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GE VRii Mono Cartridge: Pros/Cons?

ivan100000

ivan100000

Well-Known Member
Gentlemen:

I am running a dedicated mono system in my turquoise cave--a three-tone Garrard Lab Series Type A that looks so cool I'm often tempted to eat it; a 1950s Fisher mono receiver; and a KLH Six. I *only* play pre-1968 mono LPs on this system and the listening experience is fun as hell.

I'm using the Shure M3D cartridge that came with the TT (and an NOS N3D stylus) which I believe is Shure's first-ever stereo cart. Naturally I have the channels bridged together going into the mono receiver, but I've always wondered about going "full authentic" and converting to a mono cartridge.

Aside from the fact that the GE VRII would afford me the luxury of spinning 78s as well as mono LPs, would there be any advantage(s) to swapping out my M3D for the GE variable reluctance?

Thanks...
 

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You will have to try it and tell us. Many people feel the GE is one very fine sounding cartridge. If you are only playing mono records on this deck then I would go for it.
 
I've never heard the M3D (although I'd like to), so I can't directly compare, but my VR-II sounds wonderful on my mono-wired Rek-O-Kut Model 160 arm.

What I like about it:
• Phat bass, rich midrange, and slightly suppressed (yet clear) top end.
• Excellent imaging depth (yes, even in mono) and cohesion
• Tracks great
• Does an amazing job of making noisy, hammered records very listenable

Hear it for yourself (and enjoy the very rare mono LP mix of Buffalo Springfield's "Mr. Soul"):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9zozi1laomdtbe/Mr. Soul_GE_VRII.aiff?dl=0

 
Never heard the GE but that room, that set up, and my god that beautiful table. Me want.
 
If there is a particular music style - or even a specific record - you'd like to hear a sample of, let me know. I have tons of vintage jazz, vocals, blues, hillbilly, early R&R, etc. in my collection.
 
I am running the GE VR improved, which I was told allows for extend range on the upper end. It doesn't have provisions for playing 78's as the needle is fixed unlike most which has the knob to change stylus. It does very well, quite dynamic. I really don't have a lot to compare it to other than the Shure which I was using prior to it. The Shure was much cheaper and sounded pretty good as well.

 
Thanks everyone, and thanks to Beatcomber for the mono Mr Soul. A nice mono bonus as you mentioned: I have, for example, the first Buffalo Springfield LP in mono--the one with Flying on the Ground is Wrong--and while it looks to be in pretty average condition, it sounds like a million bucks on the mono system with little/no background noise.

Ken Boyd, I'm trying to decide whether the swap for the sake of having a cool "correct" mono cartridge in there is worth the hassle. The Shure M3D I have in there now seems to have a strong following in the Asian market, and I'm sure I could peddle it on the popular auction site for the same $$$ that the GE VRII would cost me.
 
ivan100000 said:
Thanks everyone, and thanks to Beatcomber for the mono Mr Soul. A nice mono bonus as you mentioned: I have, for example, the first Buffalo Springfield LP in mono--the one with Flying on the Ground is Wrong--and while it looks to be in pretty average condition, it sounds like a million bucks on the mono system with little/no background noise.

Ken Boyd, I'm trying to decide whether the swap for the sake of having a cool "correct" mono cartridge in there is worth the hassle. The Shure M3D I have in there now seems to have a strong following in the Asian market, and I'm sure I could peddle it on the popular auction site for the same $$$ that the GE VRII would cost me.
Click to expand...

No matter what you do I'd hold on to that M3D. I'm using an Audio Technica Mono 3/LP cart on my Garrard Lab 80, and it's really a terrific performer, particularly at it's price point. But there are times when I like to replace it with my M7D cart, also wired for mono, to get a different experience. Those early Shure's, man, they can really sing, and they give you just a great ride through not only your mono collection, but in stereo too( I know we're taking you mono set up, but you might hold onto it just for your early stereo lp's).
 
ivan100000 said:
Thanks everyone, and thanks to Beatcomber for the mono Mr Soul. A nice mono bonus as you mentioned: I have, for example, the first Buffalo Springfield LP in mono--the one with Flying on the Ground is Wrong--and while it looks to be in pretty average condition, it sounds like a million bucks on the mono system with little/no background noise.
Click to expand...

That's also a hard one to find! (I have a stereo 1st pressing with "Baby Don't Scold Me" though.)
 
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