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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 16:12:32 GMT
I am thinking of trying a MC Cartridge, and have narrowed it down to three potential cartridges, possibly four.
is it worth getting an MC cartridge for this type of money, or do you need to spend more for a decent one? My three shortlisted cartridges are Hana SL AT33PTG/II Quintet Black.
I am looking for an improvement on my 2M Black and AT150MLX, and also experiencing what an MC cartridge is capable of.
The reason I ask, is that there are some very good MM cartridges for this kind of money, so,if it was your £500, what would you go for?
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Post by MartinT on Apr 5, 2016 16:15:45 GMT
AT33PTG-II.
Job done.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 5, 2016 16:22:57 GMT
I have recently acquired an AT33PTG-II and am so far very happy with it indeed.
The AT is neutral in presentation, very revealing and dynamic. As ever, it all depends on partnering with the right SUT / head-amp. In my system there was a night and day difference between the Lentek head amp and the Fidelity Research FRT-3 which I'm now sticking with.
It isn't the very best for surface noise but that is the only minor gripe so far. The extended treble is something I hadn't previously enjoyed in my system.
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Post by mikeyb on Apr 5, 2016 16:33:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 16:42:18 GMT
I have seen that already thanks, which is why the PTG is on the list.
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Post by hifi_dave on Apr 5, 2016 16:56:51 GMT
Hana SL and £53 change to buy records.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 19:57:49 GMT
Hana SL and £53 change to buy records. The AT33PTG is only £325 posted. It's quite tempting to be honest.
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Post by The Brookmeister on Apr 5, 2016 20:03:45 GMT
you have heard the other 2 then have you chief?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 5:16:44 GMT
After a bit of a back to back test between the 2M Black and AT150MLX,mI think I am going to scrub the QB off the list. Now do I buy a cartridge that I have never (knowingly) heard a product from that manufacturer, or one where I have heard a product.
I am really interested in feedback from someone who has heard both the AT150MLX and the Hana SL, if anybody has?
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Post by MartinT on Apr 6, 2016 5:19:39 GMT
you have heard the other 2 then have you chief? The specific question was "what would you go for". Chief.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 6, 2016 6:05:19 GMT
With that sort of lolly to spend, I'd be seriously considering doing something else entirely from what you are thinking of. I would be wondering whether my tonearm is suitable to take a Decca Maroon. Not much help if you must have a moving coil though.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 7:33:07 GMT
Never heard a Decca either.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 6, 2016 7:34:09 GMT
You really should try to. There's nothing like it.
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Post by dsjr on Apr 6, 2016 13:46:41 GMT
Decca's need care in setup, as they're often opposite to everything else. You either need a Deccapod or gloop between cartridge top and red fixing bracket (which is now four pins I believe) and they're STILL VERY UNRELIABLE, losing channels or falling apart at the slightest whim, even the top models with fancy cases! Very sad in the early 21st century to be saying this. The arm lateral bearings really need a touch of damping, either by friction or fluid means and I'm going to give a shout for NAS tonearms as they were designed from the outset with Decca's in mind. Lower cast Maroon or Gold models can have a sharp 19 - 20k resonance which can affect some phono stages, making them overload and/or oscillate on ticks and splats. the Microscanner I still have suppressed these resonances and lateral wobble aside, the behaviour is superb, although it failed and needed a new lateral coil.
Having said the above, get a good Decca working properly in an arm it likes and you'll find very little indeed that sounds closer to master tape - and I've done the comparison, so don't feel this is merely opinion! Many cartridges to me, seem to put a slight halo on things imo, especially on the unspoken channel (to coin a decades old term). Instruments on extreme left have a sort of ambient 'halo' placed on the extreme right and vice versa and this may not always be there in the recording. Nice effect though and another reason why vinyl is still loved in many quarters as it sort-of 'blends' a multi-mono recording mix.
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Post by Barrington on Apr 6, 2016 17:59:05 GMT
I bought my AT33EV off him , as have many others .
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 19:21:13 GMT
I am adding myself to that list.
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Post by Greg on Apr 8, 2016 20:13:22 GMT
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Apr 8, 2016 20:19:09 GMT
With that sort of lolly to spend, I'd be seriously considering doing something else entirely from what you are thinking of. I would be wondering whether my tonearm is suitable to take a Decca Maroon. Not much help if you must have a moving coil though. Have one of those, though it's down in one channel. Must get it fixed..
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Barry
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Post by Barry on Apr 10, 2016 20:09:47 GMT
With that sort of lolly to spend, I'd be seriously considering doing something else entirely from what you are thinking of. I would be wondering whether my tonearm is suitable to take a Decca Maroon. Not much help if you must have a moving coil though. I'm assuming you are referring to your Zeta arms (plural - greedy bugger! ). Rest assured, the Decca cartridge will work very well in the Zeta arms; Decca cartridges were used during the development of the Zeta arm. The Zeta arm was designed and made by GB Engineering, manufacturer of the GB mounting block for Decca cartridges (Mk. V and VI.)
The Decca 'Maroon' (aka the Decca 'Plum' in the US) was a version of the Mk. V (the 'Blue') which enjoyed a more careful build standard and attention to workmanship from the outset, unlike the Decca 'Grey', which were hand selected samples of the Decca 'Blue' picked out for export (and hence also known as the Decca 'Export'). Like the Blue and Grey, the Maroon was fitted with a spherical tipped stylus
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 10, 2016 20:13:37 GMT
Hello stranger! I actually knew that the Zeta would work well, Barry, I was referring to Mr Custard's (the OP) arm.
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