Suggestions for replacement cartridge

Hi faz:

If you generally like the Denon, try a 103. There are several different types but I have a "Spotter's Guide To Denon" sheet if you're interested.

Best Regards,
Mark Dunn

The Monitor Audio 352s had two different tweeters during it's lifetime. Do you have the MD version or the earlier soft dome. Also the 352s just don't like NACA5 cable for some reason. There have been quite a number of threads recently mentioning this.

Yours in Music

Syd

Faz,
I have a Nait-3 driving R352s through QED79 cable and they work very well. I did try NACA5 but found it did not work with the R352s. I find these speakers need a considerable amount of toe-in to perform well but this may be a room issue rather than a more general one.

I suspect your problem is source related. I had similar problems when using a Marantz CDP, upgrading to a CD3.5 made an enormous difference and adding a hicap to it eliminated any remaining harshness. I don't know the Systemdeck, so can't really recommend anything to help you with that.

David

Thanks chaps for taking the trouble to reply.I originally got the Denon MC cartridge to overcome the muddy sound of the'A1'. The Naim amps have cleaned up the sound so I'm thinking of going back to a MM cartridge, but thanks for the offer Mark.
The 352s have the soft dome-does this make much difference Syd? I'm pretty certain the problem is source related as I've since played some old tapes recorded using a MM cartridge and the sound is much warmer. Trouble is I can't remember the make of the cartridge!
Stewart, A CD3.5 is definitely on the cards, the main problem is that it's relativley easy to audition a CD player but not a cartridge. There must be a way round this or do I just take pot luck?

faz,
If you're not already a member I'd recommend you join the PinkFish forum http://pub110.ezboard.com/fpinkfishmediafrm1
There's a whole lot of vinyl users over there and somebody may be able to give you some guidance on suitable carts for the Systemdeck. You could also try Vinyl Asylum http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html

David

Actually, both my father and I went from an A1 to Naim, in my case 32/140.

Different sound, but if you have everything set up right I don't think the Naim is too harsh.

Make sure you leave the equipment on all the time. After 3 days the sound gets better. If the sound is too bright you can change the toe-in of the speakers (straight at you gives more treble). You can also alter the room furnishings--a rug or bookshelf can soak up some treble, for instance.

I found black snaics added a lot of body, made the bass more tuneful and extended, and made the sound less harsh. I also thought Nac A5 was an improvement on A4.

If the 140 and hicap need recapping, that will clean up the sound.

As to cartridge, perhaps an Audio Technica 440ML ($100 in the US)--very clean treble, though an analytical sound. Goldrings have a lot of body. And Grados are very warm sounding, particularly in the midrange.

--Eri

Best sounding yet reasonably priced dartridge is the Sumiko Blue Point Special £200ish.
If you're anywhere near Taunton you can borrow my spare 2 try out.

j8hn

My two cents: the Systemdeck II can indeed sound hard at times. I would tend to believe an Ortofon MC cartridge might smooth things up a little, but I am unsure of their compatibility with the Linn Basik arm.

I recently listened to a DV10X5 vs an Adikt. I went for the DV, but of the two, the Adikt had the darker sound.

I think an Adikt could be a good choice. When I listened to one in Linn LP12/Lingo/Ekos (via 202/150) it certainly sounded smooth and even - unlikely to sound nasty with a lesser arm and turntable (as Linn's K9 was capable of doing).

I haven't heard a 10X5 yet so I don't have an opinion on whether it's better then the Adikt. but having unsuccessfully used its predecessor, the 10X4, in an Ittok I wouldn't dream of trying it with anything less than an Ittok - it was easily the harshest sounding cartridge I've ever owned.

--J

I've got an Ittok with DV10x4 and I certainly wouldn't describe it as harsh, even through a Nait3 which in itself can be harsh with the wrong source. I think Jeremy's right though, the Linn Basik arm wouldn't be ideal for a more revealing cartridge.

Eric's suggestion of the Goldring or Grado MM carts could be worth following up though, as they are a bit more forgiving. They're also cheaper than the Adikt, which didn't impress me at all compared with the 10x4.

David

Thanks chaps for all your generous advice.
I'd love to spend a couple of hundred quid on a cartridge but my Hi-Cap is currently with Naim for a service and this will leave me a bit short financialy. I've been following up all the leads that you've sent me on and my gut feeling is to go for an Ortofon. However I'm also going to look tweaking the turntable, alignment, VTA, etc. Interestingly enough I struggled to find anyone who rated the MA 352s so I could end up replacing these-more expense!!

I rate the 352s very highly, considering mine only cost me £100, they're the best VFM upgrade I ever bought. They are a bit long in the tooth now, so as a result are not very well known on here, but were designed by Robin Marshall. Robin then went on to found Epos, whose speakers are very popular with Naim users and other flat-earthers. The 352s were a best seller in their time and in my view are something of a classic now. Don't be in too much of a hurry to 'get-rid', certainly not just because other people (who have probably never heard them!) don't rate them - trust your own judgment

David

"Beauty is in the eye of the Beer-holder"

In an effort to try and pin-point the problem I've just borrowed a set of 1970's 'Leak' speakers. There's still an element of harshness but boy oh boy has the bass tidied itself up! Not bad for speakers half the size of the '352s'. The '352s' are currently with a friend who specialises in bespoke speaker and amplification systems.I think he's going to replace the capacitors in the cross-overs (something I've never heard anyone doing before) and look at improving the internal structure.However the more I listen to the 'Leaks'the more I wonder if the '352s' are simply too big for my modest listening room (9'X 13'). But I am still reluctant to get rid of them. Anyway,I'm off to do some more cartridge research.

If you're talking feet rather than metres, a 13x9 room does sound a bit physically cramped for the 352s notwithstanding the sonic impact. My room is about 17x13 and I find that's a bit marginal. You must find when you want to go in there, you have to move the speakers out first

You may be better to move to something smaller in the meantime, but perhaps save the 352s for the future. They're not worth much these days, so it's hardly worth selling them if you can store them somewhere. Good Luck anyway.

David