tracks were awful to listened for say the least, the sound generated by the 150ANV was not only overbright and with high sibiling in the voices but with no deep bass along bass overhang. I was disappointed because those problems were promineents and I was thinking never could fixed at all.
Ten additional hours started to fix the problems till disappear totatilly and then the 150ANV came to shows its shining and fenomenal quality level performance that put on in that NCG unique niche.
Test after test both cartridges were performing extremely similar top to bottom, with accuracy, great rythmum and full music color. Asking for no more.
For some moments on either cartrridge I just forggoten the track comparison test and just follow enjoying the whole LP with that cartridge, this happened more than twice ocasions.
Both cartridges are so good that in a moment whom cares which better if any and the only you want is to follow listening to that fenomenal quality perfromace level.
Hearing this kind of level performance I applaud my self to be never sticky to my system and to always stay in " action/movement " with up-dates because when we attain the kind of system resolution with so lower distortions and so near perfect accuracy you only can say: thak's to your self to take care evry single day on that system hardware up dates.
The comparison was " frustating " because it was it still is to hard to have a winner. The differences are almost non-existent and some times you thing the 440LC is clearly a top and in other test the winner is the 150ANV.
Both cartridges make everything right at the same level, top to bottom perform very similar with the same rythmum and tone color. It has in that way because are " sisters " perhaps different " father " but sisters at all.
The 150ANV represent IMHO the best and latest MM/MI tecnology example if for not other thing for the cartridge build materials: titanium body, sapphire cantilever, latest ML stylus shape, advanced wire coils, etc, etc. The 440LC represent IMHO a clear example of the AT " old school " dedicated to the excellence that unfortunately almost no one canned to appreciated in those years not only because the audio system technology was at lower level than today but because was almost an unknow cartridge for the audiophiles.
This clear example of two years-separate cartridge technology that performs almost the same can or not confirm what I posted several times by years: that at cartridge, tonearm and TT level audio technology had or has almost no real improvements in quality performance level. Yes, " better " build materials and maybe some " fresh " ideas but at the end no real quality performance improvements.
Frogman, I think that today is more hard to find out the Precept 440LC or 550ML than the curent model AT150ANV. I invite no I urge you and all of you too to buy the 150ANV while last. Remember that's a limiteed edition and AT really mean it. Still the lower price source is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Technica-Stereo-Cartridge-AT150ANV-/350714266581?pt=US_Record_Player_Turntable_Parts&hash=item51a83303d5
don't miss it.
What could justify the 8K+ dollars for the Lyra Atlas or the Ortofon Anna or the Universe II or those 15k+ of the Goldfinger against the humble 0.670K dollars from the AT. I know that the Goldfinger can´t even the 150ANV/440LC quality performance level, I don't have the opportunity to hear the other LOMC top cartridges but I hear its little brothers/second step down and can't even those glorious MM vintage and today examples.
Returning to that frustating comparison I have to use additional listening time and additional LP tracks to have a veredict.
I look every single quality performance characteristic from: endless high frequencies, transparency over the frequency range, inned detail, layering, SPL layering, deep bass, mid bass, lower mid range, mid range, balance, dynamics, rythmum, music flow, tracking habilities, etc, etc. ( btw, the 150ANV is a " so so " tracking the Telarc 1812 where the 440LC is just sensational. ). I try every kind of music type: symphony level, single instruments as piano/guitar/violin/voices, chorus, jazz trios, jazz orchestas, pop music, Masekela, sopranos, tenors, rock and even heavy metal. In all those kind of music both cartridges performs the same and very dificult to incline for neither. Well, there are differences but each cartridge performance is right you can't say wich is near the live event because both are at the same level. Perhaps the only way to say it is to been in the recording sessions to be sure.
Suddenly I took the Shefield Lab Drum Record that has two different tracks ( side 1 and side 2 ) with two different performers and with different brand similar instruments ( drum set/battery. ). This recording is a D2D one with a level of resolution and level of good recording engenering second to none. The impact of either instrument through an audio system is astonishing a with a so real event feeling second to none. If you have the system then this is the recording for.
The recording is very demanding and the instruments cover almost the full frequency range and because are " solo instruments " inside the whole instrument: cymbals or the snare for example gives you the opportunity to have an in deep scrutiny in an audio items comparison. At least is what I think about.
Where resides the difference that inclined the balance one way or the other? not at the extreme frequency ranges as usually but at one very specific range where one cartridge put more " energy " ( not SPL. ) than the other. I been aware a " little " of this in the Jim Keltner improvisations ( side 1 ) in his kick drum/snare instrument and that I confirmed in the more easy to be aware side 2 Ron Tutt improvisations. Why in this side 2? because here the Ron Tutt instrument is a little on the dark/warm side and not so damped like the J.Keltner one.
Well, the 440LC has a more real " live " energy in the low mid range/upper mid bass that we can be aware only through a comparison, even if you hear the 150ANV can't detect that little lower energy. This lower " energy " gives the frequencies in that range a little tiny " softness " against the little more real 440LC performance.
Can that difference represent or incline the balance to the 440LC?, I don't think so because that IMHO is not a fault in the 150ANV design but maybe that the 440LC is a better rider than the 150ANV and reflects here.
Yes, both outperforms the 550ML and today both are for me the reference standard to beat if any cartridge out there wants to be " the best ".
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
" not so damped " is an error, is has to say: " not so alive " as the JK one ".
I'm in love with both cartridges at the same level. Has no preference for either.
Oh yes, the 150ANV is very good looking item and hands off the " ugly " 440LC.
R. |
I forgot, I tested both cartridges in those two tonearms with the same result.
Btw, now I understand wht Sarcher30 bought not only one 150ANV sample but two!, good for him.
R. |
Glad you like the AT-150ANV Raul. After I got my first one I did not see the sense in lusting after 10k+ carts anymore.
For those that do pick one up make sure to load it higher than 47k if you can to get the most out of it. |
Whoops. Meant so you can get the most out of it. It would not let me edit for some reason. |
Raul, two posts up from this one, you do say that you swapped the cartridges between the two tonearms with no significant change in your results. Correct? |
Dear Lewm: Yes, is correct. Seems to me that both cartridges are " easy " tonearm to tonearm. I which to have more time to test on other tonearms.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Dear Sarcher30: ++++ " For those that do pick one up make sure to load it higher than 47k if you can to get the most out of it. " +++++
years ago I decided to load MM/MI cartridges over 47K and finished in 100kohms with great success. I tried other values in between but 100k is fine for me.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Wouldn't it be great if the moderators simply redacted any post(s) that didn't meet their unusually high standards. I feel like I'm in freakin' China. Don |