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Decca cartridge experiences

I really don't expect any response to this as the issue of Deccas, and all the controversies they stirred up is now passé, but does anyone out there own and use a Decca, and if so, did you find a tonearm which will accomodate it? I'd appreciate it if anyone shared their experiences with it, good or bad. I've found two tonearms in which it will work well: one a Mayware tonearm in which it works superbly, and one a Maplenoll air-bearing 'table with fluid damping trough, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting this combo to work again (I've only recently re-acquired the Maplenoll)...I'll have to fiddle with viscosity, amount of fluid and so on.

To all those who haven't had a chance to hear this cartridge, and who like to experiment and have fun (and tear their hair out), then a Decca still has the most slam of any cartridge, and retrieves an incredible amount of detail from the groove. Though these days it no longer sells for pocket change (the Super Gold goes for $850, but there are cheaper models), it's still not in the stratosphere like so many others. It is dificlt to find a tonearm which will accomodate it as well.

I'd appreciate as well any experiences with the new versions, as I hear the new stylus profile makes it less difficult. I think the responses will be "0", but any cartridge which stirred up this much controversy (at least a while ago) is Good News, like the Shelter (which is far more accomodating, however)...Thank you for your attention, if any attention there is...
johnnantais
andromedaaudio
170 posts
 
Hi ssollman try prescense audio UK , they are the official worldwide distributeur and they can give you the info how to get the repairs done officially by the cartmaker himself .

They are by far the best carts ive heard and for far less the price .

They do need a very stable playbackplatform i suspect as they are very microphonic , sensitive
ssolman
16 posts
 
That is good to know. This is a "Stereophonic London ffss Pickup" Type 1000. I believe it was sold as a package tonearm with cartridge. The cartridge body is black and the emblem on the top reads London ffss.
gp49
52 posts
 
The "Stereophonic London ffss 1000" is a Decca Mk 1. Sold integral with the Decca tonearm; that name (London) was used on exports to the USA, marketed by Scott (yes, H.H.Scott) as the "London-Scott."

You can actually see a picture of the London-Scott 1000 on some London blueback LPs!
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Ssolman,

You can email John Wright at

john@jwaservices.plus.com

He normally answers his emails within a day. If you send the cartridge to Brain Smith at Presence Audio, he will just send it to John.

Best wishes,

Charlie
ph5y
10 posts
 
I have never heard a Decca cartridge but hope to some day. I lament the passing of the Garrott Brothers who sound like true idealists. Some of you might be interested to know that there was a lot of publicity in the American 'mainstream' hi-fi press when the Decca first came out, which was either in the sixties or early seventies - I'm getting senile. As most (all?) of you know, it went strongly against then-current orthodoxy by being low-compliance, requiring a high tracking force, and preferring high mass arms. There was a lengthy discussion and favorable review in Stereo Review or High Fidelity, or perhaps in the Equipment Buyers' Guide brought out annually by High Fidelity in those days. They did not dispute Decca's assertion that its cartridge would not cause greater record wear, and referred excitedly to the cartridge's absolutely 'hair-trigger' transient response. This is one of many examples of the mid fi press departing from its alleged Philistine objectivism. Anyway, some of you may be interested to chase down this review which included measurements. If I had a copy I'd offer to post it but if I still have it I don't know where I put it. If one takes the Garrott Brothers' views as defining the standard specification for the cartridge it would be interesting to lay this standard out precisely, since it may be that the original spec is not now available but could be replicated at an acceptable cost.
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