What Cartridge(s) Is Everyone Using

[yawg]

Vintage high end

Dynavector cartridges are very popular over here in 'the old country'. Nice consistent gains in sound quality as you move up the range. The XX2 mk2 which I use seems to be the cut off before the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

FWIW my 39-years-old Empire MI cart model 4000 DIII beat my Dynavector XX2 Mk II hands down. No kidding.

I used the DV cart with a DV P-75 Mk II phono preamp into the line-in of my Audio Exklusiv P2 preamp and using the Empire with the built-in phono preamp of my P2, both in the original arm of my 1975 Empire Troubador. Maybe it's the arm or the phono preamp or both but i doubt it. The German made P2 is an SS of 80s vintage.

I also found other vintage stuff superior to current "high-end" stereo equipment. It's a jungle out there, can't trust the reviews in commercial magazines ...

Good luck finding the "real thing"

 

[MylesBAstor]

FWIW my 39-years-old Empire MI cart model 4000 DIII beat my Dynavector XX2 Mk II hands down. No kidding.

I used the DV cart with a DV P-75 Mk II phono preamp into the line-in of my Audio Exklusiv P2 preamp and using the Empire with the built-in phono preamp of my P2, both in the original arm of my 1975 Empire Troubador. Maybe it's the arm or the phono preamp or both but i doubt it. The German made P2 is an SS of 80s vintage.

I also found other vintage stuff superior to current "high-end" stereo equipment. It's a jungle out there, can't trust the reviews in commercial magazines ...

Good luck finding the "real thing"

I would begin looking at the arm. Seriously.

 

[yawg]

Empire tone arm

I would begin looking at the arm. Seriously.

No need when I'm happy with that arm, nothing wrong with it. It's very heavy with a very low resonance. Good bearings, statically and dynamically balanced with an individually calibrated clock spring for the VTF.

The XX2 needs a heavy arm for best performance. The 4000 DIII should "normally" need a light arm as it is high-compliance but performs excellent in the Empire arm, too - it was the standard that came with the Troubador TT. I've been using that table for 39 years now on an almost daily basis - with many different cartridges.

It's a shame all that old know-how is lost and today prices are extreme for just decent carts. BTW you can find quite a lot about the old school cartridges from the 70s in different audio forums e.g. a guy on Audiogon, his moniker is Raul, who can tell you a bit about his experiences with old carts. He owns some quite impressive tables and arms

P.S.: I've listened to many other high-end tables and never found one that bettered my Empire. Every time I buy or swap used stereo equipment I bring my Stax headset for a "neutral" evaluation.

 

[Pearuser1]

I've found the real thing friend. My system is fantastic and all less than 5 years old. FWIW your Empire cartridge mustn't have any rubber in the suspension. It's widely accepted that those that have start to degrade at around 5 years regardless of hours use.

 

[yawg]

FWIW your Empire cartridge mustn't have any rubber in the suspension. It's widely accepted that those that have start to degrade at around 5 years regardless of hours use.

I'm very astonished myself and see the mint performance of my cartridge as a real miracle.

Just don't believe that every "commonly accepted fact" is the truth. Personal experience is the real thing. It will grow on you

 

[PeterA]

I'm very astonished myself and see the mint performance of my cartridge as a real miracle.

Just don't believe that every "commonly accepted fact" is the truth. Personal experience is the real thing. It will grow on you

I recently inserted my old Denon DD table that I used for five years in the mid 80s and was astonished at how good it actually sounded in my current system. But, after switching the LP back to my current production SME table/arm and Air Tight cartridge combination, I quickly realized that it was not nearly as good in any area, especially at sounding like the real thing. I know there is a huge difference in price, but there was no comparison.

 

[Pearuser1]

I'm very astonished myself and see the mint performance of my cartridge as a real miracle.

Just don't believe that every "commonly accepted fact" is the truth. Personal experience is the real thing. It will grow on you

Don't be a dip stick yawg. I've owned good hifi for 30 years

 

[yawg]

Sorry if I offended anyone here. I don't claim to be the most experienced audio nut or own the best equipment. My point was that almost 40 year old gear - in this case the top-of-the-line quadraphonic MI Empire cartridge that cost about 150 US dollars in 1975 - is still up there in SQ with the best moving coils of today.

I think that's very interesting. Plus in my case using my old equipment I found that this old moving iron even beat my beloved Dynavector XX2 Mk II. By "beat" I mean better dynamics and resolution - not only subjectively perceived "better sound", "sweetness" or what have you. Now that is absolutely amazing ...

So all I want is suggest that people who have the time and interest look for these old treasures before they are all gone and try them in their "superior" tables and arms. Apparently the Empire 4000 DIII is not the only one, there are also interesting Audio Technica and others. Check out Raul's hitlist

 

[number95]

Ikeda Kai mounted on Ikeda IT-407 tonearm. Kai is my reference cartridge.

 

[audioarcher]

View attachment 15669

Ikeda Kai mounted on Ikeda IT-407 tonearm. Kai is my reference cartridge.

Welcome to WBF. Nice cart. Have not heard it but would like to. If I may ask, what is the rest of your system? Pic's always welcome.

 

[number95]

Hello Audioarcher. My system is as follows: Acoustic Solid Royal t/t, Ikeda 407 & Graham Elite tonearms, Ikeda Kai & Miyajima Kansui, Transfiguration Orpheus cartridges, ARC Ref Ph 10 phono stage, ARC Ref 10 preamp, ARC Ref 610T power amps, B&W 800 speakers, EMM Labs XDS1 V2 player, Transparent Ref MM2 cabling, Shunyata Ztron Anaconda cords & Triton & Typhon, SRA Scuttle racks & Ohio XL2 bases, RPG diffusors. Some of the photos may not be most recent (Ref 2 SE seen at the photo etc).

 

[audioarcher]

View attachment 15670View attachment 15671View attachment 15672View attachment 15673View attachment 15674

Hello Audioarcher. My system is as follows: Acoustic Solid Royal t/t, Ikeda 407 & Graham Elite tonearms, Ikeda Kai & Miyajima Kansui, Transfiguration Orpheus cartridges, ARC Ref Ph 10 phono stage, ARC Ref 10 preamp, ARC Ref 610T power amps, B&W 800 speakers, EMM Labs XDS1 V2 player, Transparent Ref MM2 cabling, Shunyata Ztron Anaconda cords & Triton & Typhon, SRA Scuttle racks & Ohio XL2 bases, RPG diffusors. Some of the photos may not be most recent (Ref 2 SE seen at the photo etc).

Thanks. Very nice system you have there.

 

[audioarcher]

vdH Colibri XGP on Schroder LT



This Colibri is around .15mv

I recently had a chance to try the Lyra Delos in my system for a couple of days. This is the first Lyra I have heard in my own system. Surprisingly transparent and tracks very well. Not the quietest in the groove compared to my Colibri. I understand the upper models are much quieter and use a different stylus. I will get a chance to try out the Kleos SL soon.

 

[MylesBAstor]

View attachment 15669

Ikeda Kai mounted on Ikeda IT-407 tonearm. Kai is my reference cartridge.

Hoping to get a listen to the Kai down the road. Just finishing up writing the review of the 9TT!

 

[number95]

Thank you for your kind words. You also have a very nice setup.
I had a chance to try Lyra Atlas about 30-35 hours as a good friend gave me to try it. That is also my second experience with Lyra after a short listening of Titan-i in my setup. Atlas is very fast in transient speed, very revealing and a suberb tracker. I really enjoyed it.

 

[number95]

Myles, I did not listen to 9tt but I am sure if you liked 9tt, Kai should please you. Curious to hear from you if you can try Kai and compare to 9tt.

 

[f1eng]

I have Ortofon Jubilee and A90 cartridges which I use with an Ortofon t3000 SUT.
I also have a Decca Super Gold.

The Ortofon cartridges are used in a Goldmund T3f arm on a Goldmund Reference TT. The Decca on an EMT 938

 

[Barry2013]

I have Ortofon Jubilee and A90 cartridges which I use with an Ortofon t3000 SUT.
I also have a Decca Super Gold.

The Ortofon cartridges are used in a Goldmund T3f arm on a Goldmund Reference TT. The Decca on an EMT 938

I am tempted to try a London on my Townshend Rock V but am a bit hesitant from reading the reviews. How trouble free have you found yours?

 

[PeterA]

I have been using an AirTight PC-1 Supreme for two years and just added a My Sonic Labs Signature Gold and VDH Colibri Platinum.

 

[f1eng]

I am tempted to try a London on my Townshend Rock V but am a bit hesitant from reading the reviews. How trouble free have you found yours?

I have not had physical trouble. OTOH its tracking ability is not of the best and the stylus/cantilever is quickly clogged with dust if the disc is dirty.

Obviously there is no such thing as "correct" with LPs, it is a question of tuning to taste and I find the natural livelyness and speed of the Decca fantastic and very much to my taste.
Doing a meaninful compare is impossible in my setup but a friend of ours has a Verdier with 2 arms, so can play the same disc with both at once. Comparing his Allaerts with his rebuilt Decca C4E (IIRC) my wife asked him "why do you ever use that one?" about the Allaerts... She normally hears no difference between hifi components.
If it wasn't such a PITA to change cartridges in my T3f I would put it on my Goldmund.