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Grado Black2 p-mount - taking the plunge.

Vinylmasters

Vinylmasters

Super Member
Ok, from the start? I'm NOT a Grado fan. But after reading people's opinions on it compared to the older generations, I decided to give it a try. I ordered a Grado Black2 p-mount direct from Grado's website yesterday (I'm in upstate NY, so the shipping should be fast anyway). I looked on my phone this morning and saw I received three calls from 'Grado Companies' while I was out. Called them back this morning and it was concerning a note I left about wanting a universal adapter for it as well.

They don't make one, according to what I was told. And considering their body style hasn't changed, it probably won't work in any universal adapter either (and yes, I have ones made by Shure as well).

It also appears to track at 1.5 grams, above the T4P standard of 1.25 grams.

<sigh....>. I'll give it a shot when it arrives, but I'm expecting nothing good at this point.
 
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Vinylmasters said:
Ok, from the start? I'm NOT a Grado fan. But after reading people's opinions on it compared to the older generations, I decided to give it a try. I ordered a Grado Black2 p-mount direct from Grado's website yesterday (I'm in upstate NY, so the shipping should be fast anyway). I looked on my phone this morning and saw I received three calls from 'Grado Companies' while I was out. Called them back this morning and it was concerning a note I left about wanting a universal adapter for it as well.

They don't make one, according to what I was told. And considering their body style hasn't changed, it probably won't work in any universal adapter either (and yes, I have ones made by Shure as well).

It also appears to track at 1.5 grams, above the T4P standard of 1.25 grams.

<sigh....>. I'll give it a shot when it arrives, but I'm expecting nothing good at this point.
Click to expand...

I have one on order at a local hi-fi shop. Why wouldn't it work in a normal P mount adapter? If mounting it in a linear tracking turntable puts the needle in line with the center of the spindle, I can't see why an adapter wouldn't work.
 
maxhifi said:
I have one on order at a local hi-fi shop. Why wouldn't it work in a normal P mount adapter? If mounting it in a linear tracking turntable puts the needle in line with the center of the spindle, I can't see why an adapter wouldn't work.
Click to expand...

It's too big. I had to sand the plastic off the top to make mine fit (and that was with about 7 different adapters of all makes).
 
Grados do like to track at 1.5-1.65g, which is higher than pmount spec. They also tend to like less anti-skate than other cartridges that track at the same force. No big deal if you have an adjustable pmount arm. If not, you can hide a little dab of modeling clay somewhere to add weight, like maybe behind the headshell, or under the arm tube. AS may be pre-set for a cartridge that tracks at 1.25g. If so, it may be preferable that it underperforms it's task with a heavier tracking Grado.
 
Multiplex said:
Grados do like to track at 1.5-1.65g, which is higher than pmount spec. They also tend to like less anti-skate than other cartridges that track at the same force. No big deal if you have an adjustable pmount arm. If not, you can hide a little dab of modeling clay somewhere to add weight, like maybe behind the headshell, or under the arm tube. AS may be pre-set for a cartridge that tracks at 1.25g. If so, it may be preferable that it underperforms it's task with a heavier tracking Grado.
Click to expand...

I'll be using a this with a Technics SH-80 headshell on a SL-1301, because it won't fit any other adapter. I swap carts VERY frequently, so adding mass elsewhere on the table isn't really an option for me. On my JVC, it won't happen because I'm forced to use a universal adapter on it, but it would allow for easy adjustments on the fly IF.... <sigh...>.
 
bigaltx24 said:
I sanded the top of my Green 2 p-mount to get it to fit in a 1/2 adapter. It took all of about 15 minutes to get it to fit.
Click to expand...

It's the point of you shouldnt have to do that. It's plug and play, not sand, plug and play! There are other issues too however. It seems like they just removed the ears from their reg carts is all.
 
Multiplex said:
Grados do like to track at 1.5-1.65g, which is higher than pmount spec. They also tend to like less anti-skate than other cartridges that track at the same force. No big deal if you have an adjustable pmount arm. If not, you can hide a little dab of modeling clay somewhere to add weight, like maybe behind the headshell, or under the arm tube. AS may be pre-set for a cartridge that tracks at 1.25g. If so, it may be preferable that it underperforms it's task with a heavier tracking Grado.
Click to expand...

Adjustable T4p mount turntables with shielded motors, Grado will be fine in. 1.5 grams OK tracking force. Not usable on a strict T4p mount, non adjustable arm on tracking force/antiskating.
 
Vinylmasters said:
I'll be using a this with a Technics SH-80 headshell on a SL-1301, because it won't fit any other adapter. I swap carts VERY frequently, so adding mass elsewhere on the table isn't really an option for me. On my JVC, it won't happen because I'm forced to use a universal adapter on it, but it would allow for easy adjustments on the fly IF.... <sigh...>.
Click to expand...

Curious, why not just get the standard mount version? I ordered a P mount because it's one of the few available newly made P mounts which isn't a conical and will fit my Technics linear tracker.
 
maxhifi said:
Curious, why not just get the standard mount version? I ordered a P mount because it's one of the few available newly made P mounts which isn't a conical and will fit my Technics linear tracker.
Click to expand...

For starters, I converted to all p-mount years ago. getting old and it's about impossible for me to mount carts nowadays, plus buying headshells for 40+ carts, well...... I like the ease of p-mounts. Can I pop one on a regular headshell? Sure. But I shouldn't have to. That's why I bought that p-mount headshell - no fuss, no muss.
 
Adding mass to the Grado equal to the difference on tracking force would leave the arm adjustments T4-P.
The Grados are great in the arms they match, too much work for T4-P with so many other options.
 
I have three headshells for my Technics SL-3300. One of them has a p-mount adapter, makes it real easy to change out cartridges.
 
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