Cartridge Help

Hi Sproggle,

Thanks. I read a few of your contributions with interest yesterday.

They DO have sell the ARO, but although friendly enough seem unwilling to put the effort into doing a comparative cartridge demo.

My feelings echoe your last comment, I'm going to pop along for the Dynovector audition and then take stock.

I'll 'try' and audition the Adikt.

Audio-technica OC-9, latest model.

FWIW I used to own the DV-20 hi-output, never listened to as little vinyl as during the nearly 1 year I had it.

Along the way to the OC-9, I've used all the wood grados, an Audionote IQ-1 (great MM!), Goldring 1042 (also great), Denon DL-103 (Good, mixed strengths and weaknesses), Ortofon MC25FL (not my bag),and the previous OC-9 whose cantilever I broke while setting the suspension. The newer seems better, not sure I can put my finger on what exactly -- better low end? Smoother? For a while I thought I might prefer the 1042 but after living with both, and letting both run in considerably, the OC-9 has pulled ahead, way ahead. And the IQ-1 was probably more musical if less detailed than the 1042. The OC-9 is musical and has gobs of detail, dynamic, great PRAT (Denons and Grados need not apply).

The Dynavector was just dull

All this on a Valhalla'd LP12/Ittok LVII into Nait2 into Kans. (though a few carts including the Dynavector were also used in a Valhalla/Aro LP12 I parted with a while back).

Just my 2cents, YMMV etc. But the OC-9 just sings, and it seems to get better and better.

John

Hi Mr. Underhill and JWinston:

I believe the new OC-9 has a boron cantilever as opposed to aluminium on the older model (which I owned). Currently here in the U.S., there's some confusion regarding the price of the two types with some places selling the new one at about twice the price of the old.

I liked the OC-9 alot and kept it for a couple of years but it was maybe slightly too bright for my tastes overall. Be aware that it has a *very* delicate looking cantilever assembly.

One last point regarding both the OC-5 (which I also owned) and the OC-9 is that they both benefited much more than other catridges from regular degaussing. I used the Cardas record.

Best Regards,
Mark Dunn

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification. And yes, the new OC-9 ML2 has a boron cantilever, costs US$400 versus US$200 for the older OC-9 with the berylium cantilever.

When I liberated the stylus on my berylium cantilever OC-9 I contacted Audio-Technica and they said a $150 "retip" would get me a brand new OC-9 ML2, so I effectively paid 350 for the 400 ML2.

The first OC-9 was bright, for sure. The ML2 seems less bright. I could be imagining things of course. Then again Kans aren't ones to hide what's upstream.

An unintended upgrade but one I'm happy to have made.

I also failed to mention -- VERY low surface noise with the new OC-9.

Still not a cart for the clumsy. I hope I've learned my lesson.

John

Given how many records you have, you really ought to have a decent MC cartridge on there!!

With over 2000 records, your investment has been significant enough that a better front-end would make a lot of sense, especially if you find you don't play much of the music you have any more.

I'd suggest you compare to a £500 cartridge. Listen to things like Dynavector 17D2 (which makes a mockery of the 20X), Kontrapunkt A, Linn Klyde for an idea of what you really can get out of your extensive collection.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

quote:

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What else should I listen to?

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A Linn Adikt moving magnet cartridge. Price is 195 pounds and said to be better than a K18. This is a new cartridge and will be released this week. I will be receiving mine this week.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
Currently in the "Linn Binn"

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sproggle:


- my lack of a HiCap making me unwilling to consider the low output 20-XL.

Perhaps I'm just being stupid, but why would a HiCap influence the decision to use a low output 20-X? Surely it all depends on input boards, not on power supplies?!!

Thanks for the advice.

For info I used to use the Karma.....but had a change when children came along, and money became scarce!

I will probably demo a mid-range MC and see if I feel the upgrade bug biting.

I'll add the OC9 to my shopping list.

Thanks for the advice about Infidelity. I've used them a few times.

Again,

Thanks for the advice.

The noise floor (and other things) of the overall amp is improved with a hicap, true, but the MC boards aren't appreciably worse off compared to MM boards for the lack of a hicap.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.