Cartridge for LP12/Aro revisited...
Posted by: Top Cat on 16 June 2003
Hi folks.
I've been trying with some success to mate my Clearaudio Sigma Gold MC to an LP12/Aro, but am coming to the conclusion that the match is never going to do either the Aro or the cartridge justice - due mainly to a combination of overhang and weight. However, despite this I'm getting decent results - just not what I'm sure the LP12/Aro is capable of.
Anyway, as I'm selling my Clearaudio deck (Evolution, made Aug 2001, with parallel tracking tonearm - anyone interested please create a private topic) I think I may also sell this cartridge. It is one fantastic cartridge but probably would be best left with the deck in all fairness.
So, I've had a hunt about and see a few names for cartridges turning up with regularity:
Lyra Lydian Beta
Lyra Helikon
Dynavector DV17D2-mkII
...and I think people have blown hot and cold about them all, which makes me think that proper setup is probably more important than which cartridge (within a reasonable range) - i.e. a badly setup Helikon probably sounds worse than an optimal Lydian, I would think.
So, cartridge choice is going to be based on (a) price, (b) ease of setup and of course (c) sound. However, I can't really hear any of them before buying due to lack of dealers, so I think a leap of faith might be required.
Are any of these cartridges particularly suitable or unsuitable for the Aro? Particularly with regard to getting an optimal balance and with optimal overhang?
Also, I've noticed some dealers on the net offering trade-ins, but I don't know whether trade-ins are restricted to upgrades within a particular brand. Has anyone gone down this route?
Ta,
John
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."
I've been trying with some success to mate my Clearaudio Sigma Gold MC to an LP12/Aro, but am coming to the conclusion that the match is never going to do either the Aro or the cartridge justice - due mainly to a combination of overhang and weight. However, despite this I'm getting decent results - just not what I'm sure the LP12/Aro is capable of.
Anyway, as I'm selling my Clearaudio deck (Evolution, made Aug 2001, with parallel tracking tonearm - anyone interested please create a private topic) I think I may also sell this cartridge. It is one fantastic cartridge but probably would be best left with the deck in all fairness.
So, I've had a hunt about and see a few names for cartridges turning up with regularity:
Lyra Lydian Beta
Lyra Helikon
Dynavector DV17D2-mkII
...and I think people have blown hot and cold about them all, which makes me think that proper setup is probably more important than which cartridge (within a reasonable range) - i.e. a badly setup Helikon probably sounds worse than an optimal Lydian, I would think.
So, cartridge choice is going to be based on (a) price, (b) ease of setup and of course (c) sound. However, I can't really hear any of them before buying due to lack of dealers, so I think a leap of faith might be required.
Are any of these cartridges particularly suitable or unsuitable for the Aro? Particularly with regard to getting an optimal balance and with optimal overhang?
Also, I've noticed some dealers on the net offering trade-ins, but I don't know whether trade-ins are restricted to upgrades within a particular brand. Has anyone gone down this route?
Ta,
John
TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."