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Best headshell for Grado Black?

G

gurdyp

New Member
Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions/advice about the best headshell for a Grado Black cartridge.

I had it on a U-Turn Orbit TT, and it sounds wonderful, BUT I get some hum. So I wanted to try it on my old Pioneer PL-514. The headshell on that, though, is an old audio technica one (I think — it was on there when I got it). The Grado doesn't fit it.

Anyone have any advice for what would be a good fit for the Grado?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Crab33 said:
Given that Grado Prestige cartridges tend to work better on light arms and the Pioneer arm is probably not light, I would suggest going with a light headshell, meaning well below 10g.

This one looks like it might be light:

https://www.lpgear.com/product/PTS004.html

This one is 8g, so not a bad choice:

https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGHDSHL.html
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks for that!

I'm in Canada, so am looking around for easy, fast shipping (i.e. Amazon ... eh).

Do you think this would a be a good fit? (It's around 9 grams)

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07N3W8B5L/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza
 
There are a lot of information about Grado cart here. I will recommend you to read most of them and then take your conclusion.
Is a Black 3 or 1?
AG.
 
ejman said:
I have one of those inexpensive e-bay "cheese grater" headshells (mine is silver with 2 funky gold bars on it) for my Grado Green 1 on my Pioneer PL 112D. Sounds great and bonus points - no Grado hum at all.
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That's it. I have a half a dozen or so of them cheap bastards! Work great. Mine don't have the gold bars though, just plain Jane. Something like $7 when my friend Marc Morin (RIP) told me not to bother with expensive headshells when these perform well... Of course I took his advice AND over time bought the lightweight expensive headshells, such as Denon, Grace, Supex, and the medium weight Yamamoto HS-3. I've got A LOT of cartridges and don't want to constantly remount on headshells. My philosophy is do it once and be done. I also have an assortment of heavier headshells for carts with low compliance.
 
Redd House said:
That's it. I have a half a dozen or so of them cheap bastards! Work great. Mine don't have the gold bars though, just plain Jane. Something like $7 when my friend Marc Morin (RIP) told me not to bother with expensive headshells when these perform well... Of course I took his advice AND over time bought the lightweight expensive headshells, such as Denon, Grace, Supex, and the medium weight Yamamoto HS-3. I've got A LOT of cartridges and don't want to constantly remount on headshells. My philosophy is do it once and be done. I also have an assortment of heavier headshells for carts with low compliance.
Click to expand...
Know what you mean. I bought the ol' Pioneer PL 112D because it has the bayonet mount headshell. I got tired of futzing with my fancy pants tonearms where it would take me a long time to mount and align the cartridge and so forth. With the standard bayonet mount I went crazy at e-bay and got half a dozen headshells for maybe $40 bucks or so, mounted all the cartridges I wanted to test and went to town. The Grado works best in the lightest headshell I have which is the "cheese grater" Love these old standard mount turntables! I spent like a drunken sailor though, If memory serves the Pioneer was $80 bucks I bet it blows the doors off any entry level new turntable. 20210909_165545.jpg
 
ejman said:
Know what you mean. I bought the ol' Pioneer PL 112D because it has the bayonet mount headshell. I got tired of futzing with my fancy pants tonearms where it would take me a long time to mount and align the cartridge and so forth. With the standard bayonet mount I went crazy at e-bay and got half a dozen headshells for maybe $40 bucks or so, mounted all the cartridges I wanted to test and went to town. The Grado works best in the lightest headshell I have which is the "cheese grater" Love these old standard mount turntables! I spent like a drunken sailor though, If memory serves the Pioneer was $80 bucks I bet it blows the doors off any entry level new turntable. View attachment 2338121
Click to expand...
FANTASTIC !!
Great minds think alike, good sir. :bigok:
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Grado cartridges will hum more with a AC motor, DC motor is better with Grado.
Click to expand...
Grado are fine with AC motors even massive ones like on my Commonwealth. The 1955 Commonwealth though has what looks like a food can shield over the motor, it was fitted as standard in the 50's and no hum whatsoever. It is really easy for AC motors to be shielded, really no excuse for manufactures not doing so when it has been done since the 50's
CHris
 
cafe latte said:
Grado are fine with AC motors even massive ones like on my Commonwealth. The 1955 Commonwealth though has what looks like a food can shield over the motor, it was fitted as standard in the 50's and no hum whatsoever. It is really easy for AC motors to be shielded, really no excuse for manufactures not doing so when it has been done since the 50's
CHris
Click to expand...

Yes, motor shielding is definitely needed with a Grado. :thumbsup:
 
Another option I'll throw out there - https://www.ebay.com/itm/392030748705

They're slightly more money than some of the "swiss-cheese" style headshells, but seem slightly higher in quality to me (though there's nothing wrong w/the swiss cheese headshells IMO).

I can also confirm they're just over 7g in mass - nice and light to help keep higher compliance carts in check on medium mass arms.
 
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