[slovell1]

is this a cartridge still worth owning? how does it compare with other lomc's in its price range?
best regards,  sam 

[neobop]

Hi Sam,
I don't have direct experience with this cartridge, but I can tell you what other users have said. The 33ML OCC seems to be an earlier version of the 33PTG. The PTG has a gold plated boron cantilever like the current top ATs. The 33ML has a beryllium cantilever, probably gold plated. I think beryllium is superior, although it is brittle - more easily broken.

The PTG is supposed to be a little less forward than the OC9, and a little more extended in the bass. My guess would be that the 33ML would be similar, possibly slightly superior, than the PTG. If you like that highly detailed sound, I would think it would be hard to beat in the price range. Maybe someone with more experience with these cartridges, can provide further illumination.
Frank

[TONEPUB]

We've got a review coming out this issue.  It's an excellent cartridge for the money and much more natural sounding than the other AT stuff that is somewhat similarly priced.

[TheChairGuy]

Welcome to AC, oh esteemed neobop

John

[slovell1]

i appreciate the responses guys. i bought this vintage cartridge from a guy in seoul, south korea a couple of weeks ago, haven't had a chance to mount it yet. i don't think this thing's been used much, if any. there are no screw marks on the body or dust and residue built up around the cantilever. it'll be interesting to hear how it sounds on my jvc qly-66f. hey john, how's your 66 working out nowadays?
best regards,  sam   

[TheChairGuy]

it'll be interesting to hear how it sounds on my jvc qly-66f. hey john, how's your 66 working out nowadays?
best regards,  sam   

Hey Sam - all good.

I bought a VPI Classic turntable ($2500) that I feel pips the clay-filled JVC QL-Y66F for sound quality, but the difference is slight enough and the ease-of-use with the JVC such that the VPI is sitting lonely in the closet and the JVC is in the system.

I listen while I work and having fully auto functions is divine each day (wish I had room for two decks so I could play the VPI after work when I had time to get up and lift the needle)

It's a really nice sounding turntable once you isolate it from feedback

Are you sure the model you have is NOS?  I thought that model was a cartridge less expensive on AT33PTG, but not sold in the US currently

I don't know the entire AT line-up, but I thought I saw offerings on ebay that intimated this.

Ciao, John

[slovell1]

hey john,
i don't really know if its nos or what. what little info i could find on the net said it was built back in the late eighties or early nineties and a precursor to the ptg models. i found it on ebay for less than a hundred bucks and figured what the *%^$ i'll give it a whirl. its in pristine condition but requires an odd mounting screw size, very long, goes all the way through the complete depth of the body. haven't been able to find any suitable screws locally, but did order a set complete with proper nuts and washers out of hong kong. the set should arrive any day now. i'm still lusting after a vpi scout but can't really afford one right now and, like you, i don't really want to give up the convenience of the fully auto 66. i've had mine for so long i don't think i can part with it. kinda like linus and his blanket. anyways, back to the 33mlocc. i've seen the ones on ebay you mentioned and mine has a different color scheme and style for the body. i wish i could find out more about it which leads me to believe this is a vintage cartridge. the cantilever feels like its in good shape, straight with lots of springiness in it and the stylus looks to be in great shape. if anyone else knows anything else about this unit please get back to me. john, i'll let all of you know how this thing sounds whenever i manage to get it mounted and aligned. its great to hear from you.
peace,  sam   

[neobop]

Welcome to AC, oh esteemed neobop

John

Thanks John,
This seems like a real nice forum.

Sam,
You might have gotten yourself a real winner. I took a chance on a used AT-15SS on Audiogon, and it turned out to be one of the most listenable MMs I've ever owned. Admittedly, I've been using MCs mostly, but I'm familiar with quite a few older MMs. The 15SS has a beryllium cantilever and a nude shibata. An exotic cantilever doesn't flex as much as an aluminum one and has fewer colorations. Beryllium is a little harder than boron, which is what they use today on the top ATs.

Give it some time to loosen up. It might wind up sounding like a ZYX. 
Frank

[TheChairGuy]

Thanks John,
This seems like a real nice forum.

Yep Frank - don't be a stranger around here.  We try to keep it pretty civil in the Vinyl Circle...without overreaching and squashing freeform discussion.  It's a delicate balancing act sometimes 

John

[slovell1]

hi all,
thanks for the reply frank and, like you inferred, i think i've gotten myself a pretty good cartridge. i finally got it mounted and fairly aligned tonight and i'm really pleased with it. big and deep soundstage, lots of inner detail and smooth bass. it still needs a little tweaking i'm sure, i'll get to that tomorrow. this thing's a real lowrider though, not much clearance between the body and the record but enough nonetheless. the specs call for 1.6 to 2.0 grams and i'm tracking at 1.8 grams with a 47mm overhang specified by jvc in the manual for my qly-66f. i've eyeballed the tonearm height and it looks close. john, do you have any tricks for setting the tonearm height? i'm using the straight arm and as you know the thing's tapered and a little fiddly. any and all advice and or opinions are very welcome.
peace, sam   

[neobop]

"this thing's a real lowrider though, not much clearance between the body and the record but enough nonetheless."

I don't want to alarm you, but that's not good. I would recommend keeping the VTF close to the minimum, like you're doing, as long as there is no mistracking. It sounds like, for some reason, the suspension is starting to go. I hope I'm wrong about this, but it doesn't sound like a typical AT suspension trait.

Maybe the cart has more hrs on it than you were lead to believe? If you have access to a good microscope, maybe you should take a look at the tip. In the mean time, the sound should only get better as you get some hrs on it. Good luck.
Frank

[slovell1]

i checked the clearance against another audio technica cartridge i have that's less than a year old and there's really not much difference between them. my eyes aren't what they used to be. i ended up with 1.6 grams of tracking force (1.8 sounded a little muddy), and 1 gram of antiskate. i'm hearing low level and background detail much clearer than i have with my other cartridges. so far i really like the sound of this unit.
peace,  sam   

[TheChairGuy]

john, do you have any tricks for setting the tonearm height? i'm using the straight arm and as you know the thing's tapered and a little fiddly. any and all advice and or opinions are very welcome.
peace, sam   

No tricks...but with allen key in hand, you can adjust your arm height.

There are two holes (small slots if you will) located at the bottom of the tonearm pillar (it's black plastic so hard to see...but they are there)

With a small allen key (aka allen wrench), simply loosen the two inside and adjust the arm to your desired height.  Not hard - operates like several other tonearms I've had.

You cannot do it on the fly - the arm has to be in the resting position

If you don't want to mess with it...another option is having a layers of platter mat around.  You simply add or subtract layers as needed to level out your cartridge/arm in relationship to one another.  That works too...but the range of adjustment you have is sometimes limited and not sufficient.

John