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Grado Black2 p-mount - taking the plunge.

Oerets said:
Sounds like your just not a Grado fan.
Nothing right or wrong in that.
Yes the JVC is a very nice table.
What cart do you run on yours BTW.
I checked the weight adjustment on mine only to find it was off so set using a digital scale.
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Mine seems fine?

Now I just run p-mounts (getting old, less nimble, blind... a LOT easier ;) ), but I have quite a few others still mounted up (a couple MC's, a Pickering V-15, and an old B&O that looks like an old sci-fi flick Flash Gordon spaceship (forgot the model number lol) and a few others. Rarely use 'em though, and can't on my JVC because of the odd non-removable headshell on the straight arms (which was another BIG reason pushing me to p-mounts so I could use various carts on it easily). I just start with one, judge the sound, and go with whatever cart sounds best truthfully.
 
JMelton said:
A lot of people must upgrade from a manufacturer-supplied red at LP Gear. They sell the ones they've pulled for $75 which is why I own one: heavy discount, new cart :D

I found it sounded way too bright new through a new Onkyo amp and new Q 3020i speakers... but moving it into a different room with 15 year old Polk speakers and a 10 year old Yamaha amp tamed down that brashness. I think you need something warmer, older gentler... uh... dead-er (?) and then it's not so harsh but simply "full range" ;)
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Or nothing that a better cartridge wouldn't solve. ;)
 
I've been thinking about picking up one of these carts for my SL-MA1, but my Technics tables aren't currently in my rotation right now. This thread has given me something to think about.
 
Bourbon said:
I've been thinking about picking up one of these carts for my SL-MA1, but my Technics tables aren't currently in my rotation right now. This thread has given me something to think about.
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Effective mass of your arm is 9g including cart so a light arm compliance is a very good match for the Grado.
Chris
 
Looking at the chart on vinylengine, it appears the Grado cartridges should be compatible with a fairly wide range of arm mass. I checked it versus my SME 3012, which is 14g, and my Technics SL-3 should be ideal, it claims to have an effective mass of 9g including cartridge - or about ~3.5g without, which seems almost too low! It looks like issues begin a bit lower down, but those shouldn't manifest themselves as poor high end, should they? In any case, I'm still patiently waiting for the phone call that my Black 2 is in stock!
 

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marcmorin said:
Serious question(s), and I'm not trying to beat a dead horse with it. Have you heard the downloads that have been presented here of grado carts? if so, do you find the downloads to be muddy as well?
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On here? No. But I've heard enough through the years to know I wasn't impressed with them (like those Ebbett's bootlegs being a prime example).
 
maxhifi said:
Looking at the chart on vinylengine, it appears the Grado cartridges should be compatible with a fairly wide range of arm mass. I checked it versus my SME 3012, which is 14g, and my Technics SL-3 should be ideal, it claims to have an effective mass of 9g including cartridge - or about ~3.5g without, which seems almost too low! It looks like issues begin a bit lower down, but those shouldn't manifest themselves as poor high end, should they? In any case, I'm still patiently waiting for the phone call that my Black 2 is in stock!
Click to expand...

Well, if it falls through.... ;) lol
 
maxhifi said:
Looking at the chart on vinylengine, it appears the Grado cartridges should be compatible with a fairly wide range of arm mass. I checked it versus my SME 3012, which is 14g, and my Technics SL-3 should be ideal, it claims to have an effective mass of 9g including cartridge - or about ~3.5g without, which seems almost too low! It looks like issues begin a bit lower down, but those shouldn't manifest themselves as poor high end, should they? In any case, I'm still patiently waiting for the phone call that my Black 2 is in stock!
Click to expand...
Grado are known to be high conpliance. Grado now advertise compliance of 20, but it is actually closer to 30×10-6. Whatever Grado now advertise they are high compliance this is where Grado wobble came from and various online methods to use them in a medium mass arm.
Chris
 
Vinylmasters said:
On here? No. But I've heard enough through the years to know I wasn't impressed with them (like those Ebbett's bootlegs being a prime example).
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On the web site "DaveyW", who is also a member here, has many carts recorded with the same material. MC MM and MI. check those to see if they sound muddy to you.
 
marcmorin said:
On the web site "DaveyW", who is also a member here, has many carts recorded with the same material. MC MM and MI. check those to see if they sound muddy to you.
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It really doesn't matter, because all I am concerned with now is p-mounts. And in Grado's case, I've heard moire than enough to know I don't like them. Sorry if that offends, but....
 
Vinylmasters said:
It really doesn't matter, because all I am concerned with now is p-mounts. And in Grado's case, I've heard moire than enough to know I don't like them. Sorry if that offends, but....
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not offended at all, nor am i trying to "sell" anything. Was just curious if you've heard the downloads
 
maxhifi said:
That changes everything, really. If it is true, that's misleading to say the least. Fortunately it will work to my advantage in the technics.
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all my testing of grado carts would be they react to mass in the 20CU area. the new 2 series react to mass as 15-18CU would.
the only ones I'm aware of being in the 30CU rating were the G1/G2 styli rated @ 35CU, and the Signature models 1 through 4
 
marcmorin said:
all my testing of grado carts would be they react to mass in the 20CU area. the new 2 series react to mass as 15-18CU would.
the only ones I'm aware of being in the 30CU rating were the G1/G2 styli rated @ 35CU, and the Signature models 1 through 4
Click to expand...

Interesting. What equipment did you use to perform those tests? Is this something anyone can do at home or does it need some very specialized equipment?
 
maxhifi said:
Interesting. What equipment did you use to perform those tests? Is this something anyone can do at home or does it need some very specialized equipment?
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Nope, you have the chart of what arm/cart resonance will be. clocking in at 10hz shows the effective mass to be 10gr, with a 20cu cart.
test album with resonate test bands. Yes, it is that simple.
 
Vinylmasters said:
It really doesn't matter, because all I am concerned with now is p-mounts. And in Grado's case, I've heard moire than enough to know I don't like them. Sorry if that offends, but....
Click to expand...
Point he was making is the recordings Dave made do not show what you are saying. We dont care if you like or dislike Grado, but your muddy problem is something else as it does not exist, check the recordings for yourself. Re P mount Grado work fine, yours is not a P mount arm or P mount effective mass specs so kind of a mute point if this is your criteria.
Chris
 
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