Am I hopelessly dated with my gear? Upgrades?

[Grenadeslio]

Nothing wrong with the F8… but the 9 is in a different league and my favorite MM cartridge. The nice thing is that there are now options out there for replacement stylus as well as re-tipping options. The only downside is that the price of the 9 has far outpaced the increase for the 8’making it an expensive option these days.

really little difference, the F-9 was based on the F-8 and use the same outstanding stones


An old F9 brochure said "Based on our superb F8, we only made very small changes to the inductance and tip mass...

And the prices of the two have become much closer with the secret on how great the F-8 is now becoming more widely known.

 

[Wolverine]

I listen to CDs and my iPods. Yes, I’m behind the times. My CD collection has been uploaded to iPods, but I use CDs when I can. And vinyl.

Well you might consider checking out an outboard DAC that you should be able to connect your iPod to and listen to it over your stereo system. It would probably be an upgrade to just listening to the iPod connected directly to your system.

 

[mcgjohn]

would agree with a few of the others who mentioned spending the money to get a SAS tip. They are quite good. If you have the money and want to make an improvement, buy one. If you still have some funds remaining, then would think of two areas I would focus on in your current setup.
1. install better components in the the crossovers for your speakers.
2. consider upgrading the phono stage, such as the outboard phono stages such as the EAR clones, or Marantz 7 clones. Both will give you a significant leg up in SQ over the phono stage in your Yamaha.

 

[MRL_Audio]

really little difference

We can agree to disagree. I am confident I can tell the difference in a blind test and am willing to pay a premium for the 9.

 

[Azimuth]

Well you might consider checking out an outboard DAC that you should be able to connect your iPod to and listen to it over your stereo system. It would probably be an upgrade to just listening to the iPod connected directly to your system.

I have looked at DACs, but don’t see a way to connect my iPod to them. They only have co-axial and optical inputs.

 

[twiiii]

A friend of mine with the same Rabco I have only mounted on an SL 1100 had the 9E and two spare styli back in the 80's as I remember. When he passed away the spares were gone with the last one being installed a few months before he passed away. Any way one day he invited me over when he first got his 9E when I brought 3 of my favorite records over for an audition. A Shefield featuringLeinsdorf, a Harry James and an old London record. I played the Symphonic band London recording first of Holst. I was blown away, it was like being at a real live concert. My Ortofons never sounded that good. I think I was using a SL15 MK II or a SL 20. The MC series sucked for sure in comparison. Thats when I switched to Shure V-15 and Stanton 881S and then 981S. We were a dealer, but couldn't get a deal on a Grace because the competition down the street had the line. I should have bought one at the Winter CES show when I had the chance that year. The F9E was the best MM cartridge I never owned that I could afford. The Dynavectors I have now remind me of the Grace. They cost a lot more for sure now days. I never heard inner groove distortion with a Grace. Something I heard from most other cartridges. They were special!

 

[MRL_Audio]

I have looked at DACs, but don’t see a way to connect my iPod to them.

Were you hoping for a port that said “iPod” on it?