[slovell1]

John, what do you think about using a Grado Sonata Statement on the 66? Do you think it would pick up the dreaded Grado hum?
Best regards,  Sam   

[TheChairGuy]

John, what do you think about using a Grado Sonata Statement on the 66? Do you think it would pick up the dreaded Grado hum?
Best regards,  Sam   

I've used 3 Grado's on the QL-Y66F, including one of the Woodies, and had no hum.

Guess you're digging the deck to want to spend that kinda' money on a cartridge for it?  Did you iron out the feedback issues?  It's do-able, but it takes some efforts to tweek it out of it

Mine was acting up the other day - I hope it's not serious.  The arm would place itself on the beginning leads of the record and then abruptly lift and return to the tonearm rest.  I have the servo mechanism for the arm isn't messed up (it just started happening out of the blue)

That's one of the problems with a lot of technology in this deck...something goes wrong and it'll no longer perform

I'll try it out again today, likely.

John

[slovell1]

Yeah, I guess you could say I'm digging it. I've had this table for over twenty years with no problems so far. I don't have the feedback unless I try to go way up on volume and I think most of mine comes from my sub being a little too close. I replaced the bottom with a half inch piece of plywood and that helped. I'm sorry to hear about the lift problem you're having. That's the bad side of this table, if it breaks its a paperweight. There's probably no parts for it and who would you get to repair it. I kinda don't think that JVC would work on them anymore, but I don't know that for sure. I've read a lot of good things about the low output Grados like the Statement Sonatas. How did your Grados sound on yours? I'd really like to have a cartridge with a full midrange because I have Klipsch KG-5.5 speakers and they're a bit on the bright side. I'm going to spring for a good cartridge now and hopefully buy a VPI Scout later in the year. I think its probably time to give the 66 some rest and use it sparingly. I'd really hate for mine to die on me and never get to watch it operate again. These tables are so cool, but on the other hand, they're so old and complicated. I had an Audio Technica AT-F3ll on until the other day. I had it off fiddling with the overhang and my overly curious kitty jumped up on the table to investigate what her love object was up to and she, of course, stepped on the cartridge and killed it. Oh well, that's what cats do, kill things. So I'm back to using the Jvc 200-MC that came with the 66 originally. I have a hard time believing it still works and still sounds pretty good to boot. If you've got any ideas or thoughts for my new cartridge I'd love to hear them. Hope you're well and life's good.
Regards,  Sam   
 

[TheChairGuy]

Sam,

I use a Grado all the time on the JVC...a Grado Gold with van Alstine Longhorn and the internal damping mod with 1000cst silicone. I use a thin wedge of modelling clay between the cartridge body and headshell....and have replaced the ellipical stylus with one from an older G1+.

It is just so fulsome that it tends to make any other cartridge, even real excellent ones like the ADC XLM/Astrion and Pickering XLZ-7500s I have, sound a bit scrawny in comparison.

A friendly AC'er loaned me his Grado (Woody) Master (I think it was this model, at least) for a month and in comparison, my opinion only of course, I preferred my modded Grado Gold to it.  It sounded more defined, and robust than the Woody...which was no slouch in itself on the JVC.

Yes, I have to try it again soon...I have not had time to play my system much in the past 2-3 months

I have a very good JVC QL-F6 (which has a 9", mechanical oil damped arm that seems to be the forerunner to the Y66F's more involved system), too.

I think the plywood bottom is THE answer for the table.  After a LOT of tweeking, I found it was the flimsy particleboard bottom was acting as a speaker cone flapping sounds back in and around.  Not handy with wood myself, I instead damped the particleboard with spray damping compound and modeling clay and set the entire thing up on tiny brass toes.  No more feedback now 

Ciao, John

[Keith F.]

Hello,

I've got the statement reference on a JVC QL-F6. No hum. It's the 1st generation, though, not the '1' series they have now. I had a Grado Z1+ on it before, a high output type that also did not hum.

Before really going through a lot of work on the head amp (Piccolo), there was really not much of an improvement sonically speaking.

I really like the statement alot now. The improvements were more definition, separation, a bit more depth. What really shines is the transparency and also on loud passeges (such as in classical music), there is no break-up.

You really need a good head amp, I think, to get the benefits of the low output Grados. Both cartridges, though, were never bright sounding. Both have a nice midrange.

Keith

[TheChairGuy]

Keith,

If you haven't filled our old QL-F6 with modeling clay (about 7lbs I think it took), you are in for a great surprise.  It will sound considerably more solid - like a $2000 deck.

The QL-Y66F is a bit better...but that F6 gave me MANY happy hundreds of hour playing.

Regards, John

[Keith F.]

Hello John,

Actually, it was after reading your posts about your QL-F6 before you got your QL-Y66f, that I found the QL-F6. (thanks for the tip)

I still need to do the clay and spray the platter underside.

One thing I've wanted to ask you: Did you pick up some more soundstage DEPTH with your VPI classic over the JVCs.?

Thanks, Keith

[TheChairGuy]

One thing I've wanted to ask you: Did you pick up some more soundstage DEPTH with your VPI classic over the JVCs.?

Thanks, Keith

It's been a couple years since the F6 was used...once the Y66F was found/heard, it was put into storage.  So, I cannot compare versus the VPI Classic as the time between hearing both was too long.

Yet, overall, soundstage size (depth, whatever) is more spacious with the VPI Classic over the Y66F.  However, there is a specificity of sound with the JVC that makes them rough equals.  A small tip for to the VPI for overall sound quality...balanced out by the hassle of manual play.  Overall, the Y66F gets the nod for everyday play over the VPI in my house as I listen while I work - and rarely critically at night (so the JVC is better for me to use with my schedule)

Do not delay another day in adding the clay to your F6....it's a SUBSTANTIAL mod to plastic bodied decks from the 70's and 80's.  Seriously, in many cases you will be slack-jawed by the difference of $30 in clay and a couple hours of your time

Hey, interestingly, this topic has now been read 66 times now

John

[Keith F.]

Thanks,
Will order clay and get busy!

Keith

[TheChairGuy]

Thanks,
Will order clay and get busy!

Keith

Just make sure you don't get the clay to interfere with the tonearm movement (or power supply so it can still throw off heat).  It's easy to avoid both.

It may not seem to be the case when you open the bottom and begin, but I think the deck fit 6-7lbs inside.  Start with the corners and continue from there.

Seriously, the difference will likely be mind-blowing.  Several folks over the years have been goaded into doing it and I doubt one regrets it now.  It takes a very nice $200 deck sound like 5x that (or, whatever ).  It's a great upgrade for hollow-bodied Japanese decks from the 70's and 80's heyday of vinyl

Check back and let us/me know how it goes

John