[neobop]

No, not ice cream, it's something that won't make you fat.  It's comparative audio samples of different carts.  This is a great resource for newbies and the curious or idle rich.  Get a taste of vinyl reproduction and yes, it's sexy and alluring.  Put your needle in a spinning groove.......

http://daveyw.edsstuff.org/vinyl/cartridges/

neo

[usp1]

Very cool!

[poseidonsvoice]

What a fantastic link! Thanks Neo!

Best,
Anand

[Rocket_Ronny]

 
That's impressive and could not be possible without Digital. 

I wonder if anyone is going to whine about how digital made this effort worthless. 

Rocket_Ronny

[neobop]

That's impressive and could not possible without Digital. 

I wonder if anyone is going to whine about how digital made this effort worthless. 

Rocket_Ronny

Matter of fact, you're the first, congratulations.
This link is put up periodically to help give people an idea of what different carts sound like and the possible results of changing a stylus or load parameters. Digital is adequate for that, and please don't start a silly debate.
neo

[Rocket_Ronny]

Matter of fact, you're the first, congratulations.

Good one. I'll take it on the chin. Although I did not say it made the effort useless. I think it's awesome and total respect goes out to the fellow who did the site. 

Fact is, the digital conversion plays into the final sound of the cartridges we hear as does the table, arm, cables etc. I just thought it humorous how digital is good enough for this evaluation.

I think it's a great site and only wish I had access to such a thing when I was into vinyl. Enjoy it.


Rocket_Ronny

[Letitroll98]

Actually, I wondered the same thing when I first visited Davey's site many years ago, but it works just fine for comparison.  This is a completely different argument that you allude to (I realize you're not making the argument, just referring to it) about the which is better debate.  Everyone will admit to hearing qualitative differences in Red Book recordings, therefore that level of reproduction will work fine for comparisons of vinyl cartridges, as it does in this example.  It doesn't mean you're going to hear a Dynavector 20L perfectly reproduced, only the differences between it and a Grado Gold recorded in this medium. 

[Rocket_Ronny]

Exactly.

I bet there is a bigger difference between the Syrinx PU3 and Alphason HR100S tone arms I used to own, with the Alphason clearly the winner, than vinyl and digital conversion.

Still, a very useful resource.

Rocket_Ronny

[Letitroll98]

I'm still in the camp that says it depends.  Hi-rez 24/192 rips, it's very hard for me to find any difference other than maybe the digital is a touch better if clock jitter is well managed.  24/96, still hard to tell differences although if there are preferences they go to vinyl, again, very generally.  While I enjoy listening to many high quality Red Book 16/44 recordings, virtually none have come close to the same recording in vinyl.  All of the above is generalization, specific cases always vary within the range.

We're pretty far afield of the OP, but it's a pretty general post from our friend neo, so I declare us forgiven.     We can all agree Davey's site is a fabulous resource and a great learning tool.

[neobop]

Everyone agrees that this is a great site.  It must have taken many hrs of work, can you imagine?

I think most all vinyl enthusiasts can benefit from at least some of the comparisons and I urge all newbies to listen here first and ask questions later.  Not all carts will match up with your system and we'll try to help sort it out.

Davey W is a member here.  You'll see his posts in a couple of stickys and past threads. 
Peace,
neo

[Maritan]

Site bookmarked. Looks like an awesome resource. More ways for me to spend money. 

Thanks, Neo!

[TONEPUB]

It's a pretty low res setup, but pretty low end cartridges as well.

It does give a very rough indication of what's possible though....

[Letitroll98]

Of course these would be the products that 90% of vinylphiles will be actually purchasing.  That $100-$800 range is the sweet spot for volume purchasing in cartridges.

Funny, I opened up Davey's site to make sure I was correct in the above statement, and realized I had forgotten that I actually own one of the very cartridges ripped on the site.  It was sold to me after it had been lent out to Davey.  I feel so famous now.   

[neobop]

It's a pretty low res setup, but pretty low end cartridges as well.

It does give a very rough indication of what's possible though....

Hi Jeff,
This site isn't recommended as an ultimate comparison of carts, and yes, the DV-17D is about as high end as it gets.  Assuming that someone has at least 1/2 decent speakers hooked up to their PC, gross differences are readily heard.  This is invaluable for newbies trying to get a handle on a confusing and esoteric world of record players.  We can help sort out mechanical compatibility and other options, but we don't know their taste or system sound and often they don't really know how to describe it.  If you've never had a record player, you don't have a frame of reference.  Occasionally, actual preference is opposite of the original description.

I suspect, that for every newbie who starts a thread or asks a question, there are many more that just read and figure it out for themselves. The number of people getting into vinyl is directly responsible for all the new pressings and reissues, and the great selection of equipment we're now enjoying. We're just trying to help them along and sometimes it gets complicated, and sometimes for whatever reason, people want a personal answer. I get PM questions regularly, as many as 4 or 5 in a day, but that's unusual. We do what we can.  Sometimes a person will give up, and sometimes I can't help but wonder if we dropped the ball.
neo   

[TheChairGuy]

Dave has been away for TOO long...hope he's well there in the UK.

With detail and preciseness typical of the engineer he is - this work is a nice body to draw from and more helpful in many ways that written word.  At least we're not 100% describing HOW it sounds....it's an audio sample thereof...and helpful from that basis alone.

Jeff/TONEPUB - you're a forward thinking fellow...you could contact Dave and send over phono cartridge review samples for him to add to his sight making it even more valuable.  Then, host on your server for added delight for your ever growing readership.  maybe a nice additional draw for your new'ish Analogaholic venture http://www.tonepublications.com/analogaholic/

You'll see if you ever contact Dave he's a very responsible guy that will care for any cartridges in his possession like the gold they are.  A few of us (including neobop) have had transatlantic cartridge cross-tours (me here in California, a fellow in Puerto Rico, neobop in Philly and Dave in the UK)  over the years to get a flavor for a cartridge....and Dave has always been uber-responsible. fyi.

Don't know why I hadn't thought before - but I also Facilitate the Critics Circle here at AC - so I added it to the list of 'other' review sites on the web.  It's unorthodox type of review site so this thru me off the scent....but sure it qualifies as it's a great resource for us with the vinyl dis-ease 

John

[pumpkinman]

Dave has been away for TOO long...hope he's well there in the UK.

With detail and preciseness typical of the engineer he is - this work is a nice body to draw from and more helpful in many ways that written word.  At least we're not 100% describing HOW it sounds....it's an audio sample thereof...and helpful from that basis alone.

Jeff/TONEPUB - you're a forward thinking fellow...you could contact Dave and send over phono cartridge review samples for him to add to his sight making it even more valuable.  Then, host on your server for added delight for your ever growing readership.  maybe a nice additional draw for your new'ish Analogaholic venture http://www.tonepublications.com/analogaholic/

You'll see if you ever contact Dave he's a very responsible guy that will care for any cartridges in his possession like the gold they are.  A few of us (including neobop) have had transatlantic cartridge cross-tours (me here in California, a fellow in Puerto Rico, neobop in Philly and Dave in the UK)  over the years to get a flavor for a cartridge....and Dave has always been uber-responsible. fyi.

Don't know why I hadn't thought before - but I also Facilitate the Critics Circle here at AC - so I added it to the list of 'other' review sites on the web.  It's unorthodox type of review site so this thru me off the scent....but sure it qualifies as it's a great resource for us with the vinyl dis-ease 

John

Yes John, Davey is just plain terrific. We have had many a phone conversation and have traded LPs. Each of us sending something we might not be able to find in our respective locals.

It's a pretty low res setup, but pretty low end cartridges as well.

Wow really !!! Does that that mean I should sign off and never come back. My Ortofon is only $600

Of course these would be the products that 90% of vinylphiles will be actually purchasing.  That $100-$800 range is the sweet spot for volume purchasing in cartridges.

Exactly

[Letitroll98]

Okay, did we all pile on Jeff enough?     I bet he feels like the "kill the guy with the ball" kid.  Know that we do luv ya Jeff and you just hit a nerve with us po'boy folk.  After I win the Mega Millions tonight I won't look at anything under $25k.   

[wushuliu]

Okay, did we all pile on Jeff enough?     I bet he feels like the "kill the guy with the ball" kid.  Know that we do luv ya Jeff and you just hit a nerve with us po'boy folk.  After I win the Mega Millions tonight I won't look at anything under $25k.   

Yeah, a statement like that is enough to make one just give up on this hobby altogether. Guess I'll go panhandle with my AT95e.

That said I thought the Goldring Elektra sounded excellent from Davey's site amongst the other ghetto offerings.

[neobop]

I haven't been to Davey's site for awhile.  I don't remember an Electra there.

I don't know if it's still on epay, but there used to be the Red Ed cart.  There were 2 versions and I think the better one was the same as the Electra (elliptical?) at less than half the price. 
neo

[wushuliu]

I haven't been to Davey's site for awhile.  I don't remember an Electra there.

I don't know if it's still on epay, but there used to be the Red Ed cart.  There were 2 versions and I think the better one was the same as the Electra (elliptical?) at less than half the price. 
neo

Yes it's on Davey's site now. It's the MG-29E aka Goldring Elektra and is available for $18 from ebay as well as an improved stylus from LPGear. The Red Ed is no longer a bargain at $38 and as far as I have seen they are selling the same cart as the $18 vendors, packaging and all.