Ebay turntables... sub $200 suggestion?

OTL · « **Reply #20 on:** 29 Aug 2006, 10:32 pm »

Obviously, different carts have different qualities. Suggest that you muck around with inexpensive MM's. Purchase a Grado Silver or Gold(< $175 bucks) and listen for a few months.....The Grado's are a bit "ripe" in the mid-range but very, very seductive on vocals and jazz and have the capacity to make shitty recordings somewhat listenable.

After that, just ask around. I'm sure you'll get a couple of good recommendations.

One caution on the Grado's though...they have high output. If your TT is hummin' you're speakers will be playing the same tune.

WEEZ · « **Reply #21 on:** 29 Aug 2006, 11:16 pm »

KAB offers an arm dampening trough upgrade for the Technics arms. This will allow the use of a Grado cartridge without any 'problems'.

Not sure I'd describe Grado's midrange as "ripe".

They do, however, have a certain midrange resolution that is hard to find with other cartridges. (Could have something to do with Grado's love of opera.)

KAB sells the 'Groovemaster' for the Technics. A call to KAB would likely result in a good recommendation.

WEEZ

OTL · « **Reply #22 on:** 30 Aug 2006, 12:06 am »

OK..."ripe" might not have been the most descriptive choice of words for the Grado midrange....However, there is no doubt that the Grados's do deliver the midrange message just a bit differently than any others....Frankly, I'm hooked.

Ella, Witherspoon, or Mile's mid '50's horn or well recorded harmonia show this off very nicely. It's a bit like that's wrong and it's so bad....but it feels so damn good!

WEEZ · « **Reply #23 on:** 30 Aug 2006, 01:31 am »

Yup, I'm 'hooked' too. The Grado's simply need an arm that will 'damp' the cartridge a bit...helps with tracking and yes, one needs to set the VTF up a bit more than Grado suggests. VTA maybe a bit 'tail down'. The lack of shielding can cause hum on some 'tables. They're not a universal cartridge like the Dynavector's.

There is simply no cartridge I've ever heard that gets the midrange as 'right'. That's where the music lives, after all. Some would call Grado's 'colored'. Well, maybe so. I guess my ears hear midrange frequencies as 'important'.

They are said to be 'warm'. Yeah, probably. (Better that than 'dry'.) The higher up the line you go, the more neutral they are. But, the midrange is unequaled in my experience.

The much talked about 'Longhorn' mod (TheChairGuy) really does work in certain arms. If your arm has adjustable damping, that's all most will need. YMMV...

WEEZ