Mopic5
Super Member
Hey Scuzzer,
The Metzners have proved to be a long, long story. In the end, I've abandoned them (3). My mono TT is now a Bogen/Presto Lenco L-61 with an AT 1009 tonearm.
Hi Beatcomber and thanks!
This has been my experience with secondary market G.E. .7 mil styli (NOS Pfansteil, Astatic, etc.):
About a third will track at 3 grams, right out of the package.
A third will not track properly because the rubber damping blocks have lost their suppleness.
A third will never track at 3 grams even with the damping blocks replaced.
This same track records seem to hold up across the 1 & 3 mil tips (I don't have enough experience with 2.5 mil tips to include them - but I suspect it's the same.)
With what we know today about record wear and damage, my comfort level for a .7 mil tip doesn't go beyond 3 grams.
If you can't find a .7 mil G.E. stylus to track at 3 grams - then the choice I'd recommend is going to a 1 mil at 4 grams or a stereo compliant cartridge like a Stanton or a Pickering outfitted with a 7 mil tip.
These alternatives, to my ear, can fall short of a G.E. .7 mil stylus in a VR-II - so for me it's worth the hunt.
One test record that I use to determine trackability of NOS VR styli is this 1957 classic:
This is along the same line as the Telarc 1812 is to stereo. Like the Telarc, this can be argued as an unfair test – subjecting #a stylus to heavily modulated bass that is over-the-top compared to “real world” recordings. Still it does give indications on trackability for what it’s worth.
There are a few passages over the last 2/3rds of side one, where the bass drum synchs up with orchestral crescendos that can blow a stylus right out of the groove.
Best,
Mario
The Metzners have proved to be a long, long story. In the end, I've abandoned them (3). My mono TT is now a Bogen/Presto Lenco L-61 with an AT 1009 tonearm.
Hi Beatcomber and thanks!
This has been my experience with secondary market G.E. .7 mil styli (NOS Pfansteil, Astatic, etc.):
About a third will track at 3 grams, right out of the package.
A third will not track properly because the rubber damping blocks have lost their suppleness.
A third will never track at 3 grams even with the damping blocks replaced.
This same track records seem to hold up across the 1 & 3 mil tips (I don't have enough experience with 2.5 mil tips to include them - but I suspect it's the same.)
With what we know today about record wear and damage, my comfort level for a .7 mil tip doesn't go beyond 3 grams.
If you can't find a .7 mil G.E. stylus to track at 3 grams - then the choice I'd recommend is going to a 1 mil at 4 grams or a stereo compliant cartridge like a Stanton or a Pickering outfitted with a 7 mil tip.
These alternatives, to my ear, can fall short of a G.E. .7 mil stylus in a VR-II - so for me it's worth the hunt.
One test record that I use to determine trackability of NOS VR styli is this 1957 classic:
This is along the same line as the Telarc 1812 is to stereo. Like the Telarc, this can be argued as an unfair test – subjecting #a stylus to heavily modulated bass that is over-the-top compared to “real world” recordings. Still it does give indications on trackability for what it’s worth.
There are a few passages over the last 2/3rds of side one, where the bass drum synchs up with orchestral crescendos that can blow a stylus right out of the groove.
Best,
Mario