Phonograph Cartridges. . . some thoughts
Dear Reader,
Recently I have been playing a $2000 list Dynavector XX2 MkII moving coil cartridge and a $399 list current production Audio Technica VM750SH cartridge. SH stands for Shibata. I paid $430 USD for the Dynavector with 480 hours on it. These are both fine cartridges. The Dynavector is all about detail and dynamics. The AT is all about body and holism. It seems that about half of my good vinyl LP records thrive on the Dynavector. The other half thrive on the AT. I am on the verge of proclaiming that you cannot have it all from one cartridge. It seems that different records respond well to different cartridges. So this is my new path. I am using a vacuum tube phono stage with switchable inputs, one for MM/MI one for MC. I have two arms set up, so a flip of a switch allows me to choose the cartridge. Both cartridges are on Woody arms. I must say though, that I have heard a Rega RB250 with my VTAF VTA adjuster/isolator make wonderful music with the AT VM750SH cartridge on those records that thrive on a full bodied holistic presentation.
After recently coming to this tentative conclusion about the importance of having multiple cartridges at the ready (this conclusion is sixty years in the making) I read Herb Reichert's discussion in Stereophile of low-priced cartridges he has given a listen to. This poured gasoline on the fire. Now I have purchased a $34 current production Audio Technica VM95 conical tip cartridge to evaluate. I will follow up by playing the AT VM95 with an elliptical stylus and then a line contact stylus. Just pop the needle assemblies in and out. I recommend you read Herb's article, Gramophone Dreams #44: Audio-Technica, Goldring, LP Gear phono cartridges:
https://www.stereophile.com/category/gramophone-dreams
This recent investigation of mine helps to explain why in a period of 60 years I've never found a single cartridge that did not disappoint on some very good vinyl LP records. Perhaps there is no one cartridge for all vinyl LP records.
I plan to further this discussion as experience unfolds. So stay tuned. So many good topics. So many good records. So little time.
Kind Regards,
Pete
Recently I have been playing a $2000 list Dynavector XX2 MkII moving coil cartridge and a $399 list current production Audio Technica VM750SH cartridge. SH stands for Shibata. I paid $430 USD for the Dynavector with 480 hours on it. These are both fine cartridges. The Dynavector is all about detail and dynamics. The AT is all about body and holism. It seems that about half of my good vinyl LP records thrive on the Dynavector. The other half thrive on the AT. I am on the verge of proclaiming that you cannot have it all from one cartridge. It seems that different records respond well to different cartridges. So this is my new path. I am using a vacuum tube phono stage with switchable inputs, one for MM/MI one for MC. I have two arms set up, so a flip of a switch allows me to choose the cartridge. Both cartridges are on Woody arms. I must say though, that I have heard a Rega RB250 with my VTAF VTA adjuster/isolator make wonderful music with the AT VM750SH cartridge on those records that thrive on a full bodied holistic presentation.
After recently coming to this tentative conclusion about the importance of having multiple cartridges at the ready (this conclusion is sixty years in the making) I read Herb Reichert's discussion in Stereophile of low-priced cartridges he has given a listen to. This poured gasoline on the fire. Now I have purchased a $34 current production Audio Technica VM95 conical tip cartridge to evaluate. I will follow up by playing the AT VM95 with an elliptical stylus and then a line contact stylus. Just pop the needle assemblies in and out. I recommend you read Herb's article, Gramophone Dreams #44: Audio-Technica, Goldring, LP Gear phono cartridges:
https://www.stereophile.com/category/gramophone-dreams
This recent investigation of mine helps to explain why in a period of 60 years I've never found a single cartridge that did not disappoint on some very good vinyl LP records. Perhaps there is no one cartridge for all vinyl LP records.
I plan to further this discussion as experience unfolds. So stay tuned. So many good topics. So many good records. So little time.
Kind Regards,
Pete
___________________________________________________________________________
Pete Riggle Audio
2112 S. Olympia Street, Kennewick WA 99337, USA
Shop phone: 509 582 4548 email: peteriggle@msn.com
VTAF™ Trademarked. U.S.Patent No. 7630288.
Website content Copyright © 2021 Pete Riggle Audio, All Rights Reserved.
Pete Riggle Audio
2112 S. Olympia Street, Kennewick WA 99337, USA
Shop phone: 509 582 4548 email: peteriggle@msn.com
VTAF™ Trademarked. U.S.Patent No. 7630288.
Website content Copyright © 2021 Pete Riggle Audio, All Rights Reserved.