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Grado Timbre Series Opus3

heyraz said:
Thanks
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Using a Grado ME+ Mono cartridge on my Technics SL-1650. Technics arm mass is 12 grams with Technics (7.2) headshell. Using a Jelco 12 grams headshell with the ME+, sounds better with the heavier headshell! With the Technics headshell the sound was flatter sounding. Jelco headshell music has more punch, better bass.
 
Interesting re. the tonearm. As best as I can find out the Jelco SA370H tonearm with no headshell fitted is c.12g mass, and has adjustable damping. The ADC LMG-1 is 5.6g (I measured this on my digital scales) - so total mass is c.17.6g. I also have damping set at maximum. However, this is confusing as I was under the impression the Opus3, with a compliance of 20um, is a medium/medium-high compliance cart and as such should best match with lower mass arms?
 
Punk_oldie said:
Interesting re. the tonearm. As best as I can find out the Jelco SA370H tonearm with no headshell fitted is c.12g mass, and has adjustable damping. The ADC LMG-1 is 5.6g (I measured this on my digital scales) - so total mass is c.17.6g. I also have damping set at maximum. However, this is confusing as I was under the impression the Opus3, with a compliance of 20um, is a medium/medium-high compliance cart and as such should best match with lower mass arms?
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Yes, higher compliance means lower arm mass. Grado has a different kind of cantilever suspension. Needs 10-13 arm mass to sound it's best. Wrong arm mass and you'll get the Grado Dance, arm wiggling back and forth in groove. Another thing Grado likes is low anti-skating. I find that .8 anti-skating is the best for my Opus3 & ME+ Mono cartridges.
 
I'm currently using a Low Output Opus 3 with an Ogura true ellipsoid stylus on an Al/Mg cantilever. It seems to work really well with my Well Tempered Arm, and it sounds great! I (For now) like it better than my Stanton 681EEES and my Monster Alpha 2. All three are excellent, but the upgraded Opus three seems to "Dig" more music out of the groove :-) Try different impedance loads as it has an effect on tonal balance. I added a 13Kohm resister (via pigtails that I have on my TT outputs) across the 47Kohm MM load on my phono pre (effectively a 10Kohm load) and it sounds richer and smoother that way - with incredible retrieval of recorded detail and room ambience.
 
soundmig said:
I'm currently using a Low Output Opus 3 with an Ogura true ellipsoid stylus on an Al/Mg cantilever. It seems to work really well with my Well Tempered Arm, and it sounds great! I (For now) like it better than my Stanton 681EEES and my Monster Alpha 2. All three are excellent, but the upgraded Opus three seems to "Dig" more music out of the groove :) Try different impedance loads as it has an effect on tonal balance. I added a 13Kohm resister (via pigtails that I have on my TT outputs) across the 47Kohm MM load on my phono pre (effectively a 10Kohm load) and it sounds richer and smoother that way - with incredible retrieval of recorded detail and room ambience.
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Used to have a Stanton 681EEES cartridge for a short time. Sold it and always regretted! Interesting that you like the retipped Opus3 better than Stanton.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Used to have a Stanton 681EEES cartridge for a short time. Sold it and always regretted! Interesting that you like the retipped Opus3 better than Stanton.
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Notice I said "for now" ..... we'll see how the Opus 3 wears on me. Keep in mind my Opus is not a stock Grado bonded stylus version. I've not heard the stock version, but people who have and have also heard re-tipped ones say that a nude stylus re-tip sounds a bit better. Woody Grado's seem to mate will with ye olde Well-Tempered Arm also. Anyway - I'm very happy for now and at a really low price! (purchased it used).
 
soundmig said:
Notice I said "for now" ..... we'll see how the Opus 3 wears on me. Keep in mind my Opus is not a stock Grado bonded stylus version. I've not heard the stock version, but people who have and have also heard re-tipped ones say that a nude stylus re-tip sounds a bit better. Woody Grado's seem to mate will with ye olde Well-Tempered Arm also. Anyway - I'm very happy for now and at a really low price! (purchased it used).
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Yes, I'm sure a Boron cantilever with Line Contact stylus will really catapult the Opus3 to better sound. I will say that the stock Opus3 stylus has low groove noise.

It doesn't surprise me that Grado does well on your Well-Tempered tonearm with it's excellent silicone dampening. :thumbsup: Grado does best with silicone damping tonearms.
 
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