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AT-PL120 owners w/ AT-440mla cart >>>

didn't find any of these light head shells on ebay after looking today. could you perhaps point me in a direction where i could buy a couple? i'll go to LPtunes to grab the SOARs, too. thanks again.
 
flattedsixth said:
thanks for the reply, beatcomber.

yeah, i initially used a protractor off of enjoythemusic.com, and earlier this week my technics tool came in the mail, and how much of a BREEZE is this thing to use? when i slid the head shell into the piece i think i was around 53 mm. so i loosened the screws and slid the cart back a tiny notch, and i was ready to roll. very easy and inexpensive tool to get things aligned properly. i also have an ever so slight front end cock towards the head shell. this is after my adjustment to make the cart completely parallel with the grid lines on the enjoythemusic.com protractor. it's the link that says "click here for cartridge alignment tool". obviously print @ 100%. anyone else every use this?

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/freestuff.htm
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I'm pretty sure that the Technics tool and the enjoythemusic protractor use different calibrations to achieve correct overhang. In other words, you can't use one to verify the accuracy of the other, but either is completely effective when used independently of each other.
 
I currently use a Shure M91Ed on mine and out of all the cartridges I've tried and there have been a few this is the perfect match. It also makes playing 78's easier because the current Shure 78 stylus fits on the cartridge
 
Yup, the older Shures are nice on this table :)

Something like Item # 280227012734 is usually around the 6~7 gram weight :)

But, the Technics shell at 5.6 is even better :)
 
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jazzwolf said:
I currently use a Shure M91Ed on mine and out of all the cartridges I've tried and there have been a few this is the perfect match. It also makes playing 78's easier because the current Shure 78 stylus fits on the cartridge
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That's an excellent suggestion! The AT-PL120 has a slightly thin sound IMO, and the rich, robust, full sound of the Shure should mate very well indeed.

Vintage Shure M91ED bodies can be found cheaply on eBay. Spend $100 for a Jico SAS stylus for your microgroove records and $25 for a Shure N78S stylus for 78 playback, and you're all set.
 
jazzwolf said:
I currently use a Shure M91Ed on mine and out of all the cartridges I've tried and there have been a few this is the perfect match. It also makes playing 78's easier because the current Shure 78 stylus fits on the cartridge
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what did you think when you had the 440mla running in your set-up? anyways, thanks for the suggestions and i'll definitely consider this one down the line as an alternate, too.
 
BrocLuno said:
Yup, the older Shures are nice on this table :)

Something like Item # 280227012734 is usually around the 6~7 gram weight :)

But, the Technics shell at 5.6 is even better :)
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yeah, the stock head shell (silver one they also sell separately online) runs about 7.5 grams. i googled your part number for the universal head shell, and it doesn't have any specs listed under the product's description. so i guess i'll pull the trigger on that black technics head shell and the soars. appreciate the help.
 
beatcomber said:
I'm pretty sure that the Technics tool and the enjoythemusic protractor use different calibrations to achieve correct overhang. In other words, you can't use one to verify the accuracy of the other, but either is completely effective when used independently of each other.
Click to expand...

i used the technics over hang gauge first, tightened the screws, then placed it over the protractor i found on enjoythemusic.com, the stylus points were actually ok. the only minor adjustment needed, was to tilt the front end of the cart ever so slightly towards the spindle so the cart's body is parallel with the grid lines.
 
flattedsixth said:
what did you think when you had the 440mla running in your set-up? anyways, thanks for the suggestions and i'll definitely consider this one down the line as an alternate, too.
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The Shure M91ED and Audio Technica AT44mla are very different from each other. The Shure is loud and phat; the AT is crisp and precise, but may sound too bright/thin for some tastes.

My personal preference would be for the Shure w/ Jico over the AT on your table. The fact that a 78 stylus is available for the Shure just sweetens the deal.
 
beatcomber said:
The Shure M91ED and Audio Technica AT44mla are very different from each other. The Shure is loud and phat; the AT is crisp and precise, but may sound too bright/thin for some tastes.

My personal preference would be for the Shure w/ Jico over the AT on your table. The fact that a 78 stylus is available for the Shure just sweetens the deal.
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i mean at this point i can only take your word on this cause i really have no frame of reference as far as the sound of other carts are concerned. so be it. vinyl/turntables as a hobby can be a little frustrating because no matter what tweaks and or set-ups ya have in place, it can ALWAYS be better. that notion is somewhat tedious and frustrating, sure, but in the end i am positive it IS worth it. :)

also, i know a big crit on the ML was the over-exaggerated highs, but a lot of reviews i read said AT remedied the situation upon the release of the mla. so i went with this one for my first upgrade.

anyways, i'm really excited to try out your (and jazzwolf's) suggestion with this setup to gain some sound perspective, honestly. i mean i really do like the sound of the mla when i'm playing rap and or rock records, but for jazz? i think the shure would definitely be a nice adjustment considering what i have read online.

thanks again for all the comments/suggestions/replies.

- flattedsixth
 
Well one of the coolest things is that you can have both. Get the Shure for what it does best and the 440MLa for when it's needed. Two headshells and you are off to the races :)

Between the two in my world, the old Shures get more arm time than the 440. But I'm not planning on loosing it any time soon.
 
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excellent and thanks again, broc. lot of stuff on my list of things to grab at this point. next i'll probably just order the lighter technics headshell along with the soar wires. eventually i'm sure i'll get to the shure M91ED.

also, broc or anyone else who can answer...how does this cart compare with the M97xE in the context of the AT-PL120? kind of a specific question, i know, but thought i would just throw it out there.

also, i've been checking out the KAB super record grip Mk2. any legitimate value in owning one of these? i think it's like $38 on the kabusa website. thanks.
 
Few LPs need a weight. Some do and it usually turns up as tracking error or thin flat sound. I have a nice machined metal one I got off the 'Bay that I use occasionally. Most LPs are fine w/o it.

The M97Xe works fine on this table, BUT, you will need a phono stage that has variable resistive loading. The M97, like many Shures, wants to see something like 62~75K Ohms to get any top end. With that much load, it'll compete very well with the 440MLa. Without it, it's much darker and subdued. The other choice is to add a JICO SAS stylus to balance the top end at 47K, but then your are no longer looking at a budget cartridge

M97 tracks fine on this table, and with the brush down, it'll track any LP you throw at it. Best built into another light headshell assembly.
 
BrocLuno said:
Few LPs need a weight. Some do and it usually turns up as tracking error or thin flat sound. I have a nice machined metal one I got off the 'Bay that I use occasionally. Most LPs are fine w/o it.

The M97Xe works fine on this table, BUT, you will need a phono stage that has variable resistive loading. The M97, like many Shures, wants to see something like 62~75K Ohms to get any top end. With that much load, it'll compete very well with the 440MLa. Without it, it's much darker and subdued. The other choice is to add a JICO SAS stylus to balance the top end at 47K, but then your are no longer looking at a budget cartridge

M97 tracks fine on this table, and with the brush down, it'll track any LP you throw at it. Best built into another light headshell assembly.
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at this point my collection is pretty small and most of the records i have are more or less flat, with the exception of a couple or so. even the ones that do have some wobble (for lack of a better word), my cart has zero problems tracking throughout the "ups and downs".

at any rate, i wasn't sure exactly what the weight is intended to do, so thanks. i'm probably ok without it as i'm pretty particular about the condition of the records i purchase now. i guess if some do get warped down the road for whatever reason, i could buy one when the time calls for it.

"you will need a phono stage that has variable resistive loading"

not entirely sure what this means, but i'm guessing it's a point re: the receiver's capabilities?? in fact, ya kinda lost me in that 2nd paragraph. no big thing though. appreciate the replies.
 
OK, a phono cartridge is a transducer with a very small electrical generator in it. To make it work, it has to work against something. That something is the loading added to the circuit inside the phono amp or section. Most run-of-the-mill stereo receivers and a lot of stand alone phono amps have a standard loading of 47K Ohms resistive and maybe 100~200 pF or capacitance for the cartridge to work against.

Some cartridges are very particular about loading. Shure's are among the most sensitive. Their frequency response curves are directly affected by loading, AND, they like more than the every-day receivers offer. Some receivers offer switch selectable phono loading. I don't know if yours does?

If it doesn't I would hold off on the Shure M97. If you are looking for alternative cartridges, there are lots of choices. What are you trying to do?
 
also, the other thing i am curious about is the compliance of the 440mla. i'm pretty sure the specs list this cart at ten (dynamic) and forty (static). is this generally considered low compliance?
 
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