[woodlandjustin]

I have aquired a Pro-ject Perspective turntable with no cartridge. I would love advice on the following:

1) Which cartridge do you recommend? I do not want to spend more that US$180. My phono stage can take various MM or MCs - it is Alpine/Luxman LE-109.

2) I am in Japan and not many dealers deal with Pro-ject. Also I have never installed a cartridge. Is it important to take it to a Pro-ject dealer to get it installed? Or any dealer?

3) If I should take it to a dealer to get the cartridge installed, do I need to dissasemble it, take it in, have them install it and then dissasemble it again? Or can I just take in only the arm?

Thank you very much! All advice thankfully received.
Justin

[Psychicanimal]

My suggestion is to buy a really cheap cartridge and practice.  I've set up cartridges many times cause I used to work at a hi fi sore.  When I went to setup my new TT after years of not setting up any cartridges I went & bought an inexpensive cartridge to get back in the motion.

You need an alignment protractor, the one from Turntable Basics is real easy to use:

www.turntablebasics.com

***

[shep]

As you are in Japan, you have a royal choice...of Audia Technica, which is good from the bottom of their line and gets very good at the top. Doesn't cost the earth either.

[gooberdude]

You have a very nice turntable, definitely heed the advice here and buy a less expensive AT cartridge to start out and learn how to install it yourself.   Its not hard, but does require some patience, practice and reading the owner's manuals & forums like these for instruction.

The biggest challenge for me was figuring out how to remove the cartridge clips safely, the tonearm wires are captive on my Expression TT.  Once you figure it out though, you won't be at the mercy of taking your TT into a shop just to get a cartridge installed.


I mainly use a Grado Gold cartridge, which typically costs $180US, but its en route for repair right now, so i bought an Ortofon OMB-10 for $35 on ebay to use temporarily and for when i have cartridge issues in the future.

[shep]

Our Nippon friends are some of most intense and gifted audiophiles on the planet. I bet you can find someone who is into turntables and can guide you into the giddy world of cartridge mounting and adjustment! Hunt down the threads here (vinyl circle) about cheap tweaks (the famous "Longhorn" etc.)

[Psychicanimal]

I mainly use a Grado Gold cartridge, which typically costs $180US, but its en route for repair right now,

What happened???

[gooberdude]

I, uh...kinda broke the cartridge while attempting an AVA tweak.   

while adding a drop of 1000 centistroke liquid silicon to the coils, i accidentally
pulled one of the coil wires out.  No idea how it really happened, since the tiny tips i used on the end of the syringe (full of silicon) are soft as silk.

But, after the damping the coils and replacing the stylus one channel wouldn't work.  i hoped that i had pulled too hard on one of the ground wires in the tonearm's captive phono cable, but the Gold has an 'Open Coil' according to the shop.   maybe it occurred when i removed some of the damping material that Grado put there in the 1st place...but the needledoctor explained how to remove it and recomended it...so i just dunno.

i've mailed the Gold back to grado, i think they can fix it for around $40 or so.  i just hope they don't see the damping effort & turn it away!   In the mean time, this Ortofon really ain't too bad once i stuck the little Marigo VTS dot on the face, and its not yet broken in.   This exercise has made me realize that anyone into vinyl should have a few cartridges laying around, and be able to install & adjust them at home.   I'll definitely try an AT cartridge for under $100 at some point.

One thing is for certain, the Ortofon OMB-10 does not have the 'Grado Shake' when i play the Cardas Sweep Track.  Its so odd to both watch & listen to a cartridge play normally throughout it.  Both the Gold and a cheap Sumiko crtridge would shake like a paint can shaker during the last 15 seconds of the track...


Happy New Year everybody!!!


GD

[Wayner]

Try the AT-440MLa. I'm a pimp for this cartridge (I now own 3) and it blows anything away under $300.

Best tracking cartridge I have ever encountered.

W

[jrhymeammo]

I have aquired a Pro-ject Perspective turntable with no cartridge. I would love advice on the following:

1) Which cartridge do you recommend? I do not want to spend more that US$180. My phono stage can take various MM or MCs - it is Alpine/Luxman LE-109.

2) I am in Japan and not many dealers deal with Pro-ject. Also I have never installed a cartridge. Is it important to take it to a Pro-ject dealer to get it installed? Or any dealer?

3) If I should take it to a dealer to get the cartridge installed, do I need to dissasemble it, take it in, have them install it and then dissasemble it again? Or can I just take in only the arm?

Thank you very much! All advice thankfully received.
Justin

What part of Japan do you live? I recently got back from Japan visiting my family. If you live in a Kanto Area, you should go to Akihabara, Tokyo. It is an electrnoic Town as you may know. Yodobashi Camera is a great place to browse for sure. Accuphase, Quad, and a bunch of others. Some of JBL speakers are incredible. Dont think of JBL in the US. Their horn loaded speakers are incredible, and they can absolutely destroy B&W 800s and other high priced speakers. Anyways,

If you get off of Sobusen and other trains at Akihabara, look for this place. http://www.tereon.co.jp/



I think I got it at the Store #2. #4 seems to be right next to it. If #4 sells used Gears, then #2 is definetely where i got it.

I acquire my DL-301 mk2 there for around 23000 yen ($193ish at 119?$). If you do happen to break it, there is a trade-in policy. I know this is a a bit over your budget but it is worth it and you will thank me. Just think US dollar has strengthend so you wouldnt feel bad going over on your budget. Or you can always get a DL-110. That cartridge has put smiles on my face for a while. You cant go wrong. Dont get a Grado, can you say over-rated?). I understand that this site is filled with Grado and LongHorn tweaks. That's cool for members who has had success, but I absolutely cannot stand it.

One more thing, I think they can give you up to 5% off of their asking price. I've looked everywhere, that Tereon seems to be the cheapest and complete store. Disk Union and Audio Union (they are everywhere. Ochanomizu and Chiba that I know of) is pretty cool too, but no as cheap as Tereon.

Let me know if you have a question. I'll be glad to help.

-J

[jrhymeammo]

Also, you'll be kicking yourself in your rear end if you dont get the Zerodust made by Onzow. It costs freakin $69 here in US, but only 1870 yen in Japan. That's less than $16 at the current Xchange rate. The greatest thing you can do for your new and current cartridges.

JRA

[woodlandjustin]

I have aquired a Pro-ject Perspective turntable with no cartridge. I would love advice on the following:

1) Which cartridge do you recommend? I do not want to spend more that US$180. My phono stage can take various MM or MCs - it is Alpine/Luxman LE-109.

2) I am in Japan and not many dealers deal with Pro-ject. Also I have never installed a cartridge. Is it important to take it to a Pro-ject dealer to get it installed? Or any dealer?

3) If I should take it to a dealer to get the cartridge installed, do I need to dissasemble it, take it in, have them install it and then dissasemble it again? Or can I just take in only the arm?

I acquire my DL-301 mk2 there for around 23000 yen ($193ish at 119?$). If you do happen to break it, there is a trade-in policy. I know this is a a bit over your budget but it is worth it and you will thank me.

Hi
Thanks very much for your reply. Yes, I was thinking of Akihabara. So, what do you think of the AT-440MLa? In comparison with the DL-301 mk2? How about in terms of sound, and also durability?

And, so far nobody has answered my questions 2) and 3)   Any input about that? It will be pretty tricky if I have to carry the whole turntable in its box, somehow on my back, to Akihabara! But if that is the only way, I wil have to do it. Also I do not know how to remove the tone arm if that is an option.

Actually I was in an electric store in Ginza, a big one. There was an audio section with super expensive audiophile gear, including several turntables. So I tried to ask about the cartridge (I wanted to ask if I could bring my turntable or tonearm to their store to pt a cartridge on it). SO I was explaining, it is difficult to do...
The young attendant who spoke English, grabed the arm of a super-expensive deck and erratically moving it around pointed at the 4 wires and explained you just stick these 4 wires into the cartridge. Wow he makes it sound very simple I thought, as I watched the arm fly out of his hand and bounce on the record on the opposite side of the spindle!! (Lucky the needle had a protaction cover!!) I thanked him and left. (I won't be getting it done in their shop then!)

But seriously now, if anyone can give advice about whether I need to take it in to get it done or not, lease advise! (Please se questions 2) and 3) above!)
Many thanks!
Justin

[shep]

This is sort of a repeat of what I said earlier. If you know no one personally who is seriously into TT's, etc., maybe there are audio forums like this in Japan. If you can find a way to log in and post an English HELP!
(assuming this is all in Japanese) I'm sure you can meet a helpfull audiophile who will show you the hows and whys. Japan is full of them, the question is how to tap in. I'm sure many have a mastery of English.
Carrying your TT around on the subway sounds like no fun and is asking for something to come adrift (like your temper!) I don't know that Denon but the Audio T. is a winner. If you shop around and have a bit more cash, the AT ML150/something... is yet another step up the sonic ladder (still MM). AT are very reliable and you can and should get a replacement stylus if you are planning to return to the West. If not, not. AT seems to be a company that keeps models going for years, which is reassuring.

[mfsoa]

Pro-ject makes a cartridge alignment tool that works well with the Perspective. I forget how much $$$, but it's not cheap.
I was lucky enough to be able to borrow one from a dealer to set up my Sumiko Blue Point Special Evo III on my Perspective. Fly to New Jersey, USA, and I can get it for you no probs!

If you are careful and have some idea on what parameters you are trying to set, and you can follow instructions you should be OK with a decent alignment tool.

Sorry I can't help you as far as other cart's go - I have only used this BPS, but I've had good luck w/ Grados in the past and might go that way next time. Certainly I hear great things about AT carts.


Best of luck!

[woodlandjustin]

This is sort of a repeat of what I said earlier. If you know no one personally who is seriously into TT's, etc., maybe there are audio forums like this in Japan. If you can find a way to log in and post an English HELP!
(assuming this is all in Japanese) I'm sure you can meet a helpfull audiophile who will show you the hows and whys. Japan is full of them, the question is how to tap in. I'm sure many have a mastery of English.
Carrying your TT around on the subway sounds like no fun and is asking for something to come adrift (like your temper!) I don't know that Denon but the Audio T. is a winner. If you shop around and have a bit more cash, the AT ML150/something... is yet another step up the sonic ladder (still MM). AT are very reliable and you can and should get a replacement stylus if you are planning to return to the West. If not, not. AT seems to be a company that keeps models going for years, which is reassuring.

You say "still MM". I don't really get the difference. My amp is meant to take either MM and MC (Alpine/Luxman LE-109). Should I have a particular preference for eith MM or MC?

And still how about just taking in the tone arm? If the shop deals in this deck maybe they can fir my arm to one of their decks and then fit and adjust the cartridge??

Thank you!
Justin

[jrhymeammo]

Justin,

take a deep breath and relax.

If you MC ouput has about 60db of gain with reasonable SN ratio then go for the low output MC. DL-110 has high enough output that you can use your MM output. I didnt research your phono stage, so I dont know.


With your Pro-Ject arm,. you CANNOT take it out, and bring it to your local shop. So you would have to bring it the whole deck, and I wouldnt suggest that. If you do carry it on a subway or so, people will not care if you have something valuable or not. It's a coomon courtesy not to bring in something on to a train that will bother others. Just install a cart yourself with MUCH care. Alignment of cart is MORE important than what carts you will buy regardless of the cost. So I would get a cart alignemnt tool locally.

You can always print one up from this site, http://www.enjoythemusic.com/freestuff.htm

but it's not that good. You wanna get one that works by aligning to a tonearms pivot point.

Since I do not have experience with AT 440, I imagine I can be no help to you.

[jrhymeammo]

If you print it out instead of purshasing one, make sure to print it in correct size. Outer curve should match the size of your outter platter.

Best Wishes,

JRA

[woodlandjustin]

Justin,

take a deep breath and relax.

If you MC ouput has about 60db of gain with reasonable SN ratio then go for the low output MC. DL-110 has high enough output that you can use your MM output. I didnt research your phono stage, so I dont know.


With your Pro-Ject arm,. you CANNOT take it out, and bring it to your local shop. So you would have to bring it the whole deck, and I wouldnt suggest that. If you do carry it on a subway or so, people will not care if you have something valuable or not. It's a coomon courtesy not to bring in something on to a train that will bother others. Just install a cart yourself with MUCH care. Alignment of cart is MORE important than what carts you will buy regardless of the cost. So I would get a cart alignemnt tool locally.

You can always print one up from this site, http://www.enjoythemusic.com/freestuff.htm

but it's not that good. You wanna get one that works by aligning to a tonearms pivot point.

Since I do not have experience with AT 440, I imagine I can be no help to you.

Rated output    150mV
Harmonic distortion factor    0.005% (at the time of 1kHz and 1V output)
Input sensitivity    PHONO 1160 μV
PHONO2 2.5mV (0dB), 220μV (20dB), 80μV (32dB)
Input impedance    PHONO 1100 ##
PHONO 247 kΩ (MM)
　　　　　　　 3Ω, 40Ω and 100Ω (MC)
SN ratio    PHONO MM 95dB (MM, 1V output)
PHONO MC 80dB (MC STRAIGHT, 1V output)
Frequency characteristic    20Hz~20kHz
Crosstalk    85dB
Power source    100V 50/60Hz
Electric power consumption    25W
External size    438W×63H×310Dmm
Weight    4.5kg


And it has attenuation of 0dB, -10dB and -20dB, so I guess that means is it can be 80, 70 or 60 dB.
I have no idea what SN ratio means.
How much do those alignment tools cost? Shame I would maybe only use it once!
Thank you!
Justin

[shep]

So you either have to do it the hard way, by yourself, or find some one. Even if you took the arm off it would not really help you as there is a good chance it would not "slot in" to your TT, i.e. stay in the correct adjustment. This isn't a black art but getting a cartridge right is very fiddly and requires nerves
(and the right protractor indeed). The specs from your Lux. are pretty standard and it will accept either MM or MC. MM are a little more "tolerant" or forgiving of the kind of phono stages found in integrated amps like you have. If you do a search (not of Tokyo!) you can find protractors to down-load and print out. You have to be very precise and do this on good quality fairly heavy paper so it doesn't buckle or move about. Where the points are indicated to set the needle in, make a very clean small hole with a pin. You will have to do this numerous times (adjusting the cartridge) and need to keep checking the weight of the arm, as you will be moving the cartridge around. Unless you have very good eye sight, use a magnifying glass! Master all this with a cheap C. and only when you feel confident, get yourself a good one. You can't go wrong with the Denon or the AT or for that matter a "cheap" Dynavector. Once you get it to sing you will be mighty proud! One last point, set the anti-skating to zero during the whole procedure, otherwise the arm will wander around and drive you crazy trying to get the diamond to settle neatly in the points. Aside from issues of vertical tracking angle and the influence of weight, the point of this all is to minimize error from the beginning of the record to the end. Try and visualize the diamond
following in the grooves. It has a shape which is meant to "read" the info. that makes it vibrate and transmit a signal. You want this little bitty diamond to stay "true" all the way and not change its orientation as the arm describes its arc across the LP. Sorry to be professorial! hope this helps

[jrhymeammo]

Oh, and one of the great thing about the DL-301 is that it comes with a stylus protective cover so you wont be crying when you drop it. And you will drop it on your first try. Just take your time and be careful. People might wonder why people mess with vinyl rigs if they gotta go thru the process....wel It's definetlely worth it. I've dropped a cart or two in my life. Thankfully I hadnt needed to cry YET!!

Get a Shelter 501, they are only about $500

Best wishes,

JRA

[woodlandjustin]

Okay so finally I got a cartridge!
Here's the story. I ended up choosing the DL 103. What do you all think? I went to that shop Tereon and they said it was the best in the price range. Plus a shop Sato Musen said it was the only one to get, and that all Japanese broadcasting stations use it.

I decided to get it from Sato Musen - more expensive but Tereon could ont install it.
So I waited for one of the days when the "expert" was there, took my turntable in (today) and the "expert" installed the cartridge.

He screwed it on (had a hard time doing that), and then they put a thing which looked like a ruler, on the platter (one end had a hole). They then looked at it (did they know what they were doing??!) and said yes it was okay. (That apparently was about the overhang).

And that was it.

I explained maybe it was a difficult job and various things need to be checked and adjusted. They were sure this was not the case.

What do you guys thing? Are they nuts? Is it really as simple as that? This is a shop with super-expensive stuff, and even the staff own super expensive gear. But, the procedure sounds different from what you "audiophiles" describe.

Please tell me the verdict!
Thank you!
Justin