Very special cartridge

[Julian Vereker]

Hello!

I am to choose a cartridge for my new Rega Planar Mk 3. But it must be
something very special. My beloved repertoire is opera arias and
small (mainly male) choirs singing acapella. No rock, no jazz combo,
not even symphonic orchestra.

I don't care about the bass and extreme highs. But I do want perfect
vocal reproduction. I wanna hear Maria Callas right in my room, solid,
tangible and three-dimensional. If any deviation from neutrality is
allowed (well, my budget is about USD 500) it's only toward the warm,
sweet, romantic reproduction. And of course the holographic images and
pinpoint detail but with all the subtleties rather than the
laser-sharpness. Can be MM or MC. I need something like midrange taken from
say, Dynavector Te Kaitora put in a poor man's cartridge.

Which one do you suggest?

BTW. If I could afford something more expensive, what maximum price or
just what models are sensible with this turntable ?

TIA

[Arny Krueger]

"Julian Vereker" > wrote in message
om
> Hello!
>
> I am to choose a cartridge for my new Rega Planar Mk 3. But it must be
> something very special. My beloved repertoire is opera arias and
> small (mainly male) choirs singing acapella. No rock, no jazz combo,
> not even symphonic orchestra.
>
> I don't care about the bass and extreme highs. But I do want perfect
> vocal reproduction. I wanna hear Maria Callas right in my room, solid,
> tangible and three-dimensional. If any deviation from neutrality is
> allowed (well, my budget is about USD 500) it's only toward the warm,
> sweet, romantic reproduction. And of course the holographic images and
> pinpoint detail but with all the subtleties rather than the
> laser-sharpness. Can be MM or MC. I need something like midrange
> taken from say, Dynavector Te Kaitora put in a poor man's cartridge.
>
> Which one do you suggest?

Get the latest-greatest Shure V-15, a test record and a voltmeter that
measures audio frequencies with at least modest accuracy, and adjust load
capacitance for flattest response.

[MiNE 109]

In article >,
(Julian Vereker) wrote:

> Hello!
>
> I am to choose a cartridge for my new Rega Planar Mk 3. But it must be
> something very special. My beloved repertoire is opera arias and
> small (mainly male) choirs singing acapella. No rock, no jazz combo,
> not even symphonic orchestra.
>
> I don't care about the bass and extreme highs. But I do want perfect
> vocal reproduction. I wanna hear Maria Callas right in my room, solid,
> tangible and three-dimensional. If any deviation from neutrality is
> allowed (well, my budget is about USD 500) it's only toward the warm,
> sweet, romantic reproduction. And of course the holographic images and
> pinpoint detail but with all the subtleties rather than the
> laser-sharpness. Can be MM or MC. I need something like midrange taken from
> say, Dynavector Te Kaitora put in a poor man's cartridge.
>
> Which one do you suggest?
>
> BTW. If I could afford something more expensive, what maximum price or
> just what models are sensible with this turntable ?

Grado Reference Sonata.

Stephen

[jeffc]

"Julian Vereker" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello!
>
> I am to choose a cartridge for my new Rega Planar Mk 3. But it must be
> something very special. My beloved repertoire is opera arias and
> small (mainly male) choirs singing acapella. No rock, no jazz combo,
> not even symphonic orchestra.
>
> I don't care about the bass and extreme highs. But I do want perfect
> vocal reproduction. I wanna hear Maria Callas right in my room, solid,
> tangible and three-dimensional. If any deviation from neutrality is
> allowed (well, my budget is about USD 500) it's only toward the warm,
> sweet, romantic reproduction. And of course the holographic images and
> pinpoint detail but with all the subtleties rather than the
> laser-sharpness. Can be MM or MC. I need something like midrange taken
from
> say, Dynavector Te Kaitora put in a poor man's cartridge.
>
> Which one do you suggest?

I'm not a connoisseur of opera, but with regard to voice you want mainly a
smooth, accurate low-to-high midrange. For that you probably don't need the
most expensive MC cartridges. I think I'd buy the best Grado MM I could
afford. They are less finicky than MC cartridges and have higher output in
general so you also get background noise usually and don't need special
phono sections or step up transformers.

[Arny Krueger]

"MiNE 109" > wrote in message

> In article >,
> (Julian Vereker) wrote:
>
>> Hello!
>>
>> I am to choose a cartridge for my new Rega Planar Mk 3. But it must
>> be something very special. My beloved repertoire is opera arias and
>> small (mainly male) choirs singing acapella. No rock, no jazz combo,
>> not even symphonic orchestra.
>>
>> I don't care about the bass and extreme highs. But I do want perfect
>> vocal reproduction. I wanna hear Maria Callas right in my room,
>> solid, tangible and three-dimensional. If any deviation from
>> neutrality is allowed (well, my budget is about USD 500) it's only
>> toward the warm, sweet, romantic reproduction. And of course the
>> holographic images and pinpoint detail but with all the subtleties
>> rather than the laser-sharpness. Can be MM or MC. I need something
>> like midrange taken from say, Dynavector Te Kaitora put in a poor
>> man's cartridge.
>>
>> Which one do you suggest?
>>
>> BTW. If I could afford something more expensive, what maximum price
>> or just what models are sensible with this turntable ?
>
> Grado Reference Sonata.

FWIW, agreed based on its pedigree.

Something from the top or near the of the Grado pile is always a good
alternative to the Shure V-15. Both track well, the Grado is less
susceptible to electrical loading and the Shure is less susceptible to tone
arm dynamics.

[Bruce J. Richman]

jeffc wrote:


>"Julian Vereker" > wrote in message
om...
>> Hello!
>>
>> I am to choose a cartridge for my new Rega Planar Mk 3. But it must be
>> something very special. My beloved repertoire is opera arias and
>> small (mainly male) choirs singing acapella. No rock, no jazz combo,
>> not even symphonic orchestra.
>>
>> I don't care about the bass and extreme highs. But I do want perfect
>> vocal reproduction. I wanna hear Maria Callas right in my room, solid,
>> tangible and three-dimensional. If any deviation from neutrality is
>> allowed (well, my budget is about USD 500) it's only toward the warm,
>> sweet, romantic reproduction. And of course the holographic images and
>> pinpoint detail but with all the subtleties rather than the
>> laser-sharpness. Can be MM or MC. I need something like midrange taken
>from
>> say, Dynavector Te Kaitora put in a poor man's cartridge.
>>
>> Which one do you suggest?
>
>I'm not a connoisseur of opera, but with regard to voice you want mainly a
>smooth, accurate low-to-high midrange. For that you probably don't need the
>most expensive MC cartridges. I think I'd buy the best Grado MM I could
>afford. They are less finicky than MC cartridges and have higher output in
>general so you also get background noise usually and don't need special
>phono sections or step up transformers.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Agreed. Get a Grado Reference Platinum, Sonata or Master - depending on your
budget. These wood-bodied cartridges track well, are extremely musical and do
an excellent job reproducing voices. They also have relatively high outputs,
making them a good fit for most preamplifier, integrated amplifier, and
receiver phono stages.



Bruce J. Richman

[CCSman]

One thing to consider- as wonderful as the Grados are, any owner of a Rega has
to be able to cope the inevitable hum that will be present at the eand of each
LP side. In my opinion, it's almost always worth putting up with that touch of
hum

[jeffc]

"CCSman" > wrote in message
...
> One thing to consider- as wonderful as the Grados are, any owner of a Rega
has
> to be able to cope the inevitable hum that will be present at the eand of
each
> LP side. In my opinion, it's almost always worth putting up with that
touch of
> hum

I forgot about that. There was just a thread recently where someone had
this combo, and said they had heard about this problem but didn't have any
problem with it themselves.

[Norman Schwartz]

"jeffc" > wrote in message
...
>
> "CCSman" > wrote in message
> ...
> > One thing to consider- as wonderful as the Grados are, any owner of a
Rega
> has
> > to be able to cope the inevitable hum that will be present at the eand
of
> each
> > LP side. In my opinion, it's almost always worth putting up with that
> touch of
> > hum
>
> I forgot about that. There was just a thread recently where someone had
> this combo, and said they had heard about this problem but didn't have any
> problem with it themselves.
>
Do the current crop of Grados still perform the "dance"? If yes, how
does/did it effect their performance in other respects?

[ScottW]

"Norman Schwartz" > wrote in message >...
> "jeffc" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "CCSman" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > One thing to consider- as wonderful as the Grados are, any owner of a
> Rega
> has
> > > to be able to cope the inevitable hum that will be present at the eand
> of
> each
> > > LP side. In my opinion, it's almost always worth putting up with that
> touch of
> > > hum
> >
> > I forgot about that. There was just a thread recently where someone had
> > this combo, and said they had heard about this problem but didn't have any
> > problem with it themselves.
> >
> Do the current crop of Grados still perform the "dance"? If yes, how
> does/did it effect their performance in other respects?

I thought this was only an issue for direct drive turntables where
the cart actually comes in close proximity to the motor but isn't an
issue for typical belt drive tables unless the motor is located near
the cart path.

ScottW

[Bruce J. Richman]

ScottW wrote:


>Norman Schwartz" > wrote in message
>...
>> "jeffc" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > "CCSman" > wrote in message
>> > ...
>> > > One thing to consider- as wonderful as the Grados are, any owner of a
>> Rega
>> has
>> > > to be able to cope the inevitable hum that will be present at the eand
>> of
>> each
>> > > LP side. In my opinion, it's almost always worth putting up with that
>> touch of
>> > > hum
>> >
>> > I forgot about that. There was just a thread recently where someone had
>> > this combo, and said they had heard about this problem but didn't have
>any
>> > problem with it themselves.
>> >
>> Do the current crop of Grados still perform the "dance"? If yes, how
>> does/did it effect their performance in other respects?
>
> I thought this was only an issue for direct drive turntables where
>the cart actually comes in close proximity to the motor but isn't an
>issue for typical belt drive tables unless the motor is located near
>the cart path.
>
>ScottW
>
>
>
>
>
>

I think that he's referring to poor tracking when he talks about the "dance".
However, Grados - especially those in the Reference series - are not considered
to be poor trackers at all.

Generally speaking, problems that *may* arise concerning *hum* with *some* Rega
turntables (but not others in my experience) often have to do with poor
grounding or perhaps use of poorly shielded tonearm cable. It is also true
that direct drive turntables are often noisier with many cartridges, including
Grados, for the reason you mention.



Bruce J. Richman

[Mike Gilmour]

By 'dance' I believe Norman is referring to the infamous Grado wiggle which
afflicted some of the older Grado cartridges under certain conditions.

Mike

"Bruce J. Richman" > wrote in message
...
> ScottW wrote:
>
>
> >Norman Schwartz" > wrote in message
> >...
> >> "jeffc" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> >
> >> > "CCSman" > wrote in message
> >> > ...
> >> > > One thing to consider- as wonderful as the Grados are, any owner of
a
> >> Rega
> >> has
> >> > > to be able to cope the inevitable hum that will be present at the
eand
> >> of
> >> each
> >> > > LP side. In my opinion, it's almost always worth putting up with
that
> >> touch of
> >> > > hum
> >> >
> >> > I forgot about that. There was just a thread recently where someone
had
> >> > this combo, and said they had heard about this problem but didn't
have
> >any
> >> > problem with it themselves.
> >> >
> >> Do the current crop of Grados still perform the "dance"? If yes, how
> >> does/did it effect their performance in other respects?
> >
> > I thought this was only an issue for direct drive turntables where
> >the cart actually comes in close proximity to the motor but isn't an
> >issue for typical belt drive tables unless the motor is located near
> >the cart path.
> >
> >ScottW
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> I think that he's referring to poor tracking when he talks about the
"dance".
> However, Grados - especially those in the Reference series - are not
considered
> to be poor trackers at all.
>
> Generally speaking, problems that *may* arise concerning *hum* with *some*
Rega
> turntables (but not others in my experience) often have to do with poor
> grounding or perhaps use of poorly shielded tonearm cable. It is also
true
> that direct drive turntables are often noisier with many cartridges,
including
> Grados, for the reason you mention.
>
>
>
> Bruce J. Richman
>
>
>

[Arny Krueger]

"Mike Gilmour" > wrote in message

> By 'dance' I believe Norman is referring to the infamous Grado wiggle
> which afflicted some of the older Grado cartridges under certain
> conditions.
>

The current product seems to still be rather undamped at low frequencies.
Wonderful for improving "slam" as long as it doesn't jump out of the groove.

[Mike Gilmour]

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
> "Mike Gilmour" > wrote in message
>
> > By 'dance' I believe Norman is referring to the infamous Grado wiggle
> > which afflicted some of the older Grado cartridges under certain
> > conditions.
> >
>
> The current product seems to still be rather undamped at low frequencies.
> Wonderful for improving "slam" as long as it doesn't jump out of the
groove.
>
>

With heavy-handed cueing the cartridge impersonates a lightly damped
mechanical oscillator.... & a bit like a novice iceskater when playing the
1812 ;-)

[Norman Schwartz]

"ScottW" > wrote in message
om...
> "Norman Schwartz" > wrote in message
>...
> > "jeffc" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > "CCSman" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > One thing to consider- as wonderful as the Grados are, any owner of
a
> > Rega
> > has
> > > > to be able to cope the inevitable hum that will be present at the
eand
> > of
> > each
> > > > LP side. In my opinion, it's almost always worth putting up with
that
> > touch of
> > > > hum
> > >
> > > I forgot about that. There was just a thread recently where someone
had
> > > this combo, and said they had heard about this problem but didn't have
any
> > > problem with it themselves.
> > >
> > Do the current crop of Grados still perform the "dance"? If yes, how
> > does/did it effect their performance in other respects?
>
> I thought this was only an issue for direct drive turntables where
> the cart actually comes in close proximity to the motor but isn't an
> issue for typical belt drive tables unless the motor is located near
> the cart path.
>
All my Grados up to the 8MR visibly wiggled at the outer perimeter,
including lead-in grooves, of all LPs. I used belt driven TT; TD 125 and
LP12, with a variety of arms. This "Grado Dance" was commonly observed by
many people under variety of conditions and consequently acquired that
title. The hum pickup was easily heard by moving the arm towards the center
of the record, closer to the motor, without lowering the cartridge into the
grooves

[Norman Schwartz]

"Mike Gilmour" > wrote in message
...
> By 'dance' I believe Norman is referring to the infamous Grado wiggle
which
> afflicted some of the older Grado cartridges under certain conditions.
>
Look at the results for a Google Groups search using the words Grado and
Dance and you can read it all.