Audio Technica AT440ML on classical music ?

[Forgnog Zambrucken]

I've been hearing really good comments about the AT440ML.
BUT, they all came from rock/pop/jazz people.
Has anyone tried this cart with classical music records ?
They're what I listen to most, although alot of rock-type
music finds its way under the arm, I dont care how those
sound, got a m91ED for those anyway, heheheheh.

THere's another thing that worries me, is that
the turntable I use is an old technics sl-1500,
the first ones, not the fancy second edition.
The arm is NOT adjustable and pretty crappy.
I can do some crude adjustments by fitting rubber
mats of different thickness on the platter.

What do you think ?

Dont tell me to get a new turntable, cause I wont,
well, not just now anyway. not enough dollars to my
name for that. :)

[Bruce J. Richman]

Forgnog Zambrucker wrote:


>I've been hearing really good comments about the AT440ML.
>BUT, they all came from rock/pop/jazz people.
>Has anyone tried this cart with classical music records ?
>They're what I listen to most, although alot of rock-type
>music finds its way under the arm, I dont care how those
>sound, got a m91ED for those anyway, heheheheh.
>
>THere's another thing that worries me, is that
>the turntable I use is an old technics sl-1500,
>the first ones, not the fancy second edition.
>The arm is NOT adjustable and pretty crappy.
>I can do some crude adjustments by fitting rubber
>mats of different thickness on the platter.
>
>What do you think ?
>
>Dont tell me to get a new turntable, cause I wont,
>well, not just now anyway. not enough dollars to my
>name for that. :)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

I can't comment directly on the Audio Technica cartridge because I haven't
heard it. However, given your preference for classical music, you might want
to consider a Grado cartridge that would be comparable in price to the Audio
Technica cartridge you're considering. Grados are generally considered to be
relatively high value for their cost, have a relatively "warm", "musical" sound
(compared to typical moving coil and more analytical MM cartridges), and of
course, are made by a company doing this sort of thing for 30 years. The only
caveat re. Grados is that with some turntables, especially direct drives, they
may have some hum towards the innner grooves (which may or may not be audible).
This would depend on your turntable and the shielding of the cartridge, so I'd
check with a Grado dealer before purchase to see if this is problematic.



Bruce J. Richman