• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Did some interesting cart comparisons last night

Most of your descriptive comments have been right on the money based on my own evaluation, but I think some of you will be very surprised once the carts' identities are revealed!

This is FUN! Keep 'em coming!
 
Dang, it's 108MB and I shoulda known it would be. Being on dialup will take 8 hours to download, will have to run to the local library tomorrow to download ...I can wait one more day.

Dave/ChairSpud
 
Also, wow. Your rips sound so good. Better than my vinyl system, which I thought sounded pretty good. My sounds pretty dark in comparison.
 
ChairSpud said:
Dang, it's 108MB and I shoulda known it would be. Being on dialup will take 8 hours to download, will have to run to the local library tomorrow to download ...I can wait one more day.

Dave/ChairSpud
Click to expand...

ChairSpud, I'm in the same boat, but I am grateful to the reviewers for being as descriptive as they are being so far.
 
rito25 said:
Also, wow. Your rips sound so good. Better than my vinyl system, which I thought sounded pretty good. My sounds pretty dark in comparison.
Click to expand...

Thanks! A lot of it has to do with the mods to the table, I believe, and the excellent quality of the Rega preamp. The rest of my signal chain is very modest. I used an old Sony DAT recorder for the A-D conversion, optically connected to a 10-year-old el cheapo TDK CD recorder to burn the disc.
 
Last edited:
Yeah. Could also be that my system need a recap since my pre-amp is 40 some years old. Could also be pressing differences, though mine's a columbia 360. I think it must be your pre. My recorded clip doesn't sound nearly as good. And the Ortofon/Digitrac is a very nice sounding combo.
 
Last edited:
rito25 said:
Could also be pressing differences, though mine's a columbia 360.
Click to expand...

I also have an '80s pressing of the same LP which sounds very nice. However, the '69 pressing is much warmer and smoother, whereas the '80s mastering is more forward and slightly bass-shy.
 
Yeah. Mine is a '69 copy. These are very interesting clips. Can't wait to find out which one is which.
 
Beatcomber, i'm short of words to describe the immense favor you are doing to me by posting this samples. My eyes get watery just to think in the money i'm saving thanks to your samples!! Especially since i have a 681 cartridge body that could do with the Vivid stylus, a V15-IV that could do with the SAS, and was also considering getting a M97xE or a Grado Blue just for the lulz...

Now i'm going to fetch some Philips in-ear headphones that sound surprisingly good and neutral to test these samples... Sadly i'm at work, not at home, otherwise i could test them with decent speakers.
 
flavio81 said:
Beatcomber, i'm short of words to describe the immense favor you are doing to me by posting this samples. My eyes get watery just to think in the money i'm saving thanks to your samples!! Especially since i have a 681 cartridge body that could do with the Vivid stylus, a V15-IV that could do with the SAS, and was also considering getting a M97xE or a Grado Blue just for the lulz...

Now i'm going to fetch some Philips in-ear headphones that sound surprisingly good and neutral to test these samples... Sadly i'm at work, not at home, otherwise i could test them with decent speakers.
Click to expand...

Fantastic, I'm very pleased to be able to contribute something useful back to this forum!

I do encourage everyone to evaluate these samples on the most revealing system you own. I have found that each of the samples does have its own unique sound, although some of the differences (ie: the different styli on the M91ED) are somewhat subtle.
 
Ok, this is a QUICK and dirty test, so i didn't take a lot of time.

First test... distortion
01 ok
02 breaks up (distorts) a little bit with the final brass horns at 1:04-1:05. ***Yuck*** Rejected. IS THIS THE GRADO?
03 slightly cleaner than the rest on trumpet although very slightly distorts on the final brass
04 ok
05 ok
06 ok
07 distorts very slightly in trumpet break and final brass, or it's my imagination?
08 ok
09 distorts slightly in trumpet break

Second test... tonality

01 brightest of all carts, slightly lean on bass
02 more bass, less midrange,
03 ok, highs more defined, bass ok
04 slight emphasis on the presence range, more treble but smooth.
05 similar to 03 and 04
06 midrange is forward
07 more or less similar to 06, midrange forward, treble subdued
08 midrange even more forward than 07
09 ok, highs defined, similar to 03 but with more bass

3,4,5 are similar
6,7 similar
...although it's jumping into conclusions.

All cartridges sound OK on tonality except #1. I like the forward midrange of #08, although on a room it might not be so good (i'm using headphones).

Now for a REALLY marked difference... Using audacity...

Third test: Resonant frequency of the tonearm+cartridge...

For me this is VERY important since in my experience (and science seems to agree), the more controlled is this resonance, the more "stable" the sound since the warp regions (2-9Hz) are intermodulating less with the audible frequencies.

01 8Hz -6dB OK
02 9Hz -1dB Poor
03 8Hz -1dB Poor
04 8Hz -9dB good
05 7Hz -12dB very good
06 6Hz -7dB. 6Hz is not a good frequency.
07 13Hz -16dB !! EXCELLENT -- THE WINNER
08 8Hz -9dB OK
09 11Hz -13dB !! almost excellent!

Jumping to conclusions

For me, tonality is not so important, but i'd discard #1 unless we can tame the brightness with loading.

Number #2 is discarded because it breaks up at high levels on the brass section at the end. I like classical music and this thing won't perform well with fortissimos, i'm afraid. I hope this one of the Grado cartridges.

That leaves us the resonance frequency criteria, which is highly important to me. On this criteria the best performers are:

07 13Hz -16dB !! perfect, amazing
09 11Hz -13dB !! almost excellent!
05 7Hz -12dB very good
04 8Hz -9dB good

So all in all i'd immediately choose #7 or #9, without a blink of an eye. But #5 and #4 are also fine choices.

In all fairness, all cartridges are satisfying performers.
 
flavio81 said:
Ok, this is a QUICK and dirty test, so i didn't take a lot of time.

First test... distortion
01 ok
02 breaks up (distorts) a little bit with the final brass horns at 1:04-1:05. ***Yuck*** Rejected. IS THIS THE GRADO?
03 slightly cleaner than the rest on trumpet although very slightly distorts on the final brass
04 ok
05 ok
06 ok
07 distorts very slightly in trumpet break and final brass, or it's my imagination?
08 ok
09 distorts slightly in trumpet break

Second test... tonality

01 brightest of all carts, slightly lean on bass
02 more bass, less midrange,
03 ok, highs more defined, bass ok
04 slight emphasis on the presence range, more treble but smooth.
05 similar to 03 and 04
06 midrange is forward
07 more or less similar to 06, midrange forward, treble subdued
08 midrange even more forward than 07
09 ok, highs defined, similar to 03 but with more bass

3,4,5 are similar
6,7 similar
...although it's jumping into conclusions.

All cartridges sound OK on tonality except #1. I like the forward midrange of #08, although on a room it might not be so good (i'm using headphones).

Now for a REALLY marked difference... Using audacity...

Third test: Resonant frequency of the tonearm+cartridge...

For me this is VERY important since in my experience (and science seems to agree), the more controlled is this resonance, the more "stable" the sound since the warp regions (2-9Hz) are intermodulating less with the audible frequencies.

01 8Hz -6dB OK
02 9Hz -1dB Poor
03 8Hz -1dB Poor
04 8Hz -9dB good
05 7Hz -12dB very good
06 6Hz -7dB. 6Hz is not a good frequency.
07 13Hz -16dB !! EXCELLENT -- THE WINNER
08 8Hz -9dB OK
09 11Hz -13dB !! almost excellent!

Jumping to conclusions

For me, tonality is not so important, but i'd discard #1 unless we can tame the brightness with loading.

Number #2 is discarded because it breaks up at high levels on the brass section at the end. I like classical music and this thing won't perform well with fortissimos, i'm afraid. I hope this one of the Grado cartridges.

That leaves us the resonance frequency criteria, which is highly important to me. On this criteria the best performers are:

07 13Hz -16dB !! perfect, amazing
09 11Hz -13dB !! almost excellent!
05 7Hz -12dB very good
04 8Hz -9dB good

So all in all i'd immediately choose #7 or #9, without a blink of an eye. But #5 and #4 are also fine choices.

In all fairness, all cartridges are satisfying performers.
Click to expand...

Fascinating! Just wait 'til the carts are revealed...
 
Further comments:

- Funny to find more than 1 person finding #7 and #9 the best... According to the resonance frequency analysis these are the only ones that have the warp resonances outstandingly controlled.

- Two posters mention #2 being the most 'neutral'. The #2 sounds like having been passed through a "loudness" filter, thus it sounds the most pleasing but at the same time it is not neutral (flat), strictly speaking.
 
flavio81 said:
Further comments:

- Funny to find more than 1 person finding #7 and #9 the best... According to the resonance frequency analysis these are the only ones that have the warp resonances outstandingly controlled.

- Two posters mention #2 being the most 'neutral'. The #2 sounds like having been passed through a "loudness" filter, thus it sounds the most pleasing but at the same time it is not neutral (flat), strictly speaking.
Click to expand...


Even more interesting for ME

Strictly by 'ear' I chose 2, 7 & 9 as my finalists; 7 & 9 virtually a tie but settled on #9 as the winner
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom